Anyway it was the usual engine starts but misfires, no EFI or any other warning on dash, and again you could feel the engine spitting back through the throttle.
It started and ran for about 10 seconds then died again and would not re-start. Again a carbon copy of what it did the last time it broke down, only this time the bike then refused to turn over.
I pulled apart and cleaned the sidestand switch, sprayed cleaner/lube into the ignition keyhole, stripped the rear bodywork off and checked the relays. On checking the starter relay i noticed one of the terminal rubber covers had partially melted and the nut underneath discoloured and rusting. The relay was clicking when the start button was pushed butwhen tested there was no continuity across the large connectors. Found out it was an old 50 amp unit. Aprilia fitted a 100 amp and then 150 amp unit. I turned the ignition on and shorted the terminals with a large screwdriver and the engine started. This time it ran erratically for about 1 minute then stalled and i couldn't get it to run again.
On replacing the relay with the new Aprilia relay today (that's two working days to get spares from Aprilia folks!
) it starts on the button and seems to be running fine- but i'm at a loss as to how a duff starter relay can affect the running of the engine??? I mean once the engines up and running the starter relay shouldn't have any input in to the way it runs should it?Help, it's doing my head in!
