scrap man
Guest
when i start my bike i have noticed that my clock resets it self back to zero any body got any ideas whats happn, is my battery on way out, cheers scrapman
Mort
Registered user
The battery or its connections would be my 1st check
Giz a bacon sarnie then
Giz a bacon sarnie then
The battery or its connections would be my 1st check
Battery connections are the first things to check as Mort says. If that doesn't cure it then you'll be looking at a new battery.
scrap man
Guest
bacon sarnie
mort you already had this, ma batt went semi flat before kesh charged it up but noticed this when a went to start the bike on the ferry on way home has the gs got special batt or what cheers scrapman
mort you already had this, ma batt went semi flat before kesh charged it up but noticed this when a went to start the bike on the ferry on way home has the gs got special batt or what cheers scrapman
Yes Roger, it's an odd sized fecker of a thing. Odyssey seems to be the replacement of choice.
Oh, by the way, how many miles are on your GS? It might be no harm to check your alternator belt too.
scrap man
Guest
milage
aiden ma bike has only done 11,000 miles a hope its the batt mate off to france in a couple off weeks so need to get it sorted cheers scrapman, the only thing a noticed is that when it goes to start you would think it backfires through the inlet side it pops through the filter housing??????
aiden ma bike has only done 11,000 miles a hope its the batt mate off to france in a couple off weeks so need to get it sorted cheers scrapman, the only thing a noticed is that when it goes to start you would think it backfires through the inlet side it pops through the filter housing??????
motobiker
Registered user
Not being funny - but my bike has been doing this for a year now. occasional reset of the clock. More likely early cold mornings. And I know its not due to bad connections. (due to a bit of common sense)
So.. the consensus seems to be the battery is on its way out.
I beg to differ on that one... in fact I think its bull.
The bike has no problems starting. The ABS manages to set itself. And yet the battery must be on its way out??
well all i can say is its taking a bloody long time about it.
Battery is a cheapo Varta lead acid. fully topped up. etc.
BTW when it finally dies then an Odyssey battery definitely won't be MY battery of choice. Not sure where you got that idea from Aidan.
The battery of choice is the original OEM GEL. (for those of us who can't bimble down to Putney)
So.. the consensus seems to be the battery is on its way out.
I beg to differ on that one... in fact I think its bull.
The bike has no problems starting. The ABS manages to set itself. And yet the battery must be on its way out??
well all i can say is its taking a bloody long time about it.
Battery is a cheapo Varta lead acid. fully topped up. etc.
BTW when it finally dies then an Odyssey battery definitely won't be MY battery of choice. Not sure where you got that idea from Aidan.
The battery of choice is the original OEM GEL.
(for those of us who can't bimble down to Putney)
Mort
Registered user
Just to chuck my 2p in.
My 1100 displayed just these symptoms after I bought it a few month ago (clock reset when it tried to start, abs failed to initialise) - I bought a new OEM gel battery - problem fixed.
When I took the old battery off (a standard 'wet' lead acid), it turned out that it had about 1" of electrolyte in all the cells - not surprising it had trouble starting the bike. I'm not entirely surprised the previous owner had let the electrolyte levels slip - it's just about impossible to see the levels and impossible to top them up with the tank in place - good argument for a maintenance free battery.
Be aware that even a battery which displays good electrolyte levels etc can still be bu**ered - in fact if you've ever flattened a battery you've knackered it - you've irreparably reduced its capacity and no amount of fancy snake oil battery chargers will restore this reduced capacity. This is a sad but certain truth.
A battery in this state will still display good voltage, it'll just have a reduced amp/hr rating. You might get away with it most of the time, but cold mornings might tip it over the edge (cold further reduces the capacity of any lead acid battery). Lead acid batteries (which include gel batteries and odyssey's) hate being deep discharged and love to be kept on full charge. In your situation, I'd buy an OEM gel battery and a smart charger (Ctek / optimate etc).
However, the other thing that can cause the symptoms you describe is a bad (semi-seized) starter motor - causes such a large volt drop that the clock resets / abs fails to initialise etc. But this is easy to check - just whip the starter off - 10 minute job.
My 1100 displayed just these symptoms after I bought it a few month ago (clock reset when it tried to start, abs failed to initialise) - I bought a new OEM gel battery - problem fixed.
When I took the old battery off (a standard 'wet' lead acid), it turned out that it had about 1" of electrolyte in all the cells - not surprising it had trouble starting the bike. I'm not entirely surprised the previous owner had let the electrolyte levels slip - it's just about impossible to see the levels and impossible to top them up with the tank in place - good argument for a maintenance free battery.
Be aware that even a battery which displays good electrolyte levels etc can still be bu**ered - in fact if you've ever flattened a battery you've knackered it - you've irreparably reduced its capacity and no amount of fancy snake oil battery chargers will restore this reduced capacity. This is a sad but certain truth.
A battery in this state will still display good voltage, it'll just have a reduced amp/hr rating. You might get away with it most of the time, but cold mornings might tip it over the edge (cold further reduces the capacity of any lead acid battery). Lead acid batteries (which include gel batteries and odyssey's) hate being deep discharged and love to be kept on full charge. In your situation, I'd buy an OEM gel battery and a smart charger (Ctek / optimate etc).
