1999 vtr struggling to start

[djgary]

I've only just picked up the vtr it's a low 22000 mile 1999 model in superb well maintained condition, the vendor has kept every single piece of paper history for the bike and the last 4 years mot's have shown it to have done just 200 miles per year. The vendor wanted to start riding the bike again so just one week before selling he had it fully serviced new cct's and new conti tyres front and back.
When I viewed it he said it had been kept on an optimizer and it started fine however over the next few days I found the cranking speed to be a bit slow sometimes it wouldn't turn at all then next try it turned ok and started, I went to work on the bike came out to go home and it appeared as though the battery was almost flat, virtually no power to turn the motor and dull ignition lights etc, there was no way it would start, I called out the rac and left the bike for ten mins and tried it again just before the rac man arrived and it turned over and started up fine.
The rac confirmed the alternator is charging I checked battery voltage the next day after being parked up overnight and it was 12.3 volts so it hadn't gone dead, the bike started fine from cold and I rode it to work ok however when it came to coming home exactely the same as the night before.
I'm tending to think the starter motor is weak but I'm open to any suggestions from you guys with much more experiance of these machines.
Thank you in anticipation, Gary.

[djgary]

Sorry forgot to say I've checked all terminals are tight except starter motor which is a job for Sunday

[VTRDark]

Welcome to the forum.

The bolt on the Starter motor is a common issue with these. Being up front they are under attack to the elements and corrode so as a consequence you get a bad connection.

http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... arter+bolt

(:-})

[AMCQ46]

If the startercable is ok, I think The regulator and battery may need changing

[parkergb6]

As Carl said starter motor bolt. The cable and the bolt corrodes and it's trying to put the whole load through a cable with poss only a few strands holding it on. Had exactly the same thing. Removed starter motor made up a new bolt,put a new connector and boot on the end of the cable and hey presto.not too bad a job also makes the bike easier to start.

[tony.mon]

Unless there's a squeaking noise- if so it's the transfer gears.
Not easy to do but possible, without taking too much off.

[djgary]

I've not heard and squeeking noises just the starter struggling to turn, I'm going to remove the fairing on Sunday to clean up the engine and frame that's hidden so I will check out the bolt and cable, hopefully that will sort it out as I'm hopefully going for a run out Sunday afternoon with a mate who also has a vtr.

[popkat]

I'd go with battery, optimates don't always do their job especially if left connected all the time, 12.3 volts is a bit low for a fully charged battery, 12.6-12.8 is what you need for the bike to start properly all the time. being the type of bike they are they need a good battery to crank.

[lloydie]

New battery and r/r new plugs and clean up the starter bolt

[Serlant]

New battery, especially since its been sat, my neighbour just bought a 2004 CBR1000RR which had been sat for a year, the owner said he had the battery on an optimizer, the first time I heard him start it I thought the battery sounded flat, the next time he went out on it he dropped the clutch by accident and stalled it, then lost all powers, got the bike back and turns out the battery had gone short, showing 12.4volts when ignition was turned off, but as soon as you turned the key it dropped like a stone to 0.3volts. it was so wombles it wouldn't even bump, I jumped it with the VTR but as soon as you took the jump leads off the bike would stall.

Bottom line, replace the battery first. then go from there.

[darkember]

New battery and r/r new plugs and clean up the starter bolt

[djgary]

Cheers everyone, I'm going to have a go at all you've suggested tomorrow when I'm off work