starting problems...again

[ducfun]

Hey folks, I know there are tons of posts on starting issues, but each one is pretty specific and slightly different than mine. Sorry in advance for beating this topic to death. Maybe someone can write up a how to trouble shoot starting and other common problems?

Anyhow, a while back I had intermittent starting problems with my 1996 M900. At the time it had roughly 11,300 miles on it. The 12k service was done prior to my purchasing it at 11,100. These starting issues seemed at the time to be from a pinched wire.

Recently I was working 10 hours a day 7 days a week, so my bike sat for a month (outside in a “carport”). When I finally got the chance to ride I gave it three or four tries at starting it (at first it tried cranking with no avail). I gave up because the cranking had reduced to only a click from the solenoid. Later I tried bumping/pushing it in 1st gear with no luck (which may have been a mistake). I’ve now tried a brand new battery and still nothing but clicking! FYI â€" I bought the battery, filled it with the supplied electrolytes to the appropriate level and put on a tender set to 1A (I can select 1 or 2A on my charger). It charged for about 6 hours until the I got the green light. Also, the bike now has 12,400.

I’m going to fiddle with the solenoid tomorrow. This will include looking at the white connector and checking voltages. I haven’t check plugs because it is not even trying to turn over right now. But I guess I should do that too.

Any other suggestions? General thoughts?

I have a belly pan, but I think I see the starter peeking out near where the exhaust comes off of the lower cylinder…is that it?

Sorry for the long post. Just wanted to be detailed.

[Raux]

I'm not a mechanic. but i noticed a couple of things.
first, was it starting before you parked it for a month?
second, have you checked if your getting fuel?
third, when you say it was trying, were you getting firing our just the starter motor with no spark?
fourth, when you hooked up the new battery did it do the same thing as the last battery? EDIT sorry saw that one, so asking this... battery connections tight?

just some questions. i think may help people give you a better starting point before you go pulling apart too much.

[ducfun]

Good questions...
1) Yes, it was starting before I parked it. I mentioned the previous issues thinking they may have been related problems and that people may remember me posting about the issues a few months back.

2) I've not even thought about fuel. What should I check? at the very least the less than half full tank has been sitting for a month 

3) er, um...not sure. I don't remember. It seemed like it wanted to start but the turning slowed with each attempt and finally reduced to only a solenoid click. At the time I didn't think much of it. I figured it sat and I only need to charge the battery. I ended up buying a new one because I didn't know the age of the old one. I figured it couldn't hurt. 

4) the new battery picked up where the old left off. Still only clicking.

Thanks!

[ducpainter]

I don't think your problem is the white connector.

If that is loose you wouldn't even get a click.

It sounds like you either have a bad solenoid or a loose/dirty connection.

I would check all your cable connections for tightness and lack of corrosion. If you mess with the one on the starter itself be careful.

Then I'd jump the two large terminals on the solenoid. A screw driver works great. Make sure the bike is in neutral.

If it turns over you have a bad solenoid...

If it cranks and won't start with the key on you may have fouled the plugs in your attempt to bump start it.

[Raux]

ducpainter,

do you think it could be a fueling problem since the bike sat and it's a carb'd bike?

[Ddan]

You may have a fuel problem, but you definitely have an electrical one.  Go through the steps DP gave you and sort that out first, and once the starter is cranking well you'll see whether you have a fuel issue as well.  Gas sitting for a month really should be fine, but it wouldn't hurt to top off with fresh.

[ducpainter]

ducpainter,

do you think it could be a fueling problem since the bike sat and it's a carb'd bike?

I don't think so.

My bike sits for that long at times with no issues.

[Howie]

One isue at a time.  First the bike needs to crank.  If the bike still doesn't start, then it is time to worry about ignition and fuel.

One more thing to add ducpainter's list.  Pull the spark plugs, put the bike in gear and turn the rear wheel to insure the engine turns.

