Today's challenge

[arcane12]

I have bitten the bullet and taken the Boulevard to the shop. It has been giving me issues starting in the morning. And it was about time it had a service.

So here is the fun challenge for the day, can you guess what is wrong before it is fixed? Fabulous prizes™^ await.

The info:

It started about 2weeks ago. I could not start it. my friend came over that night to look at it and stated it almost straight away. :o Next few days it would not start properly but I was able to start it. By the end it would turn once or twice and then start clicking.

It is capable of turning over a decent number of times so it is unlikely to be the battery. It has gas, etc. It would usually be fine in the afternoon after work to go home. Today however, after i had booked it in for the service it decided not to start after work.

I found or how hard it is to push start a 650 on the flat, and how far my work is from a slight hill to give it enough go to roll start. :baby: 3rd gear all the way!

Now I wonder how many players I get. :corn:



^prize offer not valid for any entry from a terrestrial resident.

[bosslady]

blocked fuel line

made that up, not totally sure that's an actual thing

[bogan]

So here is the fun challenge for the day, can you guess what is wrong before it is fixed?

Hmmm, let me think...


the Boulevard

Oh, well there's your problem. My mates one had a disagreement with its counterbalance shaft and they decided to part ways with some haste... That shit just ain't good engineering!

edit: I reckon the battery is fucked.

[Subike]

Blocked fuel vent line to tank.

[haydes55]

I'll put a vote on valve clearances or weak spark plug

[tigertim20]

blocked breather

[SMOKEU]

Faulty wiring for the kill switch?

[buggerit]

lose or dirty terminals on battery, starter or solanoid
starter brushes
chassis earth poor
starter solanoid stuffed

[Akzle]

^prize offer not valid for any entry from a terrestrial resident.

didn't count on me showing up, didya sunshine?

solenoidal. and plugs. and the fuct that it's a boulevard. and you're silly and neglected to service it.


what do i win?

[Rockbuddy]

Its a Boulevard

[rickstv]

Clicking sort of gives us a clue, so I say starter solenoid or loose terminal on the battery or starter motor.

Rick.

[nadroj]

Dirty earth connection on chassis or motor.

[Zamiam]

It's having an identity crisis and thinks its a Harley?

[Road kill]

It's female and it was the end of the month.<_<

[munster]

faulty side stand switch

[arcane12]

Starter clutch.

Wow, looked that up, seems real close to the mark. I hope not as it does not sounds cheap! (Best first post I have had yet!)


Blocked fuel vent line to tank.

Would not that cause issues with how it runs, and stop it from starting when warm?


Faulty wiring for the kill switch?

Again, if the kill switch was always on, it would not run full stop?



didn't count on me showing up, didya sunshine?

solenoidal. and plugs. and the fuct that it's a boulevard. and you're silly and neglected to service it.


what do i win?

I am not sure if I fully agree on the Boulevard thing, but the S40 is not really a bike for me. I am a bit tall for it for a start. But that is kinda off-topic. Um, I have had it 6 weeks or so (done around 2000kms), how often do you take yours in for a service? (oh and as I keep getting told, it's plug not plugs!)


faulty side stand switch

If it's in neutral it will start with the side stand down, and if the switch is on it acts like a kill switch and the engine does not turn at all.

Off topic: I'm amazed how few trolls I've had (one of the reasons I did not post for advice when it first started going wrong). It almost revives my faith in posting serious stuff on here again! :bleh:

And I do care about the responses, I would like to know what I could have done wrong apart from just buying the bike to avoid future issues. I keep getting told 'Nah, you just have to check the fluid levels and get it serviced from time to time, it'll run good apart from that'.

[Banditbandit]

Does it have a choke? (Carbed model) Did you use it? That would mean it would be hard to start cold but OK when warm ..

[ducatilover]

Starter solenoid or broken down power/earth wires.

It also has a distinct lack of cylinders and engine-penis

[BigAl]

Broken power band.

[arcane12]

Broken power band.

I checked the yellow one, but it was ok. Perhaps it is the wrong colour. And I also checked my muffler bearing, and topped up the fluids in the headlight.



I have tried various levels of choke. It was my first thing - I thought maybe it was running too rich for it to start properly now the weather was warmer. I have pretty much ruled that one out. Also mostly ruled out the battery, as it is able to start it when warm no issues, even when the mechanic turned it off and started it again about a dozen times or so when I dropped it off.

Still waiting to hear, I guess I should not have mentioned I would not be coming in to pick it up until the weekend. (I get back from work too close to when they close to drop the car off and get there in time).

