Diagnose this?

[tigertim20]

Sorry if this is the wrong place but it has me miffed. Went for a ride today, never had a problem since Ive owned the bike. Was slowing down as I got home, and the bike sorta shuddered and died as I was at idle, putting the stand down. Now the indicators, headlights and tail lights go fine (hi beam also), but the starter will NOT turn over. Push started it, it went fine. left it running, turned it off, and again, will not start. What is wierd is the lights etc all go, but the heated grips refuse to turn on, press the on button, it flashes 3 times then turns off, starter will not engage either. So I used jumper leads, and presto, she fired into life no worries! Left it sitting there running, giving it some revs every now and again, then suddenly, as I was revving it, it dies, just sort of cuts away and dies. So we know it aint fuel, its electrical.
I am thinking that either the starter is shagged, or the regulator/rectifier/alternator is fucked, But not sure, wondering if anyone else might have any ideas? do you think its the reg/rect/alternator, or something else? have never had probs before.
Its a 1991 CBR 600 F2 if that helps. TIA.

[firefighter]

maybe it has AIDS?

[been_there]

Have you checked the voltage with a multi-meter?

[Tony.OK]

Honda's did have alot of rectifier probs with earlier bikes, that'd be a good place to start.

[cheshirecat]

Hi,
This happened to a friends bike.

Check the bat terminals very carefully. Although they might look perfectly OK corrosion can set in between the different metals, brass, lead, steel. it looks OK, BUT. . . . This happens even on relatively new batteries and tight connections.

Incidently whilst we towed the bike up Kent Tce; Boyles, bless them, stayed open after 6pm and fixed it there and then.

Oh. My experience from old Brit bikes, like the one thing worse than Lucas is Miller (if that is possible - oh Italian I forgot) - guaranteed to fail once past the garden gate, is the check the simplest first.

[YellowDog]

Lucky you were close to home when it all kicked off. I have had something similar a few years back, with the difference being that mine would sometimes start. The fact that your starter just will not ever turn indicates you are on the right track.

The heated grips not working would make me want to follow the wire back to that fuse and take a look for something obvious.

BTW: My problem was as simple as removing the battery connections, cleaning them with sandpaper, and then reconnecting them. Because your bike just dies for no apparent reason, this makes me think that your problem may be similar.

Good luck.

[crazefox]

burn it

[varminter]

I'd look at the battery and leads first, do the lights dim when you try to start it? It may not like a shagged battery in line, possibly disconnect the bike battery and use one from a car, then start it a few times to test. Don't attempt to ride it like that unless you have a sturdy back pack

[Conquiztador]

Enough umph in battery to run lights etc but not starter. Then not enough umph to keep motor running.

As mentioned: Check battery connections.

But also: Check level in battery, if low this will happen.

My guess: Charging or battery.

Good luck!

[bogan]

sounds like corroded wires, failing rectifier, or shagged battery. Multimeter the battery voltage when running, should be over 13, if not itll be rectfier or wiring

[tigertim20]

Put a volt meter on it tonight, Battery was sitting at about 11.2 volts when off, and didnt rise much when running, still well below 13 volts. SO general consensus is rectifier? where is the best place to get one? I live in Dunedin

[Ragingrob]

First of all fully charge your battery before doing any further voltage tests/decision making.

Then it could be a good idea to use the fault-finding chart that's been thrown around these forums a lot and I've posted here - http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...6&postcount=21

That should hopefully diagnose your problem for ya, but yeah you definitely need to fully charge your battery first as that could be your more simple problem. Mechanics have battery testing systems too so if it doesn't seem to charge properly or something go test the battery out before looking at anymore more expensive/technical!

[tigertim20]

hmmm, i will do that, stick it on the charger tomorrow (today). funny thing, went for a ten minute ride tonight, got back, turned the bike off, then hit the starter and presto, she ran. so its inconsistent. so its either
A) battery is fucked, and is only allowing itself to charge up from running sometimes or
B) Rectifier/regulator is fucked, and not charging the battery all the time, so the bike draws current from the battery, and thus the low reading, as current is going out of the battery and not being replaced or
C) its a loose wire that will take me forever to find and fix and will be the bain of my life in the interim.

Have contact cleaned all the connections on the whole charging system tonight as well. Will go have a squizz at that link you posted, thanks!

[YellowDog]

Did the heated grips work as well as the starter thias time?

[Taz]

If they are Oxford heated grips they need to have sufficient battery voltage to turn on. If voltage drops below 11.5v then the grips will not operate, this is a safety feature built into the grips circuitry to prevent you flattening your battery if grips are inadvertently left on. I would do a full voltage and current check on your electrical system. Also a current leakage test. Probably a bad reg rec. Does it have an alarm?.
Andy.