Bump/crash starting, can it hurt my bike?

[matdaymon]

Ok, so yesterday I rode down to Waiuku and the beach down that way I forget the name...Anyway I got off at the carpark by the beach and took a couple of snaps, then got back on the bike and got absolutely no joy out of the starter button. Lights on and had no sign of anything wrong before getting there. Just went to restart the bike and nothing. Light doesnt dim either when the button is pushed so assuming something is shagged between my thumb and the starter motor somewhere...

As a result (and thanks to the scottish bloke that saw me scratchin' my head) I've been bump/crash starting the bike since to get it going as its my main and only means of transport.

My question is this, will this be damaging my bike in any way? I can't afford to get it looked at until the end of next week at the earliest so will be doing it for at least a week, maybe longer.

[Ocean1]

No, you won't hurt it.

Probably nothing major, worth a look around yourself for loose wires, especially on the starter itself.

[matdaymon]

Already had a look, starter is connected, opened up the switchbox and the wires are in good nick, only things I can think of is a short in the wire between the button and the starter or the button itself is fricked

Thanks for the heads up on the bump/crash starting. Prob gonna be doing it a while til I can afford to get the bike looked at. Just spent mega $$ on a full service and Pilot Road 2's a couple of weeks ago so rather poor at the moment :violin:

[pete376403]

All race bikes used to be started like this in the days before starting rollers and the like. Tell everyone you've using an old race bike on the street...

[Ricardo S]

Already had a look, starter is connected, opened up the switchbox and the wires are in good nick, only things I can think of is a short in the wire between the button and the starter or the button itself is fricked

Thanks for the heads up on the bump/crash starting. Prob gonna be doing it a while til I can afford to get the bike looked at. Just spent mega $$ on a full service and Pilot Road 2's a couple of weeks ago so rather poor at the moment :violin:

it would be easy to test if the button is broken, just try starting the bike by closing the circuit from the cables of the start button.

[FJRider]

And check the fuses ...

[unstuck]

WOT He said.:yes:

[Mom]

Crash starting is a good skill to have :yes:

[matdaymon]

And check the fuses ...

It only has the one from what I've found and everything else is working fine

@ Mom, a VERY useful skill which I didnt have until helpful scottish bloke explained it to me. Was that you that waved to me on (I think) Friday arvo on Bush road btw?

[FJRider]

It only has the one from what I've found and everything else is working fine



It should have more than ONE ...

You may look here ...

http://www.scribd.com/doc/16066620/Hyosung-GT125-GT250-Workshop-Manual

[matdaymon]

It should have more than ONE ...

You may look here ...

http://www.scribd.com/doc/16066620/Hyosung-GT125-GT250-Workshop-Manual

Page 113, there is seriously only 1 fuse and its on the wrong side of the ignition to cause the problem I currently have. It's either the start switch or the start relay looking at the diagram.

[Urano]

possible causes:
fuse gone
battery gone (either battery's or alternator's fault...)
switch failed
start engine gone.

try to pay attention, when you press down the button: probably if you hear a little "TIC" the fuse and the switch are ok.
try then to recharge a little the battery.

now your question.
jump start is not recommended cos' the quantity of unburned petrol it'll pass trough the engine would damage the exhaust's catalytic converter.

BUT, since as i've recently learned you don't have cats, then...

[maggot]

Had a similar problem recently (thank god for a kickstart), might seem silly, but check the battery, they can sometimes just expire.. Otherwise do the aforementioned and hook up the starter motor to power source, and all that jazz, step by step troubleshoot

[matdaymon]

Battery seems fine, like I said earlier I've got all my lights still. I push the button and nothing happens... no sounds, no dimming of the Neutral or Headlight. Just nothingness.

[Urano]

Battery seems fine

without at least a tester is hard to say...


I've got all my lights still

doesn't means much...
the current could absolutely be enough to keep your lights on but not enough to turn the crankshaft...