I'd better go order the prize so it will be ready for the winner! :shifty:

[bogan]

Also mostly ruled out the battery, as it is able to start it when warm no issues, even when the mechanic turned it off and started it again about a dozen times or so when I dropped it off.

A warm starter motor has a higher resistance so the battery voltage doesn't sag as much. A warm engine is easier to turn over as well, and a warm engine is always easier to start. A 'warm' battery has a higher resting voltage. All that rules out is the battery isn't completely fucked, it could still be more than a little fucked.
The clicking indicates voltage sag at the solenoid, in my experience that's nearly always a battery fault, or sometimes a wiring fault.

[arcane12]

A warm starter motor has a higher resistance so the battery voltage doesn't sag as much. A warm engine is easier to turn over as well, and a warm engine is always easier to start. A 'warm' battery has a higher resting voltage. All that rules out is the battery isn't completely fucked, it could still be more than a little fucked.
The clicking indicates voltage sag at the solenoid, in my experience that's nearly always a battery fault, or sometimes a wiring fault.

Damn you and your convincing science! It's a 2007 bike, so if it's the original battery it could be end of life... This is fun!

--edit--

On further thought I believe your math is a little off. Higher resistance would mean less current can be delivered, therefore the starter would be worse off? However yes you are right, a warmer battery does work better.

A warm engine, and (possibly) a warm battery could mean less amperage is required to start, overcoming a poor connection, poor battery, etc.

[G4L4XY]

I have no f***ing idea

[Akzle]

it's plug not plugs!

f*ck me. it is too. a four stroke single.
how gay.

anyway, asides from your appalling taste in bikes:
you never said it was clicking when you tried cranking it.?

grab a jumper lead and take it from the positive batt terminal to the switch lead on the solenoid (usually the smallest of 3 connections). if it works - your wiring/switch is fucked somewhere along the way. grab your multimeter and get on the hunt.
if it doesn't: hook a good battery into the bike and try again.

replace the plug anyway.

[Tigadee]

...or loose terminal on the battery...

+1 :yes: Had this issue with my GSX750. Check the battery terminal connections.

[Edbear]

Did somebody mention a battery..? :whistle:

[Road kill]

A warm starter motor has a higher resistance so the battery voltage doesn't sag as much. A warm engine is easier to turn over as well, and a warm engine is always easier to start. A 'warm' battery has a higher resting voltage. All that rules out is the battery isn't completely fucked, it could still be more than a little fucked.
The clicking indicates voltage sag at the solenoid, in my experience that's nearly always a battery fault, or sometimes a wiring fault.

And we have the real winner at last,,,clicking has always been battery when I've had it happen.

Mind you I have a real bike now so if I hear a click it's more likely to be my own knee:rolleyes:

[arcane12]

A new click, that I was aware of, but had no idea about, is the click of the decompression valve opening. I thought someone might have tried that one! That was the one thing that was checked when I dropped it off, but it sounded like it was working well.

And yes, I mentioned clicking early on, mostly after at least the first turn of the engine. It was inconsistant, sometimes after one or two cranks, sometimes it would crank away merrily half a dozen times until I stopped (and no clicking). It has been more likely to click last few days.

[baffa]

I had this exact same problem with this exact same bike.
Ignore all the previous advice given to you, the bike has a faulty Flux Capacitor.

Can you still reach 88 miles per hour?

[ducatilover]

Did somebody mention a battery..? :whistle:
I knew it! Ed's here!

[ducatilover]

Can you still reach 88 miles per hour?
It never could...

[arcane12]

I had this exact same problem with this exact same bike.
Ignore all the previous advice given to you, the bike has a faulty Flux Capacitor.

Can you still reach 88 miles per hour?

I think I got a 10th of that when I push started the bugger! Oof!

[Banditbandit]

I had this exact same problem with this exact same bike.
Ignore all the previous advice given to you, the bike has a faulty Flux Capacitor.

Can you still reach 88 miles per hour?

And you sold it to Arcane12 like that ???? How unethical of you ...

[Swoop]

It's a 2007 bike, so if it's the original battery it could be end of life...
5 years. If it is still original it is certainly on the decline.

Might not be your main problem, however.

[bogan]

On further thought I believe your math is a little off. Higher resistance would mean less current can be delivered, therefore the starter would be worse off? However yes you are right, a warmer battery does work better.

Ahh, but less current is less voltage sag :msn-wink: So although the power is less, it is supplied to the starter, as opposed to more current very briefly and solenoid clicking.

[Magnum Noel]

"BATTERY"

10--4 rubber duck

[DMNTD]

Its vagina healed over

[haydes55]

Wow, looked that up, seems real close to the mark. I hope not as it does not sounds cheap! (Best first post I have had yet!)



