Starting and charging issues

[HungusMaximist]

I have a 91 GSX750F and people tell me that Suzuki's are well known for their electric problems.

Now on to the issue - I was trying to install a new bulb for my tachometer and I knew from my previous attempt I just couldn't get my hand inside that cavity to pull that rubber seal enclosure. So I decided this time to take the left hand side mirror off;not forgetting the front wind shield.

With those two things off I stuck my hand from the bottom up through the forks and also the usual frontal way and realised that my hand was in no way going to get close to the damm thing. The rubber seal enclosure was just way too far in a akward corner for my fingers so I ended up using a small flat screwdriver to try and loosen the seal, but it did n't work. So I sprayed a small squirt of lube spray on to the damm rubber seal but still didn't budge.

Rushing against time I put everyback together, switch on the ignition, the tacho rolled up to 4000, heard a click but it won't start. Tried again, I can hear the starter motor going but the engine won't start and then realised the battery is dead. Very faint head light;indicators not blinking and very faint. Charged up the battery, put it back in and the same thing happened - it drained the battery.

Did I stuff up some connections and what's draining the battery? Everything was O.K before I tried to put the bulb in.

- looking back I might have ripped a bit of the rubber seal with that screw driver and could that have severed some connection?
- I had an issue with the bike just randomly sucking the juice outta my battery about 5 weeks ago. Pulled out the battery and all levels inside were wayy low but it was all good after a top up and a good charge. When I checked the levels in the battery today for a charge, it was pretty low and I topped it up.

[johnnyflash]

Sounds like a dead short somewhere, no doubt in the area you were working, Im not familiar with your model, but worth checking all cables to make sure no cuts where they go around metal objects, perhaps even try pulling the fuses for lights, indicators etc but not main engine start, and then try recharging battery and start motor... I assume the battery is HOLDING a charge, can test that as follows, charge battery, Dont connect to bike, leave for an hour or two, then use a 12v bulb (perhaps car one high wattage,) dirct onto battery see if it keeps shining for an hour or so..

[davereid]

Battery could have a dead cell - they will just go flat on their own then. Take it to a good battery shop and get it tested. Its really impossible to track down electrical problems if you have a dodgy battery - all sort of unusual symptoms appear !

[HungusMaximist]

Yea I forgot to mention, I put the jumper leads on the bike with my car (but I didn't switch the car on) and got the bike running.

The question remains what the heck is going on with my charging system?

Anyway I gonna bring the bike into a mechanic to get this thing sorted. There's a guy on morrin rd who works under 'Pamure Motorcycles'. I also got some issues with fuel economy in regards to vavles, carbs as I taken my bike for a full service since I bought it a few months back.

Any suggestions for places/people I should go for a full service in Auckland ? I intrested in garages/people that will do a thorough job.

I don't like getting ripped off but I am happy to spend $300-$400.

[HungusMaximist]

Battery could have a dead cell - they will just go flat on their own then. Take it to a good battery shop and get it tested. Its really impossible to track down electrical problems if you have a dodgy battery - all sort of unusual symptoms appear !

Yea I had this battery bust on me the second time now but it's kind of weird how it busts when I was working on something. Everything was fine before.

Anyway I could have shorted something and you're probably right the battery could also be crap, plus it might also be the charging system on this Suzuki.

In relation to the battery when I bought the bike, the battery was new but have no evidence to proof it if it was. When I did go dead 5 weeks ago I took it in to a shop to get it tested and it was reading under 10 volts -somewhere around 8. The levels in the battery were all low and shitty but I managed to getting it running again with a water top up and a good charge.

I guess I've isolated where the problems are now. Thanks.

[surfer]

Battery could have a dead cell - they will just go flat on their own then. Take it to a good battery shop and get it tested. Its really impossible to track down electrical problems if you have a dodgy battery - all sort of unusual symptoms appear !

Agree with Davereid, sounds like a duff battery. The tinkering with the light is coincidence. Get the battery checked.

