Bike doesn't start, WHY?

[CookMySock]

so bike worked great this morning, started instantly and was fine all of today, probably started it about a dozen times.

now i got home and went inside to open garage door, came back and bike wouldnt start again !!!

now its making a clicking sound when i press the starter, the dash lights go dim as well.

so....what you think is the problem? the alternator broken? dead battery? bad karma?

well you cant really tell accurately, you have to do that charging current check with a proper meter. The checks people have told you about here will work, but really, you need to have it checked properly with a quality test instrument. As I say, it's a 60 second job you are unlikely to be charged for. Then you will know for sure whether you are charging, and the battery is rewted, or you are not charging and the battery is ok. (the battery might be stuffed as well, but the charging circuit might be working ok.)


DB

[Foobin]

alrighty, ill get onto that tomorrow.

[Spuds1234]

If you want I can do the test for you.

I have a meter.

Flick me a txt on 027 2547159 sometime and we can sort something out.

Ive had way to much experience with testing Stator coils and rectifiers seeing as my last two bikes have both poo'ed their stator coils.

[Foobin]

cheers due, that will be great, ill give ya a text in the morning

[skidMark]

yea i hope the alternator is still working

but i still don't get why the battery will drain itself all of a sudden

Thats what batterys do.

Spend $30 and buy a new one. thats the problem.

Instead of fluffing about for the last week.

Yes i'm in a bad mood. yes i'm right.

On another note, i'm wrong and your starter motor is rooted...

in which case i'm right because i suggested it on page one.

[awayatc]

so bike worked great this morning, started instantly and was fine all of today, probably started it about a dozen times.

now i got home and went inside to open garage door, came back and bike wouldnt start again !!!

had the battery on charge for about 1 hour and bike fires up again.

so....what you think is the problem? the alternator broken? dead battery? bad karma?

Sounds to me like all the possible solutions for your problems have already been posted.....

[YellowDog]

Skidmark is right. Your battery needs replacing asap.

[CookMySock]

Skidmark is right. Your battery needs replacing asap.

That will almost certainly be the problem.. but the battery DID last a little while, so it is worth checking the charging system. If its charging, then the battery is stuffed.. unless there is something else freaky going on that no one has thought of - rare.

An easy way to "check" the battery is to just look it. If it looks ten years old, then its probably rooted. Automotive batteries don't last that long.

DC clamp meters are great for this sort of thing. You can boof them on any circuit and read its' mind in an instant. I couldn't live without mine.

DB

[YellowDog]

Agreed, but it would appear that the initial power burst to start the bike shows that the Alternator is doing its job. The 'duff' battery is now failing to hold its charge and hence unless the bike goes for a run, it quickly fades away.

[CookMySock]

it would appear that the initial power burst to start the bike shows that the Alternator is doing its job.

remember that it was on the battery charger overnight.

Anyway, soon we will see after it is tested. I am keen to hear the result.

DB

[Matt_TG]

My money's on the battery. I learnt years ago that trying to nurse a battery along is a thankless exercise - car or bike. It'll always let you down when it's the most inconvenient and after buying a new one you wonder why the hell you spent so long charging the old one, push starting, parking on hills and so on!

[Foobin]

Im hoping its just the battery. a friend offered to take a look at it, will let you know the results when i find out, thanks everyone.

[FilthyLuka]

Im hoping its just the battery. a friend offered to take a look at it, will let you know the results when i find out, thanks everyone.

Dude, you are starting to be annoying.

Your battery is screwed ("started fine, then just wouldn't start. Charged battery and away she went" paraphrased) Get a new one, they are like $30 new.

Buy one, leave it on a charger overnight, throw it in and robert is your aunties husband.

You don't really need a seventy fifth opinion.

[Foobin]

yea but people keep posting stuff so who cares

[DUCATI*HARD]

fukn suzukis