Starter issues

[wessexmike]

Well,since washing my 06, the rear servo has now been working fine, which is great. Whilst it wasn't working, I put a new battery on. Today, started with optimated full charge. After work the starter seemed a bit slow. Then after a few stops and starts for shopping and fuel, illustrating but sluggish. Got home luckily as it then failed to turn over as if battery flat. Meter reading on ultimate lead which is direct to battery is 12.49v. Any ideas? Bad earth somewhere? Would value some advice on how to isolate the issue before I get stranded as I reckon bump starting might be a challenge!

 

[wessexmike]

Just read Bendy Toy's idea on a similar post so will try jump leads to test existing earth and pos leads etc. Hadn't seen this post when looking earlier,,

 

[agent2494]

Just check alternater is spinning freely as I bought new starter motor and battery and turned out to be a seized alternator!!!!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wessexmike]

Thanks, is it simple to check alternator?

 

[TunturiSport]

Check that the cca value of your new battery is clearly over 200. A battery with less than that has no power to start the big twin, especially in cold weather

Lähetetty minun SM-A300FU laitteesta Tapatalkilla

 

[Bendy toy]

My starter is fine when cold. The battery kicks it over no problem. However when engine is warm it really struggles. I suspect a winding fault that's showing up as things expand but still investigating.
Test the battery with jump leads.
Disconnect bike battery, jump lead battery cables to a known good battery e.g. the car. If it spins over, your bike battery is weak. If it's the same, move the earth clip to a bare bolt head on the bike engine case. If it spins you have a bad earth. If it's slow you have a starter or solenoid problem.

 

[wessexmike]

Pretty sure the battery has enough cca as bought the one for the model, iirc its a Motorbatt or Varta. Will try the earth and donor battery tests tomorrow. Thanks as ever for advice.

 

[wessexmike]

Meter states 12.4v this morning and starter turned but failed to start, then just clicked. Earth lead to engine made no difference nor did jumping from car. Voltage dropped to beliw 10 volts whilst pressing starter. However, the jump leads have the large plastic covered clips and not totally sure i had good enough contact. Couldn't find my smaller leads. Cleaned positive but, lead and washers to starter. Relay appears sound. Will give it another go once optimate says its charged. If starter motor goes, is it usual to have intermittent success and slow turning?

 

[wessexmike]

Battery meter plugged into optimate lead says 13.5v. Started okay. Tried again and okay. Meter reading drops to 8-9v when cranking. Battery shot? Less than a year old iirc. Happy days...