You may be able to spot a dodgy cell if it has one by visual inspection as it can appear diferent from the others. Take it out and have a look. If this is the case you will need a new battery.

[HungusMaximist]

I assume the battery is HOLDING a charge, can test that as follows, charge battery, Dont connect to bike, leave for an hour or two, then use a 12v bulb (perhaps car one high wattage,) dirct onto battery see if it keeps shining for an hour or so..

Sorry, can you clarify that?

Is this to try and find out if my battery is hold charge (to determine if it's crap of not?) ?

Anyway I not exactly sure if it's my charging on my bike or the battery but I sure like to find out what's causing what.

It could be both but I wonder how will I go around testing this sort of stuff?

The bike and the battery

Thanks.

[surfer]

When I did go dead 5 weeks ago I took it in to a shop to get it tested and it was reading under 10 volts -somewhere around 8. The levels in the battery were all low and shitty but I managed to getting it running again with a water top up and a good charge.

I guess I've isolated where the problems are now. Thanks.

Sounds like you made a good recovery

Hopefully you filled it up with distilled water? Tap water is not that good in a battery, and in my exeprience the battery will not last long.

[HungusMaximist]

Agree with Davereid, sounds like a duff battery. The tinkering with the light is coincidence. Get the battery checked.

You may be able to spot a dodgy cell if it has one by visual inspection as it can appear diferent from the others. Take it out and have a look. If this is the case you will need a new battery.

I wonder how much is a new one? One guys said between $50-$60. Another said $70-$80.

Bike battery is half the size of a car one so I assume it should be only a fraction of the price? Any suggestions of places I can go?

[surfer]

Sorry, can you clarify that?

Is this to try and find out if my battery is hold charge (to determine if it's crap of not?) ?

Anyway I not exactly sure if it's my charging on my bike or the battery but I sure like to find out what's causing what.

It could be both but I wonder how will I go around testing this sort of stuff?

The bike and the battery

Thanks.

Alternatively take the battery out of the bike and have the shop look at it. they can run a quick test on it to see if it holds a charge or not.

If it doen't hold a charge it is rooted and you need a new one.

[surfer]

I wonder how much is a new one? One guys said between $50-$60. Another said $70-$80.

Bike battery is half the size of a car one so I assume it should be only a fraction of the price? Any suggestions of places I can go?

Cycletreads Barry's Point Road have looked after me well for this sort of thing. Prices you mention sound about right. Shop around, phone up a few shops.

[Kickaha]

Some good info on the GSX charging systems here (merkins called them GS)
http://www.thegsresources.com/garage/gs_statorfacts.htm

[johnnyflash]

Sorry, can you clarify that?

Is this to try and find out if my battery is hold charge (to determine if it's crap of not?) ?

Anyway I not exactly sure if it's my charging on my bike or the battery but I sure like to find out what's causing what.

It could be both but I wonder how will I go around testing this sort of stuff?

The bike and the battery

Thanks.

firstly you need to ensure battery is OK, If as suggested by others, and you are close to a garage/bikeshop, get it tested, otherwise u can put a load on it yourself, eg a headlight bulb 60watt and see if the battery lasts a few hours, Typically a good 12v battery will show around 13.8V when fully charged, once below 12 its on the way to discharged..( if u aint got a multi meter then fault finding is going to be pretty basic, and visual, try to isolate each circuit and test.. If you suspect charging problems on the bike, again use a multimeter across the battery, it should show aup to around 14vdc when you rev the bike..

[HungusMaximist]

I've gone and bought myself a new YUASA battery and it's being charged up at the moment.

In terms of my other battery, a few of it's cells are dead, so it's a gone.

And as for working out if my bike is holding charge or draining the battery, I gonna do that in the next few days.

Thanks for your help.

[bimotabob]

Hi

I have seen one of these have major charging issues.
This one had a blown stator so check the charging syatem and battery leakage with a multimeter (trade me has these very cheap)

Always start with the battery then work from there and its easy. Don't let the fact that it is electrical deter you - it's easy and you don't have to strip the motor.

Cheers