Need help asap

Flash G

Flash G

Registered
I have a ride planned for sunday and the bike wont start. I have been having issues with it since I came back from the beach. It rained the whole way home, granted the bike was on the trailer, but it got soaked for three hours at 75 mph after that it hasn't wanted to start everytime. So far I have put a clutch switch on it so that it would crank, and that helped for a while but the more I ride it the worse it gets. I have also up graded the battery cables to 4 gauge, took the starter apart and cleaned it, I have tested the battery, charged the battery, hooked it up to my truck with jumper cables and it still wont crank fast enough to start. I dont know what else to do, and only have two days to get it fixed before the ride. :please:So if yall have any ideas please help:banghead:! :banghead: :banghead:
 
Rectifier?
Click to expand...
as in voltage regulator? I have cleaned and tested the connections and they are good. when you try to crank it, it sounds like a flooded 1970's mopar with a weak battery.
 
Try cranking for a few seconds, and immediately after touch the battery terminals, one at a time, and with one hand only. See if any connectors are warm or hot. Do the same thing with starter cable, and connectors at the starter. With high current required for cranking, any poor connection will get warm or hot. If you find one, just undo the connector, clean with sand paper or sharp object, re-connect and tighten again - with a screw driver, or a small wrench - whatever appropriate.

For example, if you battery connectors are oxidized and dirty (not shiny) and you tighten by hand, I almost guarantee a poor connection. My buddy couldn't start his bike, with symptoms very similar to yours. One of his battery terminals was getting hot to the touch during cranking. All I did was cleaned his connectors, tightened and the bike started normally. Exposure to prolonged humidity would do that.

What year bike? How many miles? Is it being subjected to heat/humidity where it's normally parked?

Bad rectifier may not provide enough voltage to charge the battery over time, but the bike should crank and start with no issues if the battery is fully charged.
 
I have tried checking for hot terminals with no sucess all the terminals are clean and tight with dielectric grease on them. The bike is a 2001 with 23,000 I have always kept it in my garage, which is not climate controlled but it hasn't been as hot and humid as last year.
 
Measure the voltage at the battery while cranking the bike over, if it falls under 12 volt, IT will not start, it's a bad battery!

The coil sticks will not operate under 12 volts!
 
GIXERHP said:
Measure the voltage at the battery while cranking the bike over, if it falls under 12 volt, IT will not start, it's a bad battery!

The coil sticks will not operate under 12 volts!
Click to expand...

Correction: Around 9V is a border line, not 12V. I can guarantee the voltage is nowhere around 12 while cranking. BTW, use analog Volt-meter - not digital.

How old is the battery? Were you using battery tender in the past for extensive period of time - like a few weeks or longer?

I re-read your post again - it definitely sounds like whatever the condition is, it gradually gets worse and rather quickly. I'd say it's a corrosion somewhere. I assume you tried jump starting with your truck and it's still the same, so probably not a battery.

I'd say go get a good light and slowly inspect connectors.

What about the starter relay or solenoid (not sure where it is)? Can you try if it gets warm or hot during cranking?

also, can you describe how it cranks - like a weak battery - barely turns? Are you able to bump start it? I know it's a pain in the neck for a single person, but if someone can push you, that's not too bad. If that works, at least you know the rest of the bike is working fine, and that could also be your back up plan for the weekend - you don't shut the bike off for short breaks. Other few times, your friends will push start you.
 
Flash G said:
I have tried checking for hot terminals with no sucess all the terminals are clean and tight with dielectric grease on them. The bike is a 2001 with 23,000 I have always kept it in my garage, which is not climate controlled but it hasn't been as hot and humid as last year.
Click to expand...

What about the other end, closer to the starter motor?
 
The voltage stays above 10.5 when cranking but jumper cables and a 750cca battery make no difference in the cranking speed. If the starter clutch is bad how do i check it? Or how can I crank it and see if the clutch stops turning?
 
High compression motor? Can you post a vid trying to start it if you haven't found the issue yet?
 
Seems something can be binding in the starter clutch. I just realized you have '01 - which is prone to starter clutch failures when cranking with a weak battery. Remember, there is a mod for that - forgot the name - a metal sleeve is placed over a part of the starter clutch to prevent breakage. However, if it is deformed by now, I think this may cause some mechanical binding in the starter clutch. Have you ever done this mod?

I had '01 until if got flooded during Sandy. Never done the mod, but was always aware of it, and always kept the battery fully charged.
 
High compression motor? Can you post a vid trying to start it if you haven't found the issue yet?
Click to expand...

I dont think that it is a high compression motor, I have only had the bike for a year, im not sure about its life before I bought it. But it has never spun over as fast as other busas that I have heard. I will try to post a video to show what it is doing.
 
Seems something can be binding in the starter clutch. I just realized you have '01 - which is prone to starter clutch failures when cranking with a weak battery. Remember, there is a mod for that - forgot the name - a metal sleeve is placed over a part of the starter clutch to prevent breakage. However, if it is deformed by now, I think this may cause some mechanical binding in the starter clutch. Have you ever done this mod?
Click to expand...

I think that the mod has been done but not sure i will have to pull it apart to check.
 
I am fresh out of ideas... But to step back and re-assess... a) the battery does not seem to be the problem; b) poor connection doesn't seem to be the problem; c) the starter barely cranks. Conclusion: something's up with the starter or the starter clutch.

I assume that the fuel pump primes, right? Just want to make sure that the clutch switch circuit is closed.

Have to go to sleep...
 
The fuel pump primes I have a video on my phone but i cant get it to the computer right now maybe i can get it posted tomorrow. Thanks for the help IG im going to bed also. maybe we can figure it out tomorrow, Thanks agian
 
Bump start the fuggin' thing and go ride. figure the rest out later. park on hills facing downward. :thumbsup:

RSD.
 
:cheerleader::cheerleader:I got it fixed it was the starter clutch binding up. replaced it and it spins over and starts better than it ever has before. Now to get it washed cleaned up to go to the mountians tomorrow morning.:laugh:
 
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