gsx-r not starting

[hazzy]

Last week i stopped at a petrol station to fuel up and the bike wouldn't start so i gave it a roll start, rode it round for a while to see if any bike shops where open, none. Drove home and it started normally.

Its been a week with no problems now it won't start again. It's making a clicking sound, not even trying to start... sounds like a spark or something. I roll started it and drove around a few places and it still won't try to start or anything just clicks.

I don't know much about the mechanics of bikes... what seems to be the problem doctor?

Don't think its a flat battery as i gave it a good drive + charge up and the lights and indicators work normally.

The light switch on the bike is always left on however when i turn the key off they turn off, this wouldn't drain the battery - would it?

[The Stranger:Me]

Last week i stopped at a petrol station to fuel up and the bike wouldn't start so i gave it a roll start, rode it round for a while to see if any bike shops where open, none. Drove home and it started normally.

Its been a week with no problems now it won't start again. It's making a clicking sound, not even trying to start... sounds like a spark or something. I roll started it and drove around a few places and it still won't try to start or anything just clicks.

I don't know much about the mechanics of bikes... what seems to be the problem doctor?

Don't think its a flat battery as i gave it a good drive + charge up and the lights and indicators work.

So from the description, I gather that the motor is not turning over.

If that is the case you could try putting it in gear and giving the bike a rock back and forth a few times. Then try starting it normally. Does this help?

[hazzy]

So from the description, I gather that the motor is not turning over.

If that is the case you could try putting it in gear and giving the bike a rock back and forth a few times. Then try starting it normally. Does this help?

It wont even try to turn over - it just makes one tick sound when i press the starter button - brb will go try

[hazzy]

tried giving it some rocks then starting it, just went tick as usual... would it be caused by the fact that theres no fairings and its left out in the rain?

The lights are bright as usual and indicators

[Drum]

.........Don't think its a flat battery as i gave it a good drive + charge up ...........

What do you mean by 'charge up'? 12 hours? If not then it's worth a try.

How old is the battery? If you don't know then it may be time for a new one?

A friend of mine has one of these 80's GSXR 250's and she's always having electrical problems (among other things!).

[hazzy]

What do you mean by 'charge up'? 12 hours? If not then it's worth a try.

How old is the battery? If you don't know then it may be time for a new one?

A friend of mine has one of these 80's GSXR 250's and she's always having electrical problems (among other things!).

Yeh battery pretty old i'm assuming, whats the usual price on a new battery?

[imdying]

Make sure the terminals are tight at both ends (i.e. solenoids, terminals, starter)

[F5 Dave]

Old suzis are known for not being particularly robust electrically, but at 20yrs old one mustn’t grumble.

Lights won’t stay on like a car.

First & easiest thing to do is go buy a cheap multimeter from Tricky Dicky or supercheap for ~ $20, maybe less.

It won’t bite, even your mother could learn how to use one. Put the leads over the battery while in the Volts position & see what it sez. Then turn on the ignition & the lights, read meter. Then push the starter.

By now the voltage will have sagged hideously as most likely the battery is too knackered to take a decent charge. Starting is a big current drain, indicators next to nil.

Next roll start the bike & measure the voltage. Report back, but if too high (above say 14-15 when revved) or too low (less than 13 with lights on) then likely the alternator & or the regulator are toast. As said this is not uncommon.

If all is well then you can try using some pliers to short the starter solenoid (the switch that is clicking & attaches between the battery & the starter with thick cable, one connects the thick cable together with pliers) to test the solenoid.

[desmo dave]

Old suzis are known for not being particularly robust electrically, but at 20yrs old one mustn’t grumble.

Lights won’t stay on like a car.

First & easiest thing to do is go buy a cheap multimeter from Tricky Dicky or supercheap for ~ $20, maybe less.

It won’t bite, even your mother could learn how to use one. Put the leads over the battery while in the Volts position & see what it sez. Then turn on the ignition & the lights, read meter. Then push the starter.

By now the voltage will have sagged hideously as most likely the battery is too knackered to take a decent charge. Starting is a big current drain, indicators next to nil.

Next roll start the bike & measure the voltage. Report back, but if too high (above say 14-15 when revved) or too low (less than 13 with lights on) then likely the alternator & or the regulator are toast. As said this is not uncommon.

If all is well then you can try using some pliers to short the starter solenoid (the switch that is clicking & attaches between the battery & the starter with thick cable, one connects the thick cable together with pliers) to test the solenoid.

ark the 2 polls (+/-) on the solenoid if it fires up you will know the problem is before the power reachers there ie ignition or starter button.maybe just a dicked battery though. report back on how you get on with it.

[hazzy]

ark the 2 polls (+/-) on the solenoid if it fires up you will know the problem is before the power reachers there ie ignition or starter button.maybe just a dicked battery though. report back on how you get on with it.

i dont know what the solenoid is - i'm pretty illiterate when it comes to electrical stuff or motors for that matter

[Hanne]

my 750 was sparking (the crack/click noise) the other day... bad connection between battery and lead (thing was corroded), gave it a clean and she went fine

[GSXRjohn]

Go and get the batt load tested for free

[desmo dave]

i dont know what the solenoid is - i'm pretty illiterate when it comes to electrical stuff or motors for that matter

may look something like these pics.no idea where it is on your bike but it shouldnt be far from the battery. just follow the leds from the battery. if you take your batter to an auto sparky to get the battery tested they should be able to point the solenoid out to you.

[hazzy]

may look something like these pics.no idea where it is on your bike but it shouldnt be far from the battery. just follow the leds from the battery. if you take your batter to an auto sparky to get the battery tested they should be able to point the solenoid out to you.

sweet yea i found it thanks, i hit up a friend whos a car mechanic hes gonna try help me out tommorow

[wildpudding]

I've been having lately pretty much the same prob on my bike...except its intermittent. Battery is pretty new too, but it did the same thing with a new battery.

I find moving the bike around in gear with the clutch engaged fixes it and it starts normally. I'm thinking the starter motor is on the way out, as the engine stops in a position where the starter motor doesn't have enough torque to overcome the compression, and by moving the engine through part of a revoultion fixes the problem.

My theory anyway.