Rough starting this evening. Battery or other issue?
- Thread starter mr_magicfingers
- Start date
motobiker
Registered user
I know that, Motobiker seems to have other ideas
I never mentioned the alternator belt. (another red herring)
when my battery was on its last legs.. VERY bad starting. VERY frequent ABS faults.. the bike would run absolutely perfectly.
once it was actually going.
Battery was still completely fecked though... until it reached the point it simply wouldn't turn over the engine.
jump start.. and it ran perfectly.
so what conclusion do you draw from that?
The alternator was keeping the bike going.. it couldn't be the battery per se.. the thing would hardly turn the starter motor!
So, reading the above, if the alternator belt breaks then the bike stops
if the battery is flat.. then yes. where does the power come from for the spark? fuel pump? and everything else??
is there another method the bike uses to provide the necessary power?
flat battery.. and no alternator? doesn't bode well does it.
roddy
Registered user
just because a battery won't turn a bike over doesn't mean it wouldn't run the bike for a length of time once started by other means IE jump start, the loading on a battery while turning the engine over is considerable (can peak in the hundreds of amps) and the load while running could be less than 10 amps
DollyRocket
Registered user
I love a good battery thread, almost as much as a good oil thread.
roddy
Registered user
it's an edukashun so it is 
motobiker
Registered user
a flat battery is a flat battery.. in the bike if it IS flat... it simply becomes part of the circuit between the alternator and the bikes electrical system.
and I can assure you the battery in my bike was dead as a doornail.
jump start and the bike ran. stop the engine and the bike died a death.. lights slowly faded away. horn would barely squeek. the only thing that showed any life was the RID.
So the only conclusion I could draw from that.. was that the alternator was keeping the bike going.
roddy
Registered user
In the above situation, yes you are correct, the alternator was keeping the bike running, however my post was referring to the quote below
Incorrect.
It's not the battery that keeps a bike running - once started.
motobiker
Registered user
oh.. I see.
you were being pedantic.. whereas i was merely assuming the man had a dead battery.
marvellous.
you were being pedantic.. whereas i was merely assuming the man had a dead battery.
marvellous.
roddy
Registered user
if you'd explained yourself properly in the first instance there would be no need to be pedantic, only trying to correct a misunderstanding, but your a big lad so make your own choices, I was only trying help
Explorer
Registered user
Before you have a fight, aren't you both right?
i.e. the bike, once started, runs on both or, if one fails, the other (at least while the battery has some charge left)?
Maybe I am wrong - I am not looking for a fight!
i.e. the bike, once started, runs on both or, if one fails, the other (at least while the battery has some charge left)?
Maybe I am wrong - I am not looking for a fight!
Was the bike perfect straight after removing the alarm/immobiliser?
Yes, but it might have had a couple of tokes in the evening when I went out.
Seriously, I mentioned the immobilier removal purely because it was something that had been done, not because it might be relevant, just that the first thing most people ask is when trying to diagnose a problem is 'have you done anything to the bike lately'
Pretty much looks like a dodgy battery, thanks for the help and explanations.
You could disconnect the battery and leave the bike overnight, then see how the bike starts, that would confirm if it is the battery or a wiring fault.
Would also be a good idea to check the voltage on the battery terminals when the engine is stopped and running.
Just a suggestion
Would also be a good idea to check the voltage on the battery terminals when the engine is stopped and running.
Just a suggestion
