RantMachine Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Hiya one and all.Bike has fouled up again, no doubt thanks to being ridden through the winter and being chinese (so no smart arse Chineae bike comments thank you, I know my mistakes and live with then every day ).In short, it won't start. Been resorting to bump starts when I absolutely need to ride it. Charged the battery and that's not the fault, so I'm off to Halfrauds in a minute to grab a multimeter so I can carry on working through the Haynes. Solenoid seems a likely cause, because that's packed in once before so it's likely to be a particularly shoddy component. Haven't seen anything else mentioned in the Haynes that I should buy in order to do my troubleshooting, but does anyone have any recommendations for other things I should grab while I'm there? For obvious reasons I can't go back easily so I'd rather buy too much stuff now than not enough. After all it'll probably be useful somewhere down the line.And for those who know my bike well - yes, it's still under warranty, but getting it to my dealership in Bedford is a pain in the bum, and to be frank I'm the kind of person who would prefer to learn to do these things myself when the opportunity arises. I can repay any advice with Photoshop lessons or retouching photos, seeing as those are MY special skills that other folks don't all have Cheers in advance guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Multimeter is the main thing Ollie....but get some WD40 if you don't already have some....just to give the electrics a squirt as maybe some damp has got in there..... When you say it won't start....is the motor turning over OK? Also go round the battery terminals and make sure they are really tight and clean.....and also check the earth connection to the engine isn't corroded or any other earth connection corroded. Also check the electrical connection to the starter solenoid that they are clean and tight and to the starter motor itself too..... Let me know how you get on..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RantMachine Posted December 31, 2013 Author Share Posted December 31, 2013 Argh, I knew I'd miss a detail - I get the little clicking noise when pressing the starter but the engine doesn't turn over. I think I read somewher once that was a hint of problem with the wiring? Sounds just the same as the problems I had with it before which Rick Stringer told me was the solenoid. Not that I entirely trust the man... Cheers for the advice Bob, I'll give you an update once I've got back and taken another look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acting_strange Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Argh, I knew I'd miss a detail - I get the little clicking noise when pressing the starter but the engine doesn't turn over. I think I read somewher once that was a hint of problem with the wiring? Sounds just the same as the problems I had with it before which Rick Stringer told me was the solenoid. Not that I entirely trust the man... Cheers for the advice Bob, I'll give you an update once I've got back and taken another look. A clicking sound is often the telltale of a poor earth connection....that being the engine connection or negative battery connection... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 the clicking is the starter relay usually a flat battery will do this your battery might not be accepting a charge hence why its always flat even after a charge you need to measure the voltage across the battery after about an hour of been off charge it could also be a corroded wire somewhere but start with the battery my suspicion is the battery is toast though as once its running it is fine due the the charging system providing enough juice to keep it running Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Clicking solenoid is often due to insuficient voltage to operate it.....either due to low battery voltage or loose/corroded/dirty battery terminals......or sometimes the solenoid itself. First up will be to check the battery voltage with everything turned off (>13.0v) and then check it with the ignition on (>12.5v but steady....not dropping rapidly)....then hit the starter....if it drops right down then it's either the battery is shagged or there's a loose connection somewhere in the circuit which is dropping the voltage when a higher current is being drawn..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RantMachine Posted December 31, 2013 Author Share Posted December 31, 2013 Cheers guys Got my multimeter, just waiting for the weather to get a little bit less bleak. Might have to break out some tarpaulin for a makeshift tent at this rate...Also, my dad spotted a ZZR600 Haynes going for peanuts in their sale, which seemed like a tempting enough deal now that I'm being more realistic about my budget and the V-Strom has become a pipe dream Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 See how you get on Ollie......I can pop over for a bit if you need a hand though...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RantMachine Posted December 31, 2013 Author Share Posted December 31, 2013 Much appreciated! Don't know if the weather over here is stretching over your way, but working on the bike outside is certainly off the cards for now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Yeah....it's pretty Sh*te out there at the moment....and it'll be dark in a couple of hours too..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonniebird Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Just drizzling here now. Think the weather was going West to East so hopefully it may dry up enough for you to get out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RantMachine Posted December 31, 2013 Author Share Posted December 31, 2013 Wow Just found out from my mum that the family friend who used to give me a lift to school was the/a director of Haynes! Crazy stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Wow Just found out from my mum that the family friend who used to give me a lift to school was the/a director of Haynes! Crazy stuff!It sure is a small world....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RantMachine Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 Well, I've had its guts out and the battery seems fine, so then I've moved on to checking the solenoid and I have no idea what the problem could be. No idea at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggie Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 that looks in good shape to me...........for a chinese one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Normal wear and tear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RantMachine Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 But swiss cheese isn't supposed to rust... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattycoops43 Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 How have you tested the battery? Solenoid clicking is normally duff battery (or flat at least) although that solenoid does look rusty! Solenoid can be tested, will be open circuit across the main terminals, then when you put 12v across it (by pressing starter button) it should be closed circuit. This can be tested while it's all connected up. If it's clicking but not closing the circuit then it has definitely failed.You can connect your bike to another bike with jump leads and if it goes straight away, then it's got to be the battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RantMachine Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 Checked the battery in accordance with Bob's instructions. Might see if I can convince Moo to loan me the use of Ermintrude's battery when she gets home, just to give the solenoid one last check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 I think it's a safe bet to assume it's the solenoid Matt...... You say that'll be the second one that's failed on a bike less than a year old Ollie? ........now, where are the chinese bike fans?..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikerMooFromMars Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Checked the battery in accordance with Bob's instructions. Might see if I can convince Moo to loan me the use of Ermintrude's battery when she gets home, just to give the solenoid one last check.Ewwwww, I don't want Ermintrude getting cheese all over her!!!!!! There'd better be a cup of tea and some ice cream in it for me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RantMachine Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 Damn it all, different batteries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattycoops43 Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 different connections? if you can lend some jump leads just connect it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RantMachine Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 In theory I could probably connect it up if I tried, as the connectors on my bike are the slightly larger of the two... but in this sort of area I have no idea what I'm doing (to clarify; I'm currently Googling amps to remind myself of their significance as mine is 4A/h and hers is 6A/h...) and I know there'd be hell to pay if I were seen to have abused Ermintrude in any way Also, having gutted both a Chinese bike and a Honda CBF today, let me just say that it's a little bit like this comparison:http://www.craftychild.com/image-files/finger-painting-with-texture.jpghttp://www.braingle.com/trivia/art/1.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 What you could also try (if you're feeling brave.... ) is take the connection on the starter solenoid that comes from the battery off and touch it to the other large connection that goes to the starter....this would bypass the starter solenoid. If the bike turns over on the starter this way you have proved that it's the solenoid that is at fault (of which there is no doubt in my mind..... ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.