Strange starter behaviour

[seahorse]

I have recently being seeing the following;
1) Switch on ignition
2) Hit starter button, just get a click, same as if the battery was flat.
3) Hit starter again, starts as normal

Has happened a few times now over the last couple of weeks, never failed to start. Battery is a new Motobatt, all connections are good.
Any ideas as to why this is happening? I was thinking maybe ignition switch on the way out, but struggling to come up with anything else.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

If it's the ignition switch, I don't think there would be a click. Saying that, when mine went it would start sometimes and not others and you could never tell but I don't recall hearing a click. .

Easy fix though if it is that.

 

[Bendy toy]

Check the main earth point on top of the engine behind the alternator.

 

[seahorse]

How accessible is it?

 

[Bendy toy]

If there is an issue, you will need to remove the patrol tank, but you might be able to see it with a small mirror and torch.

Use a jump start lead to test it. Clip one end to battery negative and the other to bare metal on the engine - a bolt head should do the job. If the starter now works normally you've proved the earth point is weak.

 

[doyle]

I would recheck your battery terminals ,as I had the exact same thing when I had a GSA. I checked the terminals =all tight and good I thought. However one wasn't properly on which I discovered when it failed to start completely.
Take the battery connections off and refit . Worth a try especially since you mention your new motobat battery.

 

[duckspeed]

Oxidation at the battery terminals can be a problem clean the until they shine
When refitting make sure the large main terminals go on first before any additional connectors that have been added.
Bendy's substitute earth cable above is also a good suggestion

 

[Kiwi_Mike]

Check the starter relay under the tool tray. I had the same issue on my 06 GS and it turned out to be a burnt out relay due to the fact it was floating in water following a day of riding in heavy rain. From memory I just needed to replace one of the connectors.

I also drilled the drain hole to make it bigger as it had got clogged by grit.

 

[Magwych]

Could be the starter itself, or the alternator starting to jam.

How old is the bike, how many miles?

 

[Beemerman59]

I have recently being seeing the following;
1) Switch on ignition
2) Hit starter button, just get a click, same as if the battery was flat.
3) Hit starter again, starts as normal

Has happened a few times now over the last couple of weeks, never failed to start. Battery is a new Motobatt, all connections are good.
Any ideas as to why this is happening? I was thinking maybe ignition switch on the way out, but struggling to come up with anything else.

A few years ago I had exactly the same happen on occasion - never reappeared when I fitted a new battery (Odyssey).

 

[Bendy toy]

Could be the starter itself, or the alternator starting to jam.

How old is the bike, how many miles?

If its the starter the jump lead test will find it.

It's never 100% but if its the alternator is starting seize Id expect some funny noises or more likely no start at all due to it being jammed.

 

[seahorse]

Bike is a 2012 year, currently on 12k. Doesn't get used as much as my old 1200 as I have a F650 twin for the commute now. Battery is about a month old, bought it for the F650 and then discovered the 650 had a knackered alternator! So new battery has gone in the 1200. I have checked the relay, which is under the ECU just above the alternator. No corrosion there. When it does play up you do get the click from the solenoid just nothing else so I think the relay is OK as power must be getting to the solenoid. Off to Wales for the Welsh National Rally tomorrow so starter will be getting plenty of use over the weekend!

 

[Bendy toy]

The main earth on engine top under fuel tank is worth a look if you have the time.

 

[seahorse]

Checked that as well, all looks fine.

 

[Bendy toy]

Its all very odd.

I stripped my starter motor at about 50K miles because I was doing other stuff to the bike. Other than greasing the motor gearbox and brushing off carbon dust there was nothing else needed to be done

 

[seahorse]

An update;
Whilst researching this problem, I did come across something on another forum where resetting adaptation values appeared to fix an almost identical problem. As I have a GS911 I did exactly that. I have just been on the Welsh national Rally this weekend and have probably used the starter 40-50 times over the last three days. No recurrence whatsoever.

 

[Bendy toy]

Just in case it's a voltage issue - have you checked the alternator output is within spec.