Smoke?

[SuperDave]

This morning I started the bike as per usual with the choke on, a little bit of throttle and the electric starter. For some reason the bike wouldn't start and all that happened was that the starter motor turned over and over and over. Then suddenly I notied this grey smoke coming out from under my seat. Removed the seat to see what was causing it but it was gone by then. So left the seat off and tried the starter again, puff of smoke again and i noticed it came from under the battery. I waited a few seconds, tried the kickstart and the again the electric and no problems and no more smoke - I was in a rush to get to work to left after it started to run. No smoke when using the electric start on the way home from work.

So anybody got any ideas on what that was? I just checked the battery terminals and I certainly didn't come from them, I also took the battery out to inspect the base and sides of it and no visible evidence to suggest smoking came from it. I was wondering if continually loading the starter motor might result in some smoke?

Any advice on this would be appreciated thanks.

[Drew]

Did you check the main positive lead at the solonoid? If it got hot due to being wound over for a while, it may have just melted the insulation a bit. If that is the case, it would be wise to undo all the connections and clean them, dirty connections get hot.
Thats all I can think of. Hope it helps

[Motu]

All electrical components contain smoke...it's part of the mystery of how they work - but if the smoke leaks out from a bad seal you are in deep Bantha Poo Doo,it's really hard to get the smoke back in.

But I got some special gear that can get the pesky smoke back inside where it belong....expensive shit smoke....

[Matt Bleck]

All electrical components contain smoke...it's part of the mystery of how they work - but if the smoke leaks out from a bad seal you are in deep Bantha Poo Doo,it's really hard to get the smoke back in.

But I got some special gear that can get the pesky smoke back inside where it belong....expensive shit smoke....

Mr Werks, is that you?

[StoneChucker]

All electrical components contain smoke...it's part of the mystery of how they work - but if the smoke leaks out from a bad seal you are in deep Bantha Poo Doo,it's really hard to get the smoke back in.

But I got some special gear that can get the pesky smoke back inside where it belong....expensive shit smoke....

By the sounds of it Mr Motu, it is YOU that contains the smoke

[Jackrat]

Nah mate he's right,all them little plastic tubes contain smoke.
You let the smoke out an your in deep shit.
Thought everybody knew that,,,,,ah well,,,

[SuperDave]

I asked because I don't know and actually wanted some opinion worth looking at...

Thanks though FIZZERMAN.

[StoneChucker]

Sorry SuperDave, reading the replies as if I had started the thread - I can see it's rather annoying.

I really don't know much about troubleshooting bike issues. I guess I should have not posted a reply in the first place.

But, where on the bike is the starter motor? Could the smoke not be coming from that?

[SuperDave]

Sorry SuperDave, reading the replies as if I had started the thread - I can see it's rather annoying.

I really don't know much about troubleshooting bike issues. I guess I should have not posted a reply in the first place.

But, where on the bike is the starter motor? Could the smoke not be coming from that?

It's fine man, that comment before was not aimed at you mate. I was thinking it may have been coming from the starter motor like you say, but I just wanted to know if anybody could elaborate a bit more on why or what exactly the smoking was a result of.

[Drew]

Sorry SuperDave, reading the replies as if I had started the thread - I can see it's rather annoying.

I really don't know much about troubleshooting bike issues. I guess I should have not posted a reply in the first place.

But, where on the bike is the starter motor? Could the smoke not be coming from that?

Smoke eminating from a starter motor is terminal to the said item. The insulation on the windings are melting, and electric motors not insulated, bare a stricking resemblance to a grounding switch, they hum and short out the whole shooting box. Effectively connecting the positive side of the battery, straight to the negative. Narry a fuse left unfried.

[Ixion]

Smoke eminating from a starter motor is terminal to the said item. The insulation on the windings are melting, and electric motors not insulated, bare a stricking resemblance to a grounding switch, they hum and short out the whole shooting box. Effectively connecting the positive side of the battery, straight to the negative. Narry a fuse left unfried.

If it's all running OK it's unlikely to be anything burning out. Sometimes on bikes you get a bit of shit thrown on an electric point (road wash, oil from chain whatever). That can create a temporary high resistance short to earth, until it burns away (creating a bit of smoke in the process)

[SuperDave]

I hope you are right on that one there Ixion, I'll keep my eye on it and if it happens again then it's probably what FIZZERMAN was saying. I just don't want my bike to set on fire or anything

[Ixion]

I hope you are right on that one there Ixion, I'll keep my eye on it and if it happens again then it's probably what FIZZERMAN was saying. I just don't want my bike to set on fire or anything

Very unlikely to have a fire with modern electrics, so long as you haven't meddled with the fuses (by substituting an old nail or something). A shortcircuit will (as Mr FIZZERMAN says) very quickly produce clouds of stinking smoke (not just a puff), and all (or most) or your electrics will stop working

[idb]

What did it smell like SD?
A burning lead will smell like plastic, I would expect a burning starter motor to smell like varnish (someone else might know better).

[SuperDave]

What did it smell like SD?
A burning lead will smell like plastic, I would expect a burning starter motor to smell like varnish (someone else might know better).

I didn't get a chance to get a wiff of it. But I've startd the bike three times since and have had no trouble. I'm thinking it might have just been a once off. Thanks for the help all