[swilly]

After doing some diagnosis of a non-cranking, seemingly *occasionally* dead-appearing electrical system, I got advice here to inspect what is apparently a main power relay under the seat of my 97 m900 - the one with 5 terminals and a whitish-yellow plastic cover.

Since burnishing its contacts (emery paper actually) and slightly bending the moving contact support, I have not experienced the intermittent electrical failure.

I recommend you inspect that relay and at least burnish the contacts inside.  Mine looked perfect, but apparently was not.

-tom

[ducfun]

Thanks for all of the suggestions!

I had a few minutes in between work and school to try shorting the solenoid so I prepared to do that a few minutes ago and thought. What the hell, try starting it again. now I'm occasionally getting it to try turning (just clicking at other times). It still won't start and  I think there is no spark, so plugs will get pulled after work tomorrow.

Any idea why the occasional clicking now?

For you in the b-more area...where can I get plugs and if needed a solenoid?

[Popeye the Sailor]

Thanks for all of the suggestions!

I had a few minutes in between work and school to try shorting the solenoid so I prepared to do that a few minutes ago and thought. What the hell, try starting it again. now I'm occasionally getting it to try turning (just clicking at other times). It still won't start and  I think there is no spark, so plugs will get pulled after work tomorrow.

Any idea why the occasional clicking now?

For you in the b-more area...where can I get plugs and if needed a solenoid?

Clarify this for me.

Near as I can tell, you currently have an intermittent cranking problem, no? The clicking is classic battery/solenoid issue. This is what needs sorting out *first*. As far as I know, there is as of yet, no reason to suspect the plugs. First, check your battery-they may have sold you a bad one. Second, if that checks out, verify all the connections are good. Still no crank? Jump the solenoid-how about now? Once you sort out why it's not cranking and get that fixed, then we'll try to start it again, and take it from there.

One thing at a time.

And don't go buy any parts yet until you *know* what the problem is-being a replacement mechanic is a bad, bad thing.

[Howie]

Clarify this for me.

Near as I can tell, you currently have an intermittent cranking problem, no? The clicking is classic battery/solenoid issue. This is what needs sorting out *first*. As far as I know, there is as of yet, no reason to suspect the plugs. First, check your battery-they may have sold you a bad one. Second, if that checks out, verify all the connections are good. Still no crank? Jump the solenoid-how about now? Once you sort out why it's not cranking and get that fixed, then we'll try to start it again, and take it from there.

One thing at a time.

And don't go buy any parts yet until you *know* what the problem is-being a replacement mechanic is a bad, bad thing.

Ditto.

[Raux]

wait, this is a 12 year old monster... get a NEW monster!  [moto]

what better excuse? errrr won't start.. need a new bike.

there, Raux finds the solution to the problem. (raux is talking in third person... hmmmm new problem)

[ducfun]

Battery, check
connections, check (well...as far as I can tell)
Solenoid, check (at least shorting it didn't buy me anything)

plugs, BAD
plug wires, BAD (cracked in my hand as I pulled off the wire from the vertical cylinder).

Hopefully Speeds has some in stock tomorrow. I'll let you all know.

[Ddan]

Well good, you found bad plugs and wires.  Didi you figure out why it won't crank?  If you put it new wires and plugs and it still won't crank, guess what.  It still won't start.

Clarify this for me.

Near as I can tell, you currently have an intermittent cranking problem, no? The clicking is classic battery/solenoid issue. This is what needs sorting out *first*. As far as I know, there is as of yet, no reason to suspect the plugs. First, check your battery-they may have sold you a bad one. Second, if that checks out, verify all the connections are good. Still no crank? Jump the solenoid-how about now? Once you sort out why it's not cranking and get that fixed, then we'll try to start it again, and take it from there.

One thing at a time.

And don't go buy any parts yet until you *know* what the problem is-being a replacement mechanic is a bad, bad thing.

+1  If you ask for advice, it might be to your advantage to pay attention to it.