I push the button and nothing happens... no sounds, no dimming of the Neutral or Headlight.

so, if you have discarded the battery with a tester or after a charge and checked the fuse, remains switch and start motor.
the first is quite unlikely, but if it is the latter then is going to be way more expensive...

[awayatc]

has it got tricks like....
Need to be on sidestand to be able to start?
or
Need to pull in clutch to be able to start?
If so then check the wiring from there...
(if those switches/cables earth it won't start...)

[Katman]

Quite possibly just dirty starter button contacts.

[Beren]

Hi, just out of interest - is bump starting a bike the same as a car? Put in in 2nd or 3rd get it rolling and drop the clutch? Or is there more of a technique to it than that?

[slofox]

I hurt a bike bump starting it once (many years ago now). When I went to jump on it as I dropped the clutch, I dropped the whole bike instead...Hurt me arse as well actually when I landed on the kick start lever...:angry:

[unstuck]

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PXl3RnBWbE0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[slofox]

Odd. I always ran along beside the bike...

[fliplid]

Always worth checking to see if the battery connections are nicely done up. Spent ages a long while ago trying to start me old bike- everything lit up nicely, even just about clicked the starter solenoid. Just not enough juice going through to turn the engine over to fire...:facepalm:

[Madness]

I had a dead battery once in my old ZZR1100. Crash starting one of those on flat ground is fantastic exercise, as I learnt.

[MotoKuzzi]

I reckon I damaged the clutch on my California bump starting it and I only did it once, dry clutch though.:shit:

[matdaymon]

I seriously doubt its the battery. It started up fine on Saturday before I went to Waiuku, has given no signs that it might be going flat. All terminals are tight so that rules that out. Only thing out of the usual was the rain on saturday before I got to the beach, but then I ride in all weathers no matter what.
I have full power to my lights (nice and blinding to look at directly) but get absolutely nothing when I push the button. Later in the week will take it to the dealership/cycletreads and see if they can shed any light on the situation.

Glad to know that I wont be wrecking my bike bump starting it (unless I fall over while pushing it) :innocent:

[FJRider]

... but get absolutely nothing when I push the button. Later in the week will take it to the dealership/cycletreads and see if they can shed any light on the situation.



Undo the screws holding the RH bar controls together and check the "button" for shit/water between the contact points ... I've had issues in the past with some bikes I've owned ...

[slofox]

I had a dead battery once in my old ZZR1100. Crash starting one of those on flat ground is fantastic exercise, as I learnt.

I spent many an hour pushing bloody "sprint" bikes round and round the pits at Ruapuna many years ago. Trying to get the fuckers to start. Usually methanol fuelled with excessively high compression ratios...used to go black in the face after ten minutes of that lark...:puke:

[Sable]

You've all omitted to mention the starter solenoid..

[matdaymon]

It turned out to be the start button, more to the point the contact points on the starter button were corroded and not conducting. Bit of a scrape and hey presto, she starts!

Cheers to the lads at cycletreads for tinkering with my bike for 15mins to find out what was wrong :drinkup:

[Katman]

It turned out to be the start button, more to the point the contact points on the starter button were corroded and not conducting. Bit of a scrape and hey presto, she starts!


Damn, why didn't I think of that?

[wysper]

Undo the screws holding the RH bar controls together and check the "button" for shit/water between the contact points ... I've had issues in the past with some bikes I've owned ...


It turned out to be the start button, more to the point the contact points on the starter button were corroded and not conducting. Bit of a scrape and hey presto, she starts!




FJ WINS!! (10 char apparently)

[Katman]

FJ WINS!! (10 char apparently)

Well he would have if it wasn't for post #17.

[unstuck]

If it makes you feel any better, I think you won.:yes::innocent:

[Katman]

If it makes you feel any better, I think you won.:yes::innocent:

If it makes you feel any better, I think we're all winners. :grouphug:

[unstuck]

If it makes you feel any better, I think we're all winners. :grouphug:

Well thats true, otherwise no one would be here.We all won our first race.:yes: