Is my starter relay buggered?

Message

Viking · #1 Post by **Viking** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 11:26 pm

Morning all,

Went to ride the Falco to work this morning only to find it wouldn't start.

Symptoms:
- strange buzzing / whining sound from somewhere
- dash reset
- speedo reading jumping all over the place (up to 278km/hr!)
- engine didn't turn over at all

Possibly useful info:
- tried bumping the bike to try and shift the engine a little bit
- battery on tender for 2 days previous (had battery problems last time I tried to start it)

Any ideas?

(The only other thing I can think of is that the sprag clutch has died and that the sound I'm hearing is the starter motor spinning.)

I'm going to have a look at it tonight. First test is to find(!) and then short-circuit the starter relay to see if the engine will turn over or not. Then I'll try pulling the starter motor off to see if it spins or not.

I guess the bike is unhappy with me for leaving her sitting for so long. We all know how temperamental those Italian ladies can be.....

Falcopops · #2 Post by **Falcopops** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 2:16 am

Hi Steve,

Easy enough to short the starter solenoid to check that. I'd say it's the battery, get it tested. Doubt the sprag is broken yours is one of the later models that don't seem to suffer sprag failures.

The buzzing/whining could be the fuel pump, it can make unusual noises if it's been left for a while.

Viking · #3 Post by **Viking** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 3:47 am

Hi FP,

It's not the fuel pump - I know what that sounds like. This is a different noise that is present as long as I have my thumb on the starter button.

Might pull the battery out and give it a good charge as well - that doesn't seem to hurt things.

Falcopops · #4 Post by **Falcopops** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 5:57 am

Oh dear, that does sound a bit ominous for the Sprag then, hope not.

back_marker · #5 Post by **back_marker** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 9:08 am

+1 on the sprag. If it was a goosed battery you would hear a rapid chattering from the starter relay.

Viking · #6 Post by **Viking** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 11:24 am

*sigh* It's the bloody battery. Checked the dashboard voltmeter and it was reading 10.7 volts. I tried to start the bike and heard the starter relay going *click*click*click*click*click*click*

So I pulled the battery out and found that it had leaked a bit of fluid onto the holder. Being me, I rubbed a finger in it and tried to see where this awful smell of sulphur was coming from. (No, it wasn't the battery acid eating my finger...)

The poor battery charger can't decide whether the battery is fully charged or needs charging - the status lights keep flashing on and off like a demented disco light.

So it's off to the bike shop for a new battery tomorrow.

Thanks for the ideas, guys. It's great having such a wealth of knowledge around.

joecrx · #7 Post by **joecrx** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 6:23 pm

i was just about to say change the battery ,

Viking · #8 Post by **Viking** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 11:14 pm

Hey all,

Picked up the battery on Friday morning, left it on trickle-charge over the weekend and installed it this morning.

Yay! She started up first press of the button.

The new battery is about 20mm (0.75 inches) taller than the old one, which was a bit of a surprise. Perhaps the old one was a lower capacity?

*shrug* Not that it matters. I'm a happy Viking now.