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30-04-2020, 10:43 AM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Malmesbury
Bike: M900
Posts: 82
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Starting Problems - again
Hi,
Not posted for a while as my m900 has been off the road for a year. After charging the battery I tried starting the bike but got a rapid clicking noise from the starter relay. Not a single click but constant clicking until the start button was released. Does this sound like a bad earth somewhere? I have a spare starter relay which I tried but get the same result. Any idea's what the problem could be? This is a 1994 M900 so the wiring and connectors are very old. Mark |
30-04-2020, 10:54 AM | #2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Clevedon
Bike: M1200s
Posts: 563
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Check the battery voltage, sounds like it could be shagged.
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Keep the rubber side down. Mick |
30-04-2020, 10:54 AM | #3 |
.
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: East London
Bike: Multiple Monsters
Posts: 9,731
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Sounds like the battery is too weak to activate the relay and turn the starter motor, to be expected after sitting connected to a bike through a couple of winters.
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30-04-2020, 11:18 AM | #4 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Malmesbury
Bike: M900
Posts: 82
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Are there any recommended Bike starters out there.
They are available for cars but don't know if these are suitable for bikes? This would be a good way of taking the battery out of the equation and starting the bike? |
30-04-2020, 11:32 AM | #5 |
Transmaniacon MOC
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Sutton In Ashfield
Bike: Multiple Monsters
Posts: 6,085
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It does sound like a flat/dead battery since you've ruled out the solenoid. I can't comment on bike starters but a volt/multi meter would be useful.
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Roast Beef Monster! Termignoni and Bucci - Italian for pipe and slippers! S4 Fogarty, S4R 07T, 748, Series 1 Mirage |
30-04-2020, 11:56 AM | #6 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Southampton
Bike: M1100evo
Posts: 2,465
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Quote:
Something like this? (Top-end, top price.) https://www.motolegends.com/accessor...r-charger.html Or cheap(er) and cheerful... https://www.amazon.co.uk/FYLINA-Star.../dp/B085H82S1D |
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30-04-2020, 12:17 PM | #7 |
.
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: East London
Bike: Multiple Monsters
Posts: 9,731
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don’t they fry the cdi units on older monsters?
http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/s...hlight=booster although i reckon the one vince linked to should be ok, it’s a slave battery rather than an industrial ‘booster’ Last edited by slob; 30-04-2020 at 12:22 PM.. |
30-04-2020, 12:37 PM | #8 |
Lord of the Rings
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Norwich
Bike: M900sie
Posts: 5,936
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Don't waste your money on a starter pack. Buy a multi-meter instead.
Your problem will be a massive voltage drop. One cause could be a battery which has lost it's "cranking amps" over the long storage. It might show 12-13 volts, but it will plummet when the starter is pressed. The other cause could be very high resistance in the starter cables. The first course of action (and the cheapest) is to brighten up all the connections in the heavy starter circuit. There are three cables in this circuit; the thick ones about 1/4" or more diameter, so that's three ends to investigate. Your battery terminals are probably not too bad as you will have removed them to charge the battery, if not, do so. The worst one will likely be the one that bolts to the starter itself. Take care in removing this as the terminal post must not turn . Don't ignore the earth lead going down to the front of the engine or to the inside of one of the footrest hanger bolts. All the contact faces of the terminals need to be polished back to bright metal to ensure a really good connection. Use wire wool, emery or whatever. This is a good service item in any case, so not a waste of time by any means. If this shows no improvement then it's time for a new battery... Simples.. Cracked record alert!.. Are your timing belts over two years old? If so change them before trying to start it again as the 12 month lay up will have done them no good at all.
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30-04-2020, 04:07 PM | #9 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Malmesbury
Bike: M900
Posts: 82
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Mr Gazza,
You may have knocked the nail on the head. Charged the battery up and tested with a multi-meter = 13.5 volts Just spent 3 min trying to start the bike but no luck. Checked the battery voltage again and now down to 11:3 volts. Is a voltage drop like this in 3 min to be expected? |
30-04-2020, 04:19 PM | #10 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Southampton
Bike: M1100evo
Posts: 2,465
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Quote:
Many on here, myself included, would recommend Motobatt as a replacement. |
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30-04-2020, 05:11 PM | #11 |
Lord of the Rings
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Norwich
Bike: M900sie
Posts: 5,936
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Yes you have seen a big drop in the voltage in a short time and that pretty much condemns the battery. But the voltage drop that I was alluding to was as Luddite kindly explained, the reading when the starter button is pressed and the subsequent recovery or lack of.
To be honest I don't think you are going to achieve much with further tests. I officially pronounce your battery dead! So while you're waiting for your new Motobatt to come, don't forget to have a look at those connections, as you will then be making the most of all those fresh cranking amps. Just to reiterate my warning about the starter terminal bolt turning. If it does, it will rip out internal connections to the bolt and need a starter strip to fix, or an exchange starter (if there is such a thing?). Old belts seem to be at their most vulnerable at the first start after a lay-up. It's not something I would take a chance on myself.
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30-04-2020, 06:42 PM | #12 |
aka Phil
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: derry
Bike: M900
Posts: 376
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Would agree that your battery is prob done. The rapid clicking you describe, or chattering as it is often described is the starter relay activating then deactivating as the voltage quickly dips due to the load, then re-activates as the voltage is allowed to rise slightly again, repeat, all in very quick succession.
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30-04-2020, 07:05 PM | #13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Livingston
Bike: M1100evo
Posts: 866
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+1 been there before. Battery is a goner
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03-05-2020, 11:41 AM | #14 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Preston
Bike: S4r
Posts: 61
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Quote:
Is it turning the motor fast enough or is it relly sluggish? To test for a voltage drop at the starter motor then test across the battery +ve to starter stud and crank the engine, it should read no more the 0.6 volts. If the results are massively high then there's a bad connection at the leads or solenoid. Then test across the battery -ve to starter casing and crank the engine, it should read no more the 0.25 volts. If this is high then there's a bad earth somewhere. |
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03-05-2020, 11:48 AM | #15 |
Transmaniacon MOC
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Sutton In Ashfield
Bike: Multiple Monsters
Posts: 6,085
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If you're gonna jump it from a car, I think you shouldn't have the car running. The CDI units could be damaged (see Slobs #7 post). You might be alright if just using the car battery on it's own but I haven't read through the link in #7 to confirm what the issue was there.
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Roast Beef Monster! Termignoni and Bucci - Italian for pipe and slippers! S4 Fogarty, S4R 07T, 748, Series 1 Mirage |
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