Bad Starter?

[Tigercub]

Since the starter doesn't work at all, no click or anything after 20m riding I'd suspect the starter solenoid. Your starter may have the solenoid integrated with the starter.



Check for loose connections to the battery and especially the ground cable.



A weak battery that is cold may start the bike, but when hot there is too much resistance and not enough current to trip the solenoid. A nearly dead battery can fool you, because they charge up easily to about the correct voltage, but won't put out enough current to turn a start motor. If the solenoid doesn't trip nothing happens. They're designed this way to protect the starters. But it's a pain when the battery is weak because sometimes it works and then leaves you stranded.



Fourth gear rattle - it may be that in fourth gear whatever is loose rattles because the resonant vibration is at just the right frequency. So, this may or may not be related to the starter problem.

[03zx12r]

to expand on the above - might want to check the battery for its charge. I had a old bike that would overcharge the battery caused by a bad regulator. It would bake the battery until it had no reserve capacity to start the bike. get your DVOM out and check all connections - will be easy to see if the starter solenoid is working or not. If it is and battery voltage is ok, consider doing a voltage drop test to isolate the problem. This will tell you quickly if you have a connection or battery cable issue.

[Carlcrom]

The secret is, "no solenoid click"... and it's is usually a power loss or ground loss at solenoid. the solenoid is "on" or "close to" starter (ie engine heat, loose dirty connection or mounting)

...also... It could be a compromised (border line) solenoid core, due to heat, dirt, rust, water combination... where is your starter solenoid physically located?

[03zx12r]

MacGyver just called. He says he has a piece of string, a rubber band, a 9 volt battery, some chewing gum and super glue. He seems convinced that he can fix your bike. I explained he did not know what was wrong with it and unable to fix with those items. He tied me up with a shoelace and a piece of bailing wire - says he is on his way to see you now.

[pplassm]

I just checked on BikeBandit.com, and the solenoid IS separate. You can always jump the contacts when it doesn't work to make sure a new solenoid will solve the problem.



BTW, a new solenoid is about $50 from bb.com

[mscuddy]

Just use the kickstarter. You've got one of those on you bike, right?



Bwahahhaha...

[mscuddy]

And WTF, why don't they have kickstarters on bikes any more? Even dirt bikes don't have kickstarters nowadays (foo foo ones that is).



Last thing I want is to be stuck in a sandwash somewhere with a dead battery and no kickstarter.



Oh, and that tinny, intermittent, arrhythmic clank or rattle in fourth gear is the sound of an anemic smogged up 4 striker trying to overcome the weight of it's own flywheels.



Get a CR500.

[johnnyb]

kickstarter is useless cause the seat is too tall to climb up there and kick anyway. whip out cell and call 24-hr assistance, give GPS coordinates.



Ok, stimulating thread! what happen to Buells in Utah?? I c nothing...

[ksquid]

How could that happen?

[pplassm]

Kickstarter KIT actually is available for this bike. Costs about $300 IIRC.



The dirt only version was, at one point, available with kickstarter and no magic button.