Bike won't crank

[Moto-Moto]

Ok, I went out this morning to start my 04 RT and it cranked a couple times and then it sounded like the starter wasn't moving. Can the starter get too cold and freeze up? I have it on a battery tender, not a problem with that.

 

I started it and ran it for 10-20 minutes the day before (didn't ride, just let it run). Please don't tell me I need a new starter!

 

Thanks

[outpost22]

Ok,

I started it and ran it for 10-20 minutes the day before (didn't ride, just let it run). Please don't tell me I need a new starter!

 

Thanks

 

Rule #1. Don't leave your bike idling for 10-20 minutes while stationary, without putting a cooling fan(s) in front of it first (if this is what you did?). It is air cooled and can melt the tupperware and even start a fire. The exhaust headers will cook a rump roast by doing that.

Was it still running after 20 minutes? Hopefully it didn't get too hot and seize?

 

My bet is that your battery may be shot, tender or not. Check your voltage on the battery terminals and see what you get not only in a non-starting mode, but by cranking it.

Also check and make sure your side stand is up. The side stand switch has a safety switch which may be shorted out.

 

Pull in the clutch lever while starting to make sure your "neutral" sensor isn't whacko.

Starters are easy to take apart, clean, rebuild, or replace.

[NonComp]

Rule #1. Don't leave your bike idling for 10-20 minutes while stationary, without putting a cooling fan(s) in front of it first (if this is what you did?). It is air cooled and can melt the tupperware and even start a fire. The exhaust headers will cook a rump roast by doing that.

Was it still running after 20 minutes? Hopefully it didn't get too hot and seize?

I think that this is highly unlikely. You may melt the plastic if the bike is left on high-idle, but I doubt that you would do much damage at normal idle speeds. You certainly wouldn't seize the engine from idling for 20 minutes.

[outpost22]

Rule #1. Don't leave your bike idling for 10-20 minutes while stationary, without putting a cooling fan(s) in front of it first (if this is what you did?). It is air cooled and can melt the tupperware and even start a fire. The exhaust headers will cook a rump roast by doing that.

Was it still running after 20 minutes? Hopefully it didn't get too hot and seize?

I think that this is highly unlikely. You may melt the plastic if the bike is left on high-idle, but I doubt that you would do much damage at normal idle speeds. You certainly wouldn't seize the engine from idling for 20 minutes.

 

Yes, but when he says the bike won't crank after idling for 20 minutes (no clarification of fast or regular idle), it certainly would enter my mind as a possibility but not a probability. Thus is why I asked if it was still running after 20 minutes when he returned to it.

 

He might look at THIS old thread too

[ESokoloff]

Ok, I went out this morning to start my 04 RT and it cranked a couple times and then it sounded like the starter wasn't moving.

........

I started it and ran it for 10-20 minutes the day before (didn't ride, just let it run). Please don't tