Problem starting up.

[Cam_Valk]

Hey guys, new guy here with his first post.
I recently bought a 1989 Suzuki GSXR 250, and I seem to have a problem in starting it up every now and then.
It's happened three times now that when I try to start it up, it does not seem to want to turn over. And has forced me to crash start it to get it running.
But once I have crashed started it, it would start up fine afterwards.
I have noticed that it would have been raining the night before, is this a factor?
Thanks
Cameron

[Kermit250]

is it turning over slow\not turning? or just not firing?

Have you got a multimeter?

[Cam_Valk]

Hey thanks for the reply.
Sorry but im new to bikes. But it seems like its about to start the first time i try to start it up, but then afterwards it will refuse to. So is that "not firing"?
I don't have a multimeter on hand, but i may have access to one.

[Murray]

Sounds like battery to me.

[Juzz976]

Yeh likely new battery, check regulator / rectifier first as if stuffed will kill next battery.

Also check with everything off that there is not leakage current.

Disconnect a battery terminal and poke an ammeter in series.

Search the forum for regulator rectifier test.

Welcome to KB!

[Cam_Valk]

Okay, discovered that it is indeed the rectifier that is causing the problem.
Any idea how much this would cost to fix? (a ball park figure).
And thanks for everybody's help so far.

[Cam_Valk]

Okay guys.
Got my hands on a multimeter and I measured the battery and got a reading of 12.5V not running.
And with the bike running I got around 14V.
But with my headlights on, I got about 9V.
Now is that normal for the lights to take a huge drain on the battery?

Is there anything else I should check with the multimeter?

Thanks
Cameron

[notme]

Okay guys.
Got my hands on a multimeter and I measured the battery and got a reading of 12.5V not running.
And with the bike running I got around 14V.
But with my headlights on, I got about 9V.
Now is that normal for the lights to take a huge drain on the battery?

Is there anything else I should check with the multimeter?

Thanks
Cameron

No, that's not normal. In your previous post you said the RR is faulty - so is the 9V with headlights on issue a new problem? I.E. the RR has been replaced and your starting problem has gone, but now you have the headlight issue?

P.S. this thread probably should have been in the electrical forum - lots more people who can help will see it there :-)

[crazyhorse]

Welcome to KB too

[hayd3n]

have a look on trade me for a replacement rr also email bike wreckers there could be a few alternative one's from other models that will suffice

[p.dath]

Sounds like battery to me.

+1. The simplest answer is often correct.

What makes you think it is the regulator? You really need to measure the battery voltage under load. The fact that the voltage drops to 9V when the headlight is on (a reasonably good load) only makes me think it is the battery even more.

[bsasuper]

A cbr I had used to play up , it had fuel injection so everything was automatic for the cold starts.The bike would crank over and start after a few spins, thats ok, but the battery was at the stage where it had enough poke to crank and start the engine, but after that the injection would start acting weird because the battery had used up most of what it had.After about 10min of riding it was fine as it built up a bit of charge.It was like a new bike after a new battery.

[Cam_Valk]

No, that's not normal. In your previous post you said the RR is faulty - so is the 9V with headlights on issue a new problem? I.E. the RR has been replaced and your starting problem has gone, but now you have the headlight issue?

P.S. this thread probably should have been in the electrical forum - lots more people who can help will see it there :-)

Thanks for the new replies guys.

I haven't had the chance of replacing the RR, due to holidays.
So its measuring 9V on the old/current RR.
But the problem hasn't really cropped up again.