Bump/crash starting, can it hurt my bike?

[matdaymon]

Ok, so yesterday I rode down to Waiuku and the beach down that way I forget the name...Anyway I got off at the carpark by the beach and took a couple of snaps, then got back on the bike and got absolutely no joy out of the starter button. Lights on and had no sign of anything wrong before getting there. Just went to restart the bike and nothing. Light doesnt dim either when the button is pushed so assuming something is shagged between my thumb and the starter motor somewhere...

As a result (and thanks to the scottish bloke that saw me scratchin' my head) I've been bump/crash starting the bike since to get it going as its my main and only means of transport.

My question is this, will this be damaging my bike in any way? I can't afford to get it looked at until the end of next week at the earliest so will be doing it for at least a week, maybe longer.

[Ocean1]

No, you won't hurt it.

Probably nothing major, worth a look around yourself for loose wires, especially on the starter itself.

[matdaymon]

Already had a look, starter is connected, opened up the switchbox and the wires are in good nick, only things I can think of is a short in the wire between the button and the starter or the button itself is fricked

Thanks for the heads up on the bump/crash starting. Prob gonna be doing it a while til I can afford to get the bike looked at. Just spent mega $$ on a full service and Pilot Road 2's a couple of weeks ago so rather poor at the moment

[pete376403]

All race bikes used to be started like this in the days before starting rollers and the like. Tell everyone you've using an old race bike on the street...

[Ricardo S]

Already had a look, starter is connected, opened up the switchbox and the wires are in good nick, only things I can think of is a short in the wire between the button and the starter or the button itself is fricked

Thanks for the heads up on the bump/crash starting. Prob gonna be doing it a while til I can afford to get the bike looked at. Just spent mega $$ on a full service and Pilot Road 2's a couple of weeks ago so rather poor at the moment

it would be easy to test if the button is broken, just try starting the bike by closing the circuit from the cables of the start button.

[FJRider]

And check the fuses ...

[unstuck]

WOT He said.

[Mom]

Crash starting is a good skill to have

[matdaymon]

And check the fuses ...

It only has the one from what I've found and everything else is working fine

@ Mom, a VERY useful skill which I didnt have until helpful scottish bloke explained it to me. Was that you that waved to me on (I think) Friday arvo on Bush road btw?

[FJRider]

It only has the one from what I've found and everything else is working fine

It should have more than ONE ...

You may look here ...

http://www.scribd.com/doc/16066620/H...orkshop-Manual

[matdaymon]

It should have more than ONE ...

You may look here ...

http://www.scribd.com/doc/16066620/H...orkshop-Manual

Page 113, there is seriously only 1 fuse and its on the wrong side of the ignition to cause the problem I currently have. It's either the start switch or the start relay looking at the diagram.

[Urano]

possible causes:
fuse gone
battery gone (either battery's or alternator's fault...)
switch failed
start engine gone.

try to pay attention, when you press down the button: probably if you hear a little "TIC" the fuse and the switch are ok.
try then to recharge a little the battery.

now your question.
jump start is not recommended cos' the quantity of unburned petrol it'll pass trough the engine would damage the exhaust's catalytic converter.

BUT, since as i've recently learned you don't have cats, then...

[maggot]

Had a similar problem recently (thank god for a kickstart), might seem silly, but check the battery, they can sometimes just expire.. Otherwise do the aforementioned and hook up the starter motor to power source, and all that jazz, step by step troubleshoot

[matdaymon]

Battery seems fine, like I said earlier I've got all my lights still. I push the button and nothing happens... no sounds, no dimming of the Neutral or Headlight. Just nothingness.

[Urano]

Battery seems fine

without at least a tester is hard to say...

I've got all my lights still

doesn't means much...
the current could absolutely be enough to keep your lights on but not enough to turn the crankshaft...

I push the button and nothing happens... no sounds, no dimming of the Neutral or Headlight.

so, if you have discarded the battery with a tester or after a charge and checked the fuse, remains switch and start motor.
the first is quite unlikely, but if it is the latter then is going to be way more expensive...