However, the other thing that can cause the symptoms you describe is a bad (semi-seized) starter motor - causes such a large volt drop that the clock resets / abs fails to initialise etc. But this is easy to check - just whip the starter off - 10 minute job.
BTW when it finally dies then an Odyssey battery definitely won't be MY battery of choice. Not sure where you got that idea from Aidan.
The battery of choice is the original OEM GEL.
If you read what I wrote instead of what you think I wrote you would see that I didn't recommend, nor say that I have an Odyssey, merely that they seem to be the battery of choice about here.
Putney is a fair wee bimble from where I am.
motobiker
Registered user
Yes I did read your comment and NO I didnt think for a moment that you either had one of these batteries or was actually recommending them. I do know how to read despite coming from the arse end of Newtownards.
YES Thats the problem - the more often this bollox is repeated the more people will come to believe it.
Gel Batteries can and do last 8... 9 years - but it seems thats not enough for some Tossers. and that does make me laugh.
quite aware of that. me too 100 miles and involves passing into London
Was only added to keep 'our glorious leader' happy as he is supplying batteries (not Odyssey)All the best.
aaroNZ
Guest
Experiencing the same problem, although my ABS won't activate 80% of the time...suspecting I am up for a battery.
Why not to give throttle on starting?....and does that include the choke / rev increase thingie?
thanks
Why not to give throttle on starting?....and does that include the choke / rev increase thingie?
thanks
Are you giving it some throttle when starting? if so don't, if not then
No, and Yes ...
... because if you give it throttle on starting the TPS (throttle position sensor) will recognise a partly open throttle as being at 'rest', then when your revs drop below that recognised point the TPS will cut fuelling and you'll stall, or fall over
The 'fast idle' lever acts on the throttle bodies and not the TPS therefore doesn't effect the set-up
All of the above is my understanding of how it works and not based on any technical expertise at all, merely my own experience. Do a search for TPS reset and make a pot of coffee.
ps - If your low mileage bike has been standing (for months) then you 'may' have a corroded starter motor that is jamming, therefore increasing the current draw from the battery. Hopefully replacing the battery will cure your problems, because a new starter is much more expensive DAMHIK.
... because if you give it throttle on starting the TPS (throttle position sensor) will recognise a partly open throttle as being at 'rest', then when your revs drop below that recognised point the TPS will cut fuelling and you'll stall, or fall over
The 'fast idle' lever acts on the throttle bodies and not the TPS therefore doesn't effect the set-up
All of the above is my understanding of how it works and not based on any technical expertise at all, merely my own experience. Do a search for TPS reset and make a pot of coffee.
ps - If your low mileage bike has been standing (for months) then you 'may' have a corroded starter motor that is jamming, therefore increasing the current draw from the battery. Hopefully replacing the battery will cure your problems, because a new starter is much more expensive DAMHIK.
aaroNZ
Guest
Cheers this was all new info for me. Doing the search...and wandering downstairs to go find chassis/ VIN number
Sadly...mileage was already high on my 94 when I bought her this year. (134,000kms) But she was the right price for my intro into the wonderful world of GS.
Sometimes the magnets come unstuck from inside the starter casing and will draw extra volts from the battery causing the clock reset etc.
I had this starter failure on a brand new 1150 and we have just replaced the starter on my mates 1150 after it had started to gradually let him down with the same fault.
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197156
Scroll down that and if you need a new starter for your trip to Frogland the info is there ..........
Ps. I agree that the best battery is the standard BM Gel one. Still going strong on mine after Five years.
I had this starter failure on a brand new 1150 and we have just replaced the starter on my mates 1150 after it had started to gradually let him down with the same fault.
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197156
Scroll down that and if you need a new starter for your trip to Frogland the info is there ..........
Ps. I agree that the best battery is the standard BM Gel one. Still going strong on mine after Five years.
Sometimes the magnets come unstuck from inside the starter casing and will draw extra volts from the battery causing the clock reset etc.
I had this starter failure on a brand new 1150 and we have just replaced the starter on my mates 1150 after it had started to gradually let him down with the same fault.
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197156
Scroll down that and if you need a new starter for your trip to Frogland the info is there ..........
Ps. I agree that the best battery is the standard BM Gel one. Still going strong on mine after Five years.
Mine was doing the same on a bike bought second hand from a Honda place.......... they replaced the battery under warranty with an OEM BM battery then realised the problem was in the starter motor so replaced that now as well
Currently in having the coil packs done now too
I`d suspect the starter is on its way out, drawing too much power from battery, as a result clock resets, leave it long enough and it`ll get to the point where it wont start , as it draws too much power and not enough for the bike to fire up.
If you have the chance swap your starter for one the you know is good, ie from another bike and try it, or you could end up buying new battery , and then a starter, believe me speak from experience
If you have the chance swap your starter for one the you know is good, ie from another bike and try it, or you could end up buying new battery , and then a starter, believe me speak from experience
Deleted member CB
Registered user
My clock would go to zero sometimes on starting.
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164930
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180746&page=2
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164930
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180746&page=2
aaroNZ
Guest
Sigh...looks like i will need to investigate this further then. The clock zeroing is now happening once a week. I've been away to attend a funeral the past few days, so it'll be interesting to see if the bike will start next time I try.
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