Not again...............

[Falco9]

OK electrical problem No2......and yet another breakdown. This time leaving me stranded at my parents house today If you're gonna have a breakdown thats probablky a good place to do it!

So, the problem. The bike started fine at home, had a short run to my parents, came out and pressed the starter and electrical chaos!!! rev counter started stuttering, dash re-set and a relay was going beserk clicking at super speed, (Its the 2nd to last one of the left hand frame rail, 15amp??) No start and every time I hit the button the same thing happens along with the solenoid clicking rapidly (at least I think it was the solenoid). The bike lives on the Optimate at home and the battery is only 6 months old and was showing green on the Optimate this morning. I've removed the battery and its now back on the Optimate and I've removed the solenoid (for possible replacement) I tried bumping it off but a combination of me being fat and unfit combined with the compression of a 1000cc V twin was always going to result in failiure and a near coronary!

So she got abandoned in my mothers garage

You all know by now (or you shouold do) what a complete electrical numpty I am, so all suggestions gratefully recieved, please bear in mind I don't have access to the bike for a while though

I'm starting to get seriously pissed off with these almost constant electrical problems

F9

[Kwackerz]

Im thinking loose connection.

Also, Have you washed it (hose or copious amounts of water) or was it raining?

[blinkey501]

I am not normally bad with car electrics and i suppose the principal is the same ,i would be tempted to start with the battery end. disconect the battery leads and clean them up with a match box sand paper, re conect and try. then if that fails check the earth strap to the engine this is a common fault on vauxhalls and your problems sound familiar, clean the same rebolt but coat with a thin layer of copper grease when re bolted on the bolts. but has daft has it seems the battery could be loosing its charge quite quickly and this DEFINATLY can cause your problems! is the battery a sealed unit? check the water level if low before re charging top up, then check your main lead to the starter, plus you have a switch live wire to the starter also, your main cable will be the thicker of the two because of the cranking amps it has to carry. finally when disconecting all the leads check that all the wires inside are making good contact with the lugs and i am almost certain this should sort your problems. blinkey , its not that compicated but with electrics unfortunatly can be time consuming

[back_marker]

Usually means flat battery.

I have found of late that mine never seems to charge itself back up fully, so that after a lot of short rides, it suddenly goes flat. I think this may be down to always running with the lights on so the charging system can never quite keep up.

[blinkey501]

I have noticed when i have been out with lights on that optimiser always go's straight onto charge mode when i first plug it in, which does point out battery is not fully charged!

[D-Rider]

Yep - sounds like a flat battery.

Now I've said it before and i'm sure to say it again ..... how are you using your optimate?

Do you remember to switch it off at the mains and then back on again every time you plug it in to the bike?
If not, it won't initiate a new charge cycle and it will just run a very low float charge.

Please confirm that one before we worry about other causes.

[Falco9]

Yep - sounds like a flat battery.

Now I've said it before and i'm sure to say it again ..... how are you using your optimate?

Do you remember to switch it off at the mains and then back on again every time you plug it in to the bike?
If not, it won't initiate a new charge cycle and it will just run a very low float charge.

Please confirm that one before we worry about other causes.

I'm pleased to say Andy that I do. I also have the Optimate on a timer so it turns off for a couple of hours every day. The more I think about it the more I think the battery must be knackered but it started straight away today as always

Luckily my son works at Halfords and he's going to swap the battery tomorrow for a new one so fingers crossed that may be the solution I'm looking for.

It would appear I've removed the solenoid for nothing then? (I hope it is the solenoid?) its round in shape and was mounted on the right hand side of the bike.

I will of course take all of the advice given and clean the battery terminals etc...but there were no loose connections and the terminal were tight. After the previous electrical issues I had I've checked every single connection on the bike and the earth points are all (and are) tight

[D-Rider]

I have had similar when my battery was well past its best - normally would start OK but when the pistons stopped in a certain position (I guess one on compression) it would do the instruments dance and fail to start.

Did manage to get it going by attempted bump starts moving the engine round a bit.

New battery solved my problem completely.

[Falcopops]

I'm still strugling with a starting problem, and getting about 1 to 2 no starts in 10.

The mad clicking seems to come from the dash dring the reset, when the rev needle does its dance.

I've changed the solenoid, cleaned the earth, put a new battery in, changed the alternator wiring connectors, wiring mod done years ago, pulled the starter and cleaned all the connections on the feed wires and still have no confidence It'll start 1 stab. Always goes on the second prod after a failed start though!

So not much help Rich If you diagnose the problem let me know please.

[flatlander]

Usually means flat battery.

I have found of late that mine never seems to charge itself back up fully, so that after a lot of short rides, it suddenly goes flat. I think this may be down to always running with the lights on so the charging system can never quite keep up.

I think you have to run at over 4000 revs for it start charging efficiently but then I am not very good with electrics so that comment is probably worth exactly what you just paid me for it

[Falco9]

So... brand new battery with 24hrs charge was fitted tonight and still nothing but a furious clicking from the starter solenoid (I'm assuming its the starter solenoid, its round and fits on the right hand frame rail with 2 heavy duty cables to it) I also still had the rev counter doing its dance.

So I'm open to suggestions or do I just get an auto electrian to have alook at it

Is the solenoid knackered? I ask because no one has mentioned it in the previous posts but yet I've see many posts previously that mention upgrading / replacing it with a Yamaha item???

Serioulsy pissed off with this now ....if I have one more issue I'm afraid shes going......I can't do with these constant electrical problems. I've never been let down by a bike so often as this one.

I quite fancy chucking both the bimmer and the falco in against a new KTM SMT with the touring kit offer they have on at the mo.......but thats for another thread

[blinkey501]

Right either your starter is knackered or you definatly have a loose connection, try a jump lead from the negative of your battery straight onto the body of your starter. put a possitive from your battery to your main cable on your starter ( this is the thicker of the two main cables) your thinner cable is the switch wire ie it comes from your starter
button, once you have done this hit the starter it should strike up straight away, in doing this you have cut out your engine earth and mains cable to your starter. if this does not work get your starter checked out. if it does start let me know and i will let you know what to do next
.blink

[furygan man]

Not that i know anything, but after similar clicking and starter probs last year changed to a new battery (smaller one recomended by DR) and a replacement solenoid from Scooter Assasins (again care of DR) just for the hell of it and i had nothing to lose been fine since, i know it doesn't directly help you out but i think for the porpose of £20 ish might be worth a punt as even if it doesn't directly help on this instance it's a worthwhile mod for the future...possibly...what do i know?

[blinkey501]

you probably know a lot about these bikes i am looking at it has a car electrical problem which the basics must be the same
but what i would like to establish if it is a starter problem of any kind it could be what you say it is and i hope so, in doing this test it will tell either way

[Falco9]

Hi Blinkey, got your message thanks I'll be in touch.

I've just ordered a new starter relay (sorry thats the bit I was calling the solenoid) from Scooter assasins. Once that arrives I'll fit it along with the new battery and see what happens.
If no joy I'll try Blinkeys approach to see if its the starter motor but at the moment it doesn't even try to turn over all I get is a mass of clicks from the relay.

I'm away on me jollies at the end of the week so it might just have to wait till I'm back, of course if the relay arrives quickly I might be able to have before then. Once again many thanks for all the contributors that are trying to help me out, its much appreciated

F9