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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Starter problems....I think
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Message started by luken on 10/16/06 at 20:03:51

Title: Starter problems....I think
Post by luken on 10/16/06 at 20:03:51

So today I felt adventerous, thought Id knock out a few things with my bike. I changed the oil, changed the filter, cleaned the carb, changed the spark plug, put it all together and its not starting. Next time I'll do all that 1 at a time and make sure its still running. :P

What happens is it just tries and tries, but it makes a clicking sound and the lights flicker. The clicking sound is like a ratchet. I traced the sound to that cylinder thing behing the ignition. I think it might be a problem with the starter but I have no idea what to do next. My wife is fuming "you should be paying somebody who knos what they are doing", I thought it would be a pretty simple maintanece day. Any ideas? Was working fine before I started tinkering with it. Any help would be appreciated! Im working on it in the garage right now listening to the game (go cardinals!)

Title: Re: Starter problems....I think
Post by ratdog472 on 10/16/06 at 20:12:30

First of all charge and tighten your battery connections. Start small and work big.

Title: Re: Starter problems....I think
Post by luken on 10/16/06 at 20:38:19

Well, battery is looking low. 10.8volts. It was working just fine this morning. After all the stuff I did seems kinda fishy that it would just lay over and die, but I guess Ill just have to take it in the juevos.

Is there something I could have donw wrong with the spark plug that I could have drained it somewhow? I guess the battery is 4 years old, so its about at its time anyway. Just bad timing I guess.

Title: Re: Starter problems....I think
Post by sluggo on 10/16/06 at 23:24:59

leave the key on will drain the batt pretty quickly. i do it frequently.

Title: Re: Starter problems....I think
Post by Reelthing on 10/17/06 at 06:18:43

luken wrote:

Well, battery is looking low. 10.8volts.

to low to function - even at 12.2-12.3 it's likely to crank over and not start - to low of voltage to fire

Title: Re: Starter problems....I think
Post by thumperclone on 10/17/06 at 07:14:48

check the level of the battery before you charge it,distilled water..4 years on a motorcycle battery is 12 months longer than any ive seen are rated..

Title: Re: Starter problems....I think
Post by luken on 10/17/06 at 11:34:28

well, I broke down and bought a new battery last night. Went to checker right before it closed, they got me pretty much the same battery but "A" instead of "B". I think the only diff is that one faces the other way.

It was like a chemistry set, adding the acid and all. Then I figure out that on top of the battery I needed to go $hell out more money for a charger. Charged it up last night, this morning I plugged it into the bike, didnt notice the key was in the ignition and I heard a pop when I attached the black cable. Probably blew a fuse.

Title: Re: Starter problems....I think
Post by Max_Morley on 10/17/06 at 12:32:34

Key in the ignition but not on should not have blown a fuse. Check them and if one (or both) are open, then better check for pinched wires under the seat or tank assembly as you had them off to change the plug (unless you have done the door modification or levft the cover off). Just the key in the ignition but in the off position should not be a problem or cause a fuse to blow. Max

Title: Re: Starter problems....I think
Post by luken on 10/17/06 at 17:05:33

OK....I swapped out the battery, connected everything...now when I start it up it revs up like I have the throttle pulled. I can freely move the throttle back and forth. I have to hit the kill switch after 1 second. Really wierd. Ill start searching the forums for...stuck throttle?

Title: Re: Starter problems....I think
Post by luken on 10/17/06 at 18:40:13

Nevermind...IM an idiot. The cable was getting kinked under the engine. I got it :P

Thanks for all your help!

Title: Re: Starter problems....I think
Post by Savage_Rob on 10/17/06 at 19:54:13

luken wrote:

The cable was getting kinked under the engine.

Under the engine?

Title: Re: Starter problems....I think
Post by luken on 10/18/06 at 13:01:13

I meant under the tank :P I just had to tap in the metal end of it so it wasnt pulling the throttle cabel out.

I didnt fasten the battery good enough, looked down on the way to work and it was hanging out. I had to hold it in with my foot.

I felt really sheepish. Everything works fine now though :)

Title: Re: Starter problems....I think
Post by barry68v10 on 10/18/06 at 14:19:25

Quote:

Under the engine?

LOL!!!!! I was trying to picture that too... ;D

Title: Re: Starter problems....I think
Post by thumperclone on 10/18/06 at 16:54:22

at least youre up and riding..learn by doing!!!

Title: Re: Starter problems....I think
Post by Savage_Rob on 10/18/06 at 19:53:05

Yes, glad you're up and working!