Head scratcher - bike won't start.

**macros87** · 6th January 2012, 08:32

hey guys, I have a ZXR 250, and the other day at my house I left the key in the ignition, switched off, but in the ignition for a couple of days that I didn't use it and forgot. long story short. perfectly good working bike has now decided to not start at all now. I thought maybe the battery discharged itself, since a few bits and pieces and lights stay on when the key is in. So I left the battery on the charger for about 6 hours. That has solved my battery issues before but resulted in nothing this time.

The battery is one of those gel sealed no servicing needed motobatt batteries that has been on the bike no longer than 8 months so I would be surprised for that to be the problem. I will still have it tested later on today. No lights on the bike light up at all, not even very dimly. It doesn't turn over at all and although I also tried to roll start it but I wasn't able to, and its not like its the first time I roll start a motorbike, let alone this exact same motorbike.

I am going to have to at least give a crack at this one my self, Christmas, new years, and my bike rego have left me with little funds I would like to keep to myself.

Any idea on what I should be checking next? The service manual has been little help in pointing me in the right direction to trouble shoot this. I suppose I could be wrong but I have posted in electrical since that is what intuition points me too. But if I am wrong by all means let me know.

Now KB experts get to cracking this mystery right open!

**MSTRS:Me** · 6th January 2012, 09:59

Put a volt meter (preferably) or a test light across the battery terminals to check it does have some smoke in it.
Failing a dead battery (they do happen), I'd be looking at fuse/s.
Electrical problems are often elimination, rather than diagnosis...

**hayd3n** · 6th January 2012, 10:18

check the kill switch on the right switch block it may be set to off
make sure battery is on the right way check side stand switch

**paturoa** · 6th January 2012, 10:18

Get your self a cheap volt meter and check the battery voltage first.

If you don;t know how to use a meter - here is a youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NJPUXC2frQ

**macros87** · 6th January 2012, 16:36

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Put a volt meter (preferably) or a test light across the battery terminals to check it does have some smoke in it.
Failing a dead battery (they do happen), I'd be looking at fuse/s.
Electrical problems are often elimination, rather than diagnosis...

Battery seems has just been confirmed as all good. suppose next step is checking the fuse box.

Originally Posted by hayd3n

check the kill switch on the right switch block it may be set to off
make sure battery is on the right way check side stand switch

Yeah I checked that

really didn't want to be that guy who overlooked the obvious before jumping online in a panic

I knew it couldn't be that since whatever the problem is affects everything, including the lights and even the alarm that's hooked into the electric system, which made me doubt the battery first too.

Originally Posted by paturoa

Get your self a cheap volt meter and check the battery voltage first.

If you don;t know how to use a meter - here is a youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NJPUXC2frQ

I am starting to see the need to buy one, this is the third time in 12 months I will have to borrow one. What should someone expect them fancy (red cheap, only basic features necessary) volt meters to go for?

**FJRider** · 6th January 2012, 17:32

Battery may be "good" ... but the charger may not. Dim lights and not turning the bike over much would indicate that it is connected correctly. Try a jump start ... which would indicate battery issues if it starts ...

A push start with a dead flat battery is ... umm ... difficult ...
Key in the ignition ... even turned off, shouldn't cause any problems ...

**nzspokes** · 6th January 2012, 18:04

Try roll starting it in 2nd or 3rd. That will tell you.

**steve_t** · 6th January 2012, 18:23

Sometimes a shagged battery will still output 12V after being on the charger. It's only when that battery is loaded that it reveals that it has shit itself. Given what you've said, I'd put my money on a new battery being the order of the day. Let us know how you get on

**macros87** · 7th January 2012, 11:11

Originally Posted by FJRider

Battery may be "good" ... but the charger may not. Dim lights and not turning the bike over much would indicate that it is connected correctly. Try a jump start ... which would indicate battery issues if it starts ...

A push start with a dead flat battery is ... umm ... difficult ...
Key in the ignition ... even turned off, shouldn't cause any problems ...

I didn't realize a dead flat battery would make push starting it more difficult. armed with that piece of knowledge I gave it another far more vigorous go. Nothing.

Originally Posted by nzspokes

Try roll starting it in 2nd or 3rd. That will tell you.

Yep tried all the tricky stuff.

Originally Posted by steve_t

Sometimes a shagged battery will still output 12V after being on the charger. It's only when that battery is loaded that it reveals that it has shit itself. Given what you've said, I'd put my money on a new battery being the order of the day. Let us know how you get on

A friend is bringing me a battery that is confirmed to work this avo, we will chuck it in there and see what happens. I am crossing my fingers hoping this is the problem, it would be the cheapest, simplest, most convenient fix since the battery is still under warranty.

**Hopeful Bastard** · 7th January 2012, 16:01

All your connectors good?? Before i gave it a good clean, The connectors werent hittin the battery properly. So had a "gap" between battery and Connectors, Hence a no start.