R6 Warm start issue.

[BuzzR6]

The R6 starts fine from cold and is kept on an Optimate 24/7.

When it's hot, say i've just stopped for fuel etc. it'll only start with me holding a small amount of throttle for say 1-2 minutes then it will tick over fine again. Also if I cock up and don't catch it on the throttle it'll only stomach a couple of goes at starting before the battery dies.

Any ideas ?? Choke issue ? New battery needed ??

Cheers in advance..

[Ian G]

id say your battery has a dry cell or a bad connection (internal) as it sounds like its not charging as you ride its cheap and easy to change a battery before you start pulling it apart to look for choke problems

[Guest]

Yep, Ian has a point. First thing first though, check the battery connections on the battery in case the terminals are loose.

If it isn't charging, the battery will be weak, so you will have a weak spark, resulting in poor starting. Starting from cold however, you just unplugged it from your optimate, so the battery will be nice and juicy.

To check -- not entirely sure on your bike but the logic should hold true ---

Get yaself a multimeter, on DC volts, check the reading across the battery terminals, no optimate connected and not running ..

It should say around 12.5v ... start bike .. check reading ... should say around 13.5v ...

If it continues to say 12.5v it does suggest it is not charging properly ...

First things first though

[TC]

Sounds like your rectifier is playing up if its not charging the battery.

Try what Dan has said.

Or an easier (but not as acurate) way is when you come to a stop leave the engine running for a few minutes with all lights/hotgrips etc OFF then turn off the engine wait a while and try it again. it may start.

What happens (if its faulty) is as the Rectifier warms up it gets less effective and produces less power to recharge the Battery. So if you have your lights and other electrical stuff on, the battery is slowly being drained.

Oh and normally you can bump start it as well

[BuzzR6]

Cheers guys, I'll check all that and report back

[j4ff]

This is just a real stab in the dark but the fuel fillter under the tank could be dirty and the heat from the standing engine could be evaporating the fuel in the lines(im no mechanic but had a similar problem with a car)

[Stu]

judging by your avatar this is a newish R6??

if its still in warrenty get it to the dealers

[BuzzR6]

2006 56 plate mate

[j4ff]

Do you use the kill switch to switch off?

Ive just read reports of this.The guy went back to using the key to switch off and hasnt had the problem since.

[BuzzR6]

Hmmm. That's a point, I may well have done that recently. Will see if it makes any difference !

[BuzzR6]

Picking up a new battery from Woods tomorrow so we'll see if that sorts it !

[Voodoo]

It could be the Optimate ruining your battery. I've killed a battery or two using mine, now I just use it if the batteries low, and only for 12-15 hours max

[BuzzR6]

It could be the Optimate ruining your battery. I've killed a battery or two using mine, now I just use it if the batteries low, and only for 12-15 hours max

 

Really mate? I thought it was ok to leave them on permanently? I put a new battery on yesterday and it started with a new vigor.. not sure if the hot start issue has been fixed though. Will nip out on it tomorrow and see.

[Voodoo]

Really mate? I thought it was ok to leave them on permanently?

 

It says you can in the instructions and is surpossed to turn off etc..., but I fitted a new battery to a bike once and that particular year I only used the bike half a dozen times. The rest of the time it was connected to the optimate, and after one year the battery was useless.

[BuzzR6]

Really mate? I thought it was ok to leave them on permanently?

 

It says you can in the instructions and is surpossed to turn off etc..., but I fitted a new battery to a bike once and that particular year I only used the bike half a dozen times. The rest of the time it was connected to the optimate, and after one year the battery was useless.

 

Thanks for that, will investigate with the R6 which has a new battery on and see how we go.

[Guest]

RE: Optimates etc.... Ain't they designed for keeping a battery healthy during storage? ie , if you use the bike regularly, does it need to be connected 24/7??

[Voodoo]

RE: Optimates etc.... Ain't they designed for keeping a battery healthy during storage? ie , if you use the bike regularly, does it need to be connected 24/7??

 

They're surposed too, but it knackered mine. If you use the bike regularly you don't need to charge it. Over winter my battery looses it's charge after about two months, so I charge it for 12 hours and its fine for another two months.