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Will not start?

3K views 30 replies 14 participants last post by  zfmrchnt 
#1 ·
Background bike has been running fine all summer, last week I try to start her and nothing? It has lights, kickstand is up and its in neutral. Pressed the ignition and nothing at all - no noises. I play around with the spark plug, kickstand and change gears back to neutral, still nothing. 20 mins later of repeating the same trouble shooting it randomly starts up. I shutdown after going for a quick ride and the same thing happens again? nothing from the ignition switch? I just got the battery check out 12.4v - 75% left, 201cca out of 300.I dont know how it could be a battery issue when it will turn over randomly/eventually?

I know if the kickstand is down its not suppose to turn over but is there any other reason? I will charge the battery and try again next weekend but Im interested in knowing all the preliminary reasons a 2001 will not start?
 
#6 ·
And may be the kick stand switch mmmmmm just maybe
and he said kickstand is up and its in neutral. Pressed the ignition and nothing at all
I play around with, kickstand and change gears back to neutral, still nothing. 20 mins later of repeating the same trouble shooting it randomly starts up. I shutdown after going for a quick ride and the same thing happens again?

(It looks to me it all comes back to the kickstend switch)
 
#8 ·
Why does everybody forget about that one??? Anything below 12.6 is a dead battery.
 
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#10 ·
how old is the battery...if you don't know, then start there...may not be the battery but for $50 go to wmart and replace the battery...at worst you have an extra battery if the battery isn't the issue...would suck to drive yourself crazy looking for a problem that you hopefully may not have. Good luck.
 
#11 · (Edited)
I dunno why everyone swears the bike won't even crank when the bat. voltage is below 12.6V. Just went out to check the gauge on my 04 (which still boasts the original battery)...reads just about halfway between 10V and 12V (jumps to and stays at almost 14 when running) and takes a serious dive when cranked, but she cranks and fires without help...even at least tries to crank when I've forgotten to turn off the lights and pretty much killed the battery. Check your connections and then check your starter relay... one member here stubbornly clung to the battery theory for weeks before finally checking and replacing the starter relay....after much debate of proper voltage, oddly enough the relay resolved the problem. (Go figure) As for the kick stand switch... in neutral it doesn't matter, I always crank mine with the stand down, no point pulling her off the stand till she's warmed up and I'm ready to roll. (the b* is sometimes I forget the stand till I engage 1st and she shuts down)
 
#12 ·
Because look at the history here on the site. Go through the help section and you will find out how many people have experienced a battery that won't do a dang thing for the bike once below 12.6v...which is why I posted a page from the chiltons that says these batteries are considered under charged once below 12.6v.

I can think of only one member that has had that relay go out...and that is the one you are talking about. Just one. I'm sure there has been more...but it isn't common. Almost every other no start issue has been the battery. The second most common cause has been a shorted wire.

In addition, it is one of those things that is good to rule out before you start chasing a possible wire issue or a potentially much more expensive component (as well as being harder to get to).

What gauge do you have mounted on your bike that you use to shows your voltage?
 
#13 · (Edited)
from the O/P- .. It has lights, kickstand is up and its in neutral. Pressed the ignition and nothing at all - no noises.....I dont know how it could be a battery issue when it will turn over randomly/eventually?
This one, and the starter relay is just as easy to get at as the battery, and apparently can be scrounged for far less than a battery (his was $10), plus ist's a very easy issue to check. At the very least unless the battery is completely fried it will click (almost a buzz) or try to turn over slowly if it's the battery. At 12.4 volts 200+ amps there's still life enough there to roll over slowly at the very least. Add to that the problem is not every time he tries to start and odds are it is an issue further into the electrical system.
 

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#14 ·
I'm not talking this thread in particular...Due to the random start the OP got out of it, I wouldn't suspect it was the battery...but maybe if the OP has access to a known good one that he wouldn't have to pay for it would be worth swapping out just to eliminate it.

you asked why people push the batteries being the culprit so hard. Most don't make it to testing the starter relay because that isn't normally the problem.

Again...HISTORY....battery is the number one cause of these bikes not starting, so that is what people recommend checking first. Makes sense to me.

When my OEM battery went, it just went.

No slow start, no slow fade over a few weeks. Just gone.

I actually had started the bike and was driving it home from work in Norfolk VA..through heavy traffic..and it just DIED....

I chased my tail trying to find what it could possibly be for days. Checking everything because I figured it COULDN'T be the battery. Volt meter was showing what appeared to be a respectable 12.2v, it had just started and was being ridden when it died...no WAY it was the battery.

Finally I looked through my Chiltons (the page I posted that was ignored by some like it has no bearing), found the part about batteries being UNDER charged if less than 12.8...so I replaced my battery and my problem completely went away.

History.
 
#15 ·
So many things I wanna say here....... LOL...... :) but I am gonna be good....
 
#19 ·
Just purchased a new battery from Advance Auto. I have work and school during the week so I have not had a chance to install it yet. But I would like to share the coupon codes i found to make for a good deal when buying online. shopping cart around $90 for a bill of $60, not a bad deal.

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#21 ·
How did you charge the new battery? Did it come with acid in it already or did it come dry and you added it?
 
#24 · (Edited)
Ok. Just for basic procedure, a dry battery must be slow charged ( 2-3 amp) for 6 or more hours, then sit for an hour or two. It's a long process. It's more than just adding electrolyte and fast charging and expecting the battery to be ready.

If you did not use this basic procedure, the battery is not necessarily optimal yet.
 
#27 ·
Long awaited update -
Second brand new battery and the issue is still present.
I now believe it is the igition switch
I have now been able to get the bike to fire but not on every try.
Found out that if I shut off the bike with the kill switch it more likely to start the next time but not 100% of the time.
If i just sit there and turn on/off the bike, hitting the kill switch over and over eventually it will fire up?
 
#29 ·
I'm always a little confused when riders write that their bikes do not start or fire up?

So, here goes.... the engine will turn over with the starter button but does not fire up? The engine does not turn over therefore will not fire up? Turns over slowly, clicks at the relay, By hitting the kill switch off and on, it then will turn over and fire up?
 
#30 ·
Switches can oxidize, just like battery posts. I've never looked at the inside of the kill switch to see if it is possible to clean. I think I'd get some of that spray they use for cleaning electronics from radio shack and spray the switch........if it's possible to do so.
 
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