This will be long and I apologize in advance. Long story short, Stellinor won't start. She's charging on a 1.6A charger/tender as I type.

I'll preface the story by saying this is probably the worse possible time for me to buy a bike. I've been displaced from my home since late October waiting on repairs from 2 large oaks falling on it. The damage was quite extensive. I've been in a hotel about 30 minutes away since then.

Further, this has been the worst possible week to find anyone to assist with delivery. Add to that about 3 other bikes that were sold before I see them with someone to drive my car home. If you didn't see my other post, I drove up Monday about 45 minutes to see and test ride. I purchased and the seller agreed to my coming by week's end for pickup.

Note the battery seemed weak on the test ride, in addition to the noticeable surging. Further, the starter would often "stall" as TDC came around. My few miles of riding had very little (if any) effect.

Before leaving, I dumped a can of Seafoam in the tank and the seller topped it off with (presumably) fresh non-ethanol. He agreed to check the battery fluid and charge it overnight.

With no firm commitments for assistance, and trying to juggle work obligations, I rented a U-Haul motorcycle trailer and picked it up this morning. Of course, this meant a trip home first, for my recently returned from a friend (who couldn't assist with bike) old truck. Then a 30 minute trip backtracking to get the trailer.

FWIW, those U-Haul trailers pull like DOGS. I pulled a small enclosed trailer with my ex's 2500 late model Dodge with similar results. Max sidewall air pressures and apparently lined with lead. The cycle trailer was the same behind my Chevy 1500 2WD 350, even after airing the trailer tires down to 40. DOGS!

So I make it up the mountain (the Saluda Grade) and into NC dragging this brick, locked out of OD, and the truck STILL kicks down to 2nd once or twice to (barely) maintain 45-50.

The seller, who's super nice and went to high school with the cousin who bought the old truck new, greets me. He wheels the bike out and explains he wasn't able to charge the battery as he sent the charger with me and didn't want to use his car charger on such a small battery. He did, however, top the fluid level off, which was slightly low. He also drove it a mile or so yesterday and confirmed the surging.

Further, he was proud to say he corrected the idle and was eager to show me. Try as he may, with every combination of choke and throttle, nada. She teased a time or two but refused to fully catch. It didn't take long to hear the death click of the starter solenoid as the battery gave up the fight. When it did spin, the engine seemed slow and often stalled. We also smelled gas and assumed it flooded.

Figuring the drive home would fix the flooding, and hoping the 2 year old battery would recover with a nice long charge, we loaded the bike and I headed off, dragging a brick, with my new baby strapped to it.

I unloaded the bike and tried to start her again. No go, and the death click returned much quicker. So, I attached the charger, confirmed it was charging, and headed off to drop the trailer (30 minutes away) and grab lunch. To say I was eager to ride is an enormous understatement.

I returned with high hopes and held them a few seconds as the brief charge made a huge difference in the battery. The engine seemed to spin nearly as fast as it was idling the day of my test ride. Yet, it wouldn't start. DAMMIT.

So, I tried all combinations of choke and throttle. It seemed happiest and closest to catching with no choke and a cracked throttle. Alas, the death clicks returned and again I could smell gas. I saw zero leaks.

So, I thought I'd open the airbox and check for fuel, mainly due to reading posts here. Of course, to do that requires the seat removed. Of course, my Allen wrenches were in the hotel (30 minute drive) from adjusting my guitars' truss rods. Save for a small collection of mostly junk hand tools, the rest of my stuff sits in storage...30 minutes drive...and closed now.

I also needed a cover and some type of lock. With the day winding down fast, I headed to Cycle Gear, 45 minutes away for a disc lock and waterproof cover. I swung by the hotel and grabbed my tools and headed back. I left the battery charging again and prayed and cursed the entire time.

I removed the seat, side cover, airbox, and filter. I could smell gas but it was bone dry. The engine spun, once again, fast and free initially. She tried to catch several times but just not quite enough. Again, no choke and cracked throttle.

I repeated this several times until the death clicks returned and would resume charging. I even tried a quick shot of starter fluid then remembered these bikes also fire on the exhaust stroke, perhaps to reduce emissions?

With darkness falling, I left the bike basically open for the night as she charges. Hopefully, any flooding will evaporate/dissipate and a fully charged battery will be the solution. Hopefully.

I'll try her again in the morning and hopefully ride her (the rest of the way) to work.

All input appreciated.

Gary_in_NJ wrote on 06/17/21 at 04:53:36:


Good info and thanks. It may well turn out to be the battery.

After charging overnight, the battery still isn't fully charged but I tried her this morning anyway. She spun much faster and was SO close several times to catching. I used full and half choke, no throttle. I only tried starting her a few times to avoid further discharging the battery.

I may check her again at lunch for a green light and definitely this evening.

I went ahead and ordered a Duracell CYL10015 Ultra 14AHL-BS 12V 220CCA AGM Gray Case Battery (non-spillable) from Batteries + Bulbs. I stopped by at lunch and still no full charge and no start. I pulled out the Parts Unlimited Heavy Duty 12 Volt Battery RCB14LB2. These are readily available on eBay and Walmart. I had to search a bit to find the CCA which is 190.

Old: https://www.denniskirk.com/parts-unlimited/heavy-duty-12-volt-battery-rcb14lb...

New: https://www.batteriesplus.com/productdetails/cyl10015

I hurried home in high hopes the Duracell rated at 220 CCA would do the trick. It turned over slightly faster, seemed to try and catch more often, but nada. It still seemed a rev or two away from fully catching.

I connected my charger and the new battery is charging, surprisingly not full. I'll try to pick up a new plug on the way home and likely fresh gas.

I wonder if you're getting fuel
Try the petcock on prime

But you did say you tried starter fluid and no pop so sounds like you're missing spark

Start in neutal

Here’s the old plug, probably original. Not sure the pic does it justice.

Congrats to you. Enjoy the ride.