Anyone in BMW F650 electrical guru in Auckland wanting some beer?

[beanz]

Basically my 2000 F650 Dakar is dead, and I'm stumped. I'm hoping theres a Kiwibiker in Auck who knows the F650's elec system inside-out, who would be keen to meet up and swap knowledge and time for some beer.

Symptoms:
1. 5/10 times, the starter would start to turn over, but stall before motor started. Other times engine started fine after 4-5 revs.
2. Battery now drains (new battery)
3. Recently electrical hot/burning smell coming from around battery area after starting. I turn engine off.
4. Dashboard clicks and ticks madly for 5sec when I reconnect battery. (May not be related)

I'm in Ellerslie.

Thanks heaps!
Chris

[The Baron]

You can try "BM Bikes & BM riders club forum"

The dash clicking is normal.

[Crisis management]

Don't know that anyone on here rides an F650 so maybe try Adv rider in their thumpers forum, lots of knowledge there.

Failing that try your local auto electrician or Experience BMW..........

[beanz]

Ahhhggg, thanks anyway. Might have to bite the bullet and take it to Experience bmw.

[awayatc]

check wiring and connections . start at battery.
Look for corrosion /bad earth connections. broken/exposed wiring......
You don't need BMW specific sparky to help trace problem

[beanz]

Thanks. Yeah, I've done all the obvious stuff. Starter solenoid seems to work fine, starter motor turns over nicely when directly powered, battery earth and engine earth seem fine, battery is new, no damage to loom I can find.

Can anyone recommend a decent bike electrician in Auck?

[clint640]

I don't know any sparkys in Auckland, but I would have a closer look at your starter solenoid, check voltage drop when cranking - get a multimeter, set to volts DC, clip a lead on each of the fat wires coming out of it & see what she reads, should be bugger all. Also check the coil side of the solenoid is getting plenty of volts & is earthed properly.

Cheers
Ciint

[beanz]

Ahhh, thanks Clint, thats something I didn't do. Makes sense.

[beanz]

Ahhh crap, solenoid tests fine.

With a fully charged battery, it starts first-pop 7 out of 10 times. I think something is draining the batt, as well as the starter motor being a bit worn.

I don't know any sparkys in Auckland, but I would have a closer look at your starter solenoid, check voltage drop when cranking - get a multimeter, set to volts DC, clip a lead on each of the fat wires coming out of it & see what she reads, should be bugger all. Also check the coil side of the solenoid is getting plenty of volts & is earthed properly.

Cheers
Ciint

[clint640]

Bugger, next step might be checking through the fuse box with an ammeter to see where the missing electrickery is going.

Starter motors are usually pretty simple to strip & inspect the brushes (just watch for the primary gear falling off the shaft & into the motor on removal, some bikes do this) If BMW only want to sell you brushes with a whole new starter motor wrapped around them, as is often the case, take it to an auto sparky & they will often be able to source & fit new brushes.

Cheers
Clint

[Frodo]

I'd check out www.f650.com. Start at the FAQs and if no luck, post your question on the "Modifications and maintenance" forum.

Great community. What they don't know about F650s isn't worth knowing.

[beanz]

Thanks Clint and Frodo, I've started a thread on the f650 forum http://f650.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=230220

Fingers crossed someone there can help.

[beanz]

Finally got it sorted! The "new" battery was a red hearing... it was cheap and nasty and useless. The starter motor had a bit of glazing on the commutator contacts (bits that the brushes rub against). I sandpapered that down to a nice copper colour, and with the old (Champion) battery back in it starts no problems!

Thanks for the idea's guys.