Starting Problems

[mulletd]

I have had my 1100GS parked up over winter, plugged into an Optimate. Bike started once a month over winter without problems.

Have been away for a month and have just tried to start bike but all I get is a very annoying "Tock"ing noise. Optimate still reads Green, but on a couple of occasions it has read Red for a while before changing to Green.

I have searched the forums which suggest the starter motor/relay are kaput or the battery is past its sell-by-date.

The battery connections are fine, so my question is this. If the bike can be jump started from another battery/vehicle, does this indicate that its the battery thats at fault rather than the starter motor or relay?

Thanks in advance from a mechanically inept member,

Steve.

 

[Den]

The battery connections are fine, so my question is this. If the bike can be jump started from another battery/vehicle, does this indicate that its the battery thats at fault rather than the starter motor or relay?

Thanks in advance from a mechanically inept member,

Steve.

yes..

 

[ktmmark]

If it jump starts that points to battery,or terminal connections , do you have a volt meter as if you look @ the voltage when cranking it should not drop below 9/10v on a good battery

 

[Tarka]

If you`ve got a lead acid ( wet ) battery,check the electrolyte level.

The Optimate can still show green when the battery is almost dry.

Mine misled me like this once,the light went red and I thought I`d knocked the plug,and made a bad connection,so I unplugged and reset the Optimate,which went back to green.

Next time I used the bike,the battery packed up....it was almost out of electrolyte.

 

[pomm001]

I have had my 1100GS parked up over winter, plugged into an Optimate. Bike started once a month over winter without problems.

Have been away for a month and have just tried to start bike but all I get is a very annoying "Tock"ing noise. Optimate still reads Green, but on a couple of occasions it has read Red for a while before changing to Green.

I have searched the forums which suggest the starter motor/relay are kaput or the battery is past its sell-by-date.

The battery connections are fine, so my question is this. If the bike can be jump started from another battery/vehicle, does this indicate that its the battery thats at fault rather than the starter motor or relay?

Thanks in advance from a mechanically inept member,

Steve.

As the previous rely suggests , it sounds more like your battery is on the way out, but as Tarka points out Optimates can give you some bother showning a green light with a duff battery.
If your battery isnt too old,suggest leaving you lights on until completely flat, take it off the bike , check the electrolyte level and charge up on a conventional charger, optimates dont charge flat batteries very well.
Then check the voltage across the terminals, should be 12.5 to 13.5 ish volts. refit and try and start the engine, noting the crank voltage, if its low, then new battery required.
Once engine has started the battery voltage should increase up to about 14 volts for the next few minutes and slowly drop down, but not less than 13,5 volts if you alernator is charging correctly