Would not that cause issues with how it runs, and stop it from starting when warm?



Again, if the kill switch was always on, it would not run full stop?



I am not sure if I fully agree on the Boulevard thing, but the S40 is not really a bike for me. I am a bit tall for it for a start. But that is kinda off-topic. Um, I have had it 6 weeks or so (done around 2000kms), how often do you take yours in for a service? (oh and as I keep getting told, it's plug not plugs!)



If it's in neutral it will start with the side stand down, and if the switch is on it acts like a kill switch and the engine does not turn at all.

Off topic: I'm amazed how few trolls I've had (one of the reasons I did not post for advice when it first started going wrong). It almost revives my faith in posting serious stuff on here again! :bleh:

And I do care about the responses, I would like to know what I could have done wrong apart from just buying the bike to avoid future issues. I keep getting told 'Nah, you just have to check the fluid levels and get it serviced from time to time, it'll run good apart from that'.

Have you checked your cv joints? Also if your 3rdcv cylinder isn't running well it could cause your issues. But my money will be on the ac unit drawing too much power on start up (more so in the cold).

[arcane12]

Hmmm, let me think...



Oh, well there's your problem. My mates one had a disagreement with its counterbalance shaft and they decided to part ways with some haste... That shit just ain't good engineering!

edit: I reckon the battery is fucked.

Not to ruin a fine thread with the truth, but it looks like a good service was in order. It seems the fluid in the battery was low, and topping it up, plus the service, has got it back into to good working order (for a Boulevard).

So the winner is Bogan! :first: And yes, it is my plan to move on when I can afford to/find something better that fits my requirements. Which is many and varied, but mostly summed up by my 'build' and one more acronym - LAMS. So if the Boulevard can get me from A to B until I have my full (17 months and counting), then it may have to be it.

Anyway - Bogan you have the prize - my eternal respect! And you can take that to the bank! Plus a sizable package ( :innocent: ) will be sent your way once you prove you non-terrestial origins, otherwise you'll have to settle for the cash prize. Just send me a $100 admin fee, and I will process it into you account. :2thumbsup

[ducatilover]

I think DMNTD was actually more correct...

[Tigadee]

And yes, it is my plan to move on when I can afford to/find something better that fits my requirements... So if the Boulevard can get me from A to B until I have my full (17 months and counting), then it may have to be it.

:rolleyes: It will if you actually do the routine basic checks and maintenance... :bleh:

[arcane12]

:rolleyes: It will if you actually do the routine basic checks and maintenance... :bleh:

Yeah, sorry, I don't do ALL 25 steps of the basic check recommended by the manual everytime I start my bike. :weep:

I was told that the only thing I needed to really check was the oil level. I thought that a little bogus and checked other things from time to time. I just didn't realise it was a battery that needed topping up. :facepalm: I thought most bike batteries were sealed units...(I think most are) Should have read the manual better.

--Edit--

I am not sure what to even think with DMNTD's post. I like things with vaginas, so I should be sad it healed over? Plus saying it 'healed' means it was not supposed to have one and is getting better? Nope I am lost, I feel like the bike should have been insulted, and yet...

[Edbear]

Yeah, sorry, I don't do ALL 25 steps of the basic check recommended by the manual everytime I start my bike. :weep:

I was told that the only thing I needed to really check was the oil level. I thought that a little bogus and checked other things from time to time. I just didn't realise it was a battery that needed topping up. :facepalm: I thought most bike batteries were sealed units...(I think most are) Should have read the manual better.

Wot u need is a solid state battery that never needs topping up... :msn-wink:

[jasonu]

I just didn't realise it was a battery that needed topping up. :facepalm: I thought most bike batteries were sealed units...(I think most are) Should have read the manual better.

What a thick cunt.
(just havin' a dig mate)

[Banditbandit]

Wot u need is a solid state battery that never needs topping up... :msn-wink:

Naaa ... he's learnt a lesson now ... He'll continue to check the battery ... until he's old and grey like us and gets Altz ... Alzhe ... fuck it - til he gets to old to remember ..

[Edbear]

Naaa ... he's learnt a lesson now ... He'll continue to check the battery ... until he's old and grey like us and gets Altz ... Alzhe ... fuck it - til he gets to old to remember ..

Eh? Remember wot..? :mellow:

[ducatilover]

Naaa ... he's learnt a lesson now ... He'll continue to check the battery ... until he's old and grey like us and gets Altz ... Alzhe ... fuck it - til he gets to old to remember ..
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