Slow turn over

[KTM-AL]

Hello Chaps
My 1150 GS was turning over slowly, almost not starting . I tested the 3 year old battery and it tested ok. I'm off to Wales on a riding holiday soon , so bought a new one anyway a Exide AGM with the highest CCA I could find. I cleaned the starter terminals but was unable to find where the negative lead goes on the frame / engine. Can anyone tell me where it is? Cheers

 

[Ian J Hartley]

Hello Chaps
My 1150 GS was turning over slowly, almost not starting . I tested the 3 year old battery and it tested ok. I'm off to Wales on a riding holiday soon , so bought a new one anyway a Exide AGM with the highest CCA I could find. I cleaned the starter terminals but was unable to find where the negative lead goes on the frame / engine. Can anyone tell me where it is? Cheers

Under the Battery tray. Left side of bike secured to the top of the Gear box casing.

 

[KTM-AL]

Thanks for that , I'll go and have a look.

 

[KTM-AL]

Under the Battery tray. Left side of bike secured to the top of the Gear box casing.

What a bloody awkward place that is, as all the cables are attached under the battery box so you cant get to it , I can barely see it . Cheers

 

[Ian J Hartley]

Thanks for that , I'll go and have a look.

Just for clarity.

 

[Ian J Hartley]

What a bloody awkward place that is, as all the cables are attached under the battery box so you cant get to it , I can barely see it . Cheers

Take a heavy duty jumper lead from the negative battery terminal to the starter motor casing. If your Starter motor is still sluggish, then it might not be your Chassis Ground.

 

[KTM-AL]

Take a heavy duty jumper lead from the negative battery terminal to the starter motor casing. If your Starter motor is still sluggish, then it might not be your Chassis Ground.

Thanks , I'll give that a go tomorrow. Cheers

 

[Hay Ewe]

I suspect / suggest it is either :-

1) The planetary gear drive in the starter moter assembly needs a clean and fresh grease
2) The magnets on the inside of the case become unstuck, attach to the rotor and cause it to become sluggish.

for 1)
dissasemble the starter, check the planetary drive, fresh grease

for 2)
get a kit / parts from Euromotoelec in the USA.

Both are fairly simple tasks - but that is for me - others have different experience
I didnt mention which type of grease to use because what ever I say, some one else will say - nooo! use this stuff....

Or, get a replacement starter from somewhere

 

[KTM-AL]

I suspect / suggest it is either :-

1) The planetary gear drive in the starter moter assembly needs a clean and fresh grease
2) The magnets on the inside of the case become unstuck, attach to the rotor and cause it to become sluggish.

for 1)
dissasemble the starter, check the planetary drive, fresh grease

for 2)
get a kit / parts from Euromotoelec in the USA.

Both are fairly simple tasks - but that is for me - others have different experience
I didnt mention which type of grease to use because what ever I say, some one else will say - nooo! use this stuff....

Or, get a replacement starter from somewhere

Thanks for your input, I'll test the resistance of my ground lead and try the jump lead as Ian suggested. I do have a spare starter motor from my 1100S as this had the same symptoms a few years ago. So I can swap that over or as you say give it a service and check out the magnets. Cheers

 

[Deleted account 220419001]

Just for clarity.

Mind me asking where you got those cable routing diagrams from? I want to rebuild my R1100GS properly, and I can't trust the cabling is where it should have been from the factory..

 

[Ian J Hartley]

Mind me asking where you got those cable routing diagrams from? I want to rebuild my R1100GS properly, and I can't trust the cabling is where it should have been from the factory..

From the official BMW repair manual for the R1150GS

This link still works as of a moment ago.

http://https://blackbears.ru/index_en.php?get=manual

The manual is English, can be downloaded as a zip file.

 

[Deleted account 220419001]

From the official BMW repair manual for the R1150GS

This link still works as of a moment ago.

http://https://blackbears.ru/index_en.php?get=manual

The manual is English, can be downloaded as a zip file.

Very helpful, thanks!

 

[KTM-AL]

The ground connection to the gear box tested ok. I have now fitted my new Exide AGM 18Ah 250CCA and it turns over fine . The old battery was 3 years old but tested out ok with 2 different testers with readings of 13.5v and 265CCA.