Batteries and a starting prob

BarryH · Post by **BarryH** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 10:38 pm

I can leave the bike for weeks on end in the garage with no charge going into the battery and it'll start no problem.

I ride it for a while, ie my place to Brighton, switch it off to get fuel and it'll struggle to start. I have to leave it for a few mins before it'll turn over to start.

Is it the battery or the heat in the engine raising the compression or making components expand? I know race bikes can suffer from this but mines hardly a race bike!

Thoughts on this?

clayderman · Post by **clayderman** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 1:55 pm

The first thing I would be inclined to do would be to check all the earth points, ie battery, alternator, starter motor then go from there. Sounds like it could possibly be a high resistance in the starter motor when warm.

dblanky · Post by **dblanky** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 4:54 pm

I was having trouble with starting, well somedays it started first time then after I stopped it would struggle alot, it sounded like the battery was nearly dead all the time and really slow to turn over,

Then one day started it up and a huge plume of smoke started coming from the engine!! I of course ran for my life as I had just filled up with petrol!!! Turns out the starter cable where it connects to the starter had completly fried it self it was horribly corroded and the connector just fell apart. replaced the lead, took the starter off and cleaned up the bolt sticking out of it, put it all back together and starts like a brand new bike now!

The starter is in a pretty crappy position really gets a fair amount of abuse having all sorts of road grime chucked up at it, I ride it all year round which doesnt help! So that might be something to check

genisis · Post by **genisis** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 5:21 pm

Strangely i have the same problem on mine. The Starter always sounds weak then when i filled up the other day i didn't think the bike would even start. I'll try cleaning the starter lead and see if that helps at all

Thanks for the tips

dblanky · Post by **dblanky** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 6:43 pm

mine always use to struggle after I filled up then back fire once it finally got going! Of course you scared the crap out of everyone else in the petrol station ;)

Beast · Post by **Beast** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 10:03 am

Check all earth bonds and battery terminals.
Could be the Reg/Rec, check with a Mulimeter, plenty of readme's on here.

Also recommend on every service to have the starter motor live feed bolt/nut freed and copper greased up as its prone to serious corrosion.

I always see another Red VTR with full lowers parked up in Brighton at weekends, i wonder if its you. ;)