Intermittent Starter

[Haley]

My bike has been back on the road about a month, previously it had been stood for a year, its running like a dream, but there's an intermittent starting problem that is really causing problems and I have no idea what it is.

If the problem occurs there's a loud click followed by a hiss heard upon pressing the starter switch, the bike doesn't turn over- no attempt to start. Sometimes given a few minutes the bike will start as normal and sometimes it takes longer. The bike normally starts again after a while of its own accord eventually.

The bike has a new battery, starter motor (Obv pre owned) and I've checked the wiring and connections from the starter solenoid to the starter motor.

I opened up the previous starter motor and it was FUBAR so I thought I'd solved the problem, but last night after work, same old story

Help Required

Cheers

[magg]

Measure the voltage across the starter solenoid terminal when pressing the START button. Voltage should be equal to battery voltage, i.e. 12.8 VDC, before you press the button and then drop to less than 1 volt when pressing the button. Hopefully you can get a measurement when the problem appears.

[Neosophist]

My bike has been back on the road about a month, previously it had been stood for a year, its running like a dream, but there's an intermittent starting problem that is really causing problems and I have no idea what it is.

If the problem occurs there's a loud click followed by a hiss heard upon pressing the starter switch, the bike doesn't turn over- no attempt to start. Sometimes given a few minutes the bike will start as normal and sometimes it takes longer. The bike normally starts again after a while of its own accord eventually.

The bike has a new battery, starter motor (Obv pre owned) and I've checked the wiring and connections from the starter solenoid to the starter motor.

I opened up the previous starter motor and it was FUBAR so I thought I'd solved the problem, but last night after work, same old story

Help Required

Cheers

Battery as magg suggested is a good place to start.

Off the top of my head there are a few reaosns I can think.

1. your replacemetn starter motor is knackerd
2. the starter clutch is knackered
3. the fuel from the carbs is leaking into the engine causing some kind of hydraulic lock
4. battery is knackered.
5. theres a bad / intermittiedt electrical connection somewhere.

[Haley]

Hello, new battery on the bike as of last week, starter clutch is next on my list, sourced a replacement and will order one... Fingers crossed.

Cheers

[magg]

Why not check the starter solenoid first before taking the more difficult mechanical approach?

[watfordhorn]

I too would be looking at the starter solenoid first, and maybe the earth connection.