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Message started by NCSUindy09 on 08/07/15 at 09:20:26

Title: Bike won't start - electrical
Post by NCSUindy09 on 08/07/15 at 09:20:26

Hey guys, back again because my junk broke. I actually just bought a 2008 SV650 and it's awesome but I don't have plates or insurance yet. I have to use my savage to go get my license and of course the day I try to do that it decides it's done working.

Here's what's happening: I tried to start it and the starter moved slowish for a couple puffs and then stopped. Now whenever I hit the ignition I just hear an electrical spark or click sound.

I know I'm getting the click of the decomp solenoid. I know the battery is good and fully charged.

What are signs of a starter dying? What are signs of the coil dying?

I'm going to go look for shorts as well. I had an issue with a short and my main ground wire just a few months ago. I'll check out how well my wad of electrical tape is holding up...

Title: Re: Bike won't start - electrical
Post by Dave on 08/07/15 at 10:10:39

What you are describing sure sounds like a battery that is not charged. What little charge the battery had you used running the starter for a few turns, and now it doesn't have enough energy to activate the solenoid.

Unless you check your battery with a volt meter, there is no way to be certain your battery is OK. Batteries can go bad overnight....or even in 3 minutes. Last year I rode to the hardware store and got a bolt, then started the bike up and rode a mile down the street to get gas. I shut off the bike, fueled up, and then turned on the key....and nothing happened. I did some trouble shooting and found nothing worn....all the wires were tight and the fuses were good. I got a jump from a car and the bike fired right up (never take a jump from a running car...make sure it is turned off). I took a long ride home for 30 minutes to charge the battery, and when I shut the bike off the battery was dead. I tried charging it.....and it would not hold a charge. The battery went from good to bad in a single 3 minute period.

I betcha your battery needs charged.....or maybe even replaced.
(And yes, batteries choose the most inconvenient time to stop working). :-/

Title: Re: Bike won't start - electrical
Post by NCSUindy09 on 08/07/15 at 10:16:12

12.4V with multimeter

Title: Re: Bike won't start - electrical
Post by NCSUindy09 on 08/07/15 at 10:21:36

Fuses are good

Title: Re: Bike won't start - electrical
Post by Serowbot on 08/07/15 at 10:23:17

Try a jump from a car battery...(car engine not running)...
If yer' bike starts easy,... it's yer' battery...

Title: Re: Bike won't start - electrical
Post by koehlerrk on 08/07/15 at 10:34:04

Was that 12.4 volts with the batt at no load or under load?

I've seen them show 12+ volts just sitting there, but when you use themfor starting the bottom drops out. And with our bikes and their ignition system, drop below 10 volts and you'll never get a spark no matter how much you crank it.

Serow hit an easy check... try starting it off a car, not running, with jumper cables. Simple and definitive.

Title: Re: Bike won't start - electrical
Post by NCSUindy09 on 08/07/15 at 10:41:27

I have a battery charger but no jumper cables. I'm letting it charge now. I really should invest in some jumper cables though.

Thanks for the input

Title: Re: Bike won't start - electrical
Post by NCSUindy09 on 08/07/15 at 11:28:37

No dice with jumper cables. I still get the same weird assortment of electrical sounds with no signs of life.

Title: Re: Bike won't start - electrical
Post by verslagen1 on 08/07/15 at 11:35:57

the starter could be stalled on the compression stroke.
put in gear, bump the bike forward until you can operate the decomp lever by hand. then try the starter.

Title: Re: Bike won't start - electrical
Post by chzeckmate on 08/07/15 at 11:39:23

Even if you charge it you may still have the same problem. As koehlerrk pointed out, if your battery is toast, it could show good voltage but not have the CCA to fire the engine. I had a problem like that where a minor short was causing a parasitic draw on the battery when I charged it the voltage was fine but it still wouldn't crank. When I jumped it with my car it would crank and when I replaced the battery it would crank until the parasitic draw fried the new battery again. After I fixed the short and replaced the battery again everything was fine. Try jumping it with your car. You can get cheapo jumpers at the dollar store.

Title: Re: Bike won't start - electrical
Post by NCSUindy09 on 08/07/15 at 11:44:56

I assume the tank has to come off to operate the decomp by hand? I swear I can hear and feel the decomp solenoid working. I can feel the thing making a bit of a quick vibration when I hit the starter.

Title: Re: Bike won't start - electrical
Post by verslagen1 on 08/07/15 at 12:06:28

6A6777714D4A405D141D240 wrote:

Oh, I forgot, you might not be able to grab that lever if you have the chrome head covers on.
If your decomp is not adjusted properly, it will still operate, but it's not doing what it's supposed to.

Title: Re: Bike won't start - electrical
Post by NCSUindy09 on 08/07/15 at 12:09:16

I got a few good chuffs out of it trying to bump start. It didn't fire up though.

I'll mess with the decomp when I get back. I'm going out of town for a couple days.

thanks for the help :)