I suspect this is potentially a very simple problem to resolve, but want to run it past you lot to avoid having to buy parts that I don't need.
1994 RVF been in storage for the last year, I brought it 10 days ago, tarted it up, recharged the flat battery, got it MOT'd and have since done about 200 miles.
Went to ride home from work the other day and the starter was turning but sounded like the solenoid wasn't firing, hence not turning the engine over. I bump started the bike and rode home. It started fine when i got home so I thought it was simply water in the system somewhere from all of the heavy rain that the bike had stood in all day. This was Tuesday.
Wednesday I didn't ride it.
This morning I jumped on it ready to go to work and no lights showed on the instrument cluster when i turned the key, needless to say the starter would not turn over. Tried to bump start it but failed (had to then push it 500 yards uphill back to the garage) put the battery on charge, jumped in my car and went to work.
Came home, stuck the battery back on the bike (CTEK smart charger was showing it was fully charged) tried to start it but got the whirring starter noise again, solenoid not firing. I stuck the multimeter on the battery and it read 9.5v. I jump started the bike using the car battery (it started no problems) and took a few readings accross the terminals:
at tickover: 12.4v
at 7k revs: 15.6v
after running the bike for 5 mins and ignition off: 7.4v
Whats the diagnosis please?

Hi, i would think the battery has died, they dont like been stood not charged for a while.
i would check the battery voltage again when/if you buy a new one before you ride it, as the charge voltage shouldnt really got over 14 by much, but if the battery is dead it wont be pulling the voltage down and it could just be your meter reading a bit high.
Cheers
Ian

Stuck a new battery on a day after this thread and everything has been honkey dorey, stopped off on the way home today (daily 60 mile commute) and the bugger wouldn't start, I bumped started it and managed to get to within 3 miles of home and it died completely, can't even bump start it, fortunately 100 yards from a particuarly nice pub, I'm typing this as I sup a pint of moretti, waiting for the breakdown man.
Any ideas what to check first? ( I may be a bit worse for wear when I eventually get home)
Its a right pain because the bike is my only form of transport at the mo, I need to get to work tomorrow!
Tom

whip the cowel off and take the starter relay fuse out, (its on the right hand side of the bike if you are standing at the back just to the right of the battery, its got a red cover which says FUSE on it ) put your multimeter on amps (remember to move the leads over, silly thing to say maybe but we have all mad ethe mistake or at least I have ) and put one lead in the bottom of the fuse holder (to bridge the connection) start the bike and see what current the battery is drawing/is being given it may be your reg rec isnt allowing enough current to the battery (its unlikely with the voltages being so good but worth a look) mine draws idle just after starting around .7amps on a good reg rec and battery with the lights on it draws closer to 4.5 your battery being so low you should expect a fairly large amount of current going into the battery at least a couple of amps,

sorry if I havent explained it very well!

Sounds like the old battery was dead

http://www.electrexworld.co.uk/pdfs/Tro ... G-&-RR.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Have a read through that

I would be wary of over 15V into the battery from the charging system. The reg rec could be on the way out and when it goes..it can take the battery and various plugs and the generator too.

Check all the generator related plugs - 3 yellow wires form genny into a nice white plug in the cluster by your right knee. Make sure it is secure and not charring at all...
then check the plug into the reg/rec itself. Any charring and you are going to need a new setup soner rather than later.

I run a GSXR1000 rotor and generator and this whups out lots of power - my reg rec is hanging on in there but does not charge over 14.7V at any revs.

A simple test for it - do your lights brighten when revved - rather than go from slightly dull to normal, do they carry on getting brighter at 7k ?

good luck

Gave the battery a quick charge and it starts and runs no problem. pulled the plug out of the RR and found that 1 of the terminals (one of the yellow wires) was very badly charred and the surrounding plastic was melted.
My old multimeter seems to be knackered, so the fault finding ends there for tonight.
Going to ride it to work tomorrow hoping the battery holds enough charge to start it and produce a spark for the journey, I can charge it there and ride it home.
Hopefully its just the RR thats knackered, whats everyones thoughts?

pptom wrote:Gave the battery a quick charge and it starts and runs no problem. pulled the plug out of the RR and found that 1 of the terminals (one of the yellow wires) was very badly charred and the surrounding plastic was melted.
My old multimeter seems to be knackered, so the fault finding ends there for tonight.
Going to ride it to work tomorrow hoping the battery holds enough charge to start it and produce a spark for the journey, I can charge it there and ride it home.
Hopefully its just the RR thats knackered, whats everyones thoughts?

what you need to do now,is check the condition of the alternator as it may be on its way out.no point replacing the rr if its going to fail again soon.

for riding to work on battery power alone dont use your lights as it will die much quicker.



wull

if your battery sits at 7.4v after getting some charge its got at least 2 dead cells. its fsked.

check this thread for battery reviving info, but really, your battery sounds screwed http://www.400greybike.info/newforum/vi ... 24&t=11805" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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btw riding with lights off is quite dangerous, I wouldnt just flat out recommend it, better to measure the battery voltage with a multimeter while the engine is running with the lights on and set the idle to a point where you get at least 13.6v or 14v for a faster charge.

Lope wrote:if your battery sits at 7.4v after getting some charge its got at least 2 dead cells. its fsked.

check this thread for battery reviving info, but really, your battery sounds screwed http://www.400greybike.info/newforum/vi ... 24&t=11805" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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btw riding with lights off is quite dangerous, I wouldnt just flat out recommend it, better to measure the battery voltage with a multimeter while the engine is running with the lights on and set the idle to a point where you get at least 13.6v or 14v for a faster charge.

Yeah, but he is not getting any charge at all...the lights will drain the battery and he'll be fooked.

Lights on is all well..but not when your bike will only go 10 miles with them turned on.

As Wull said, check the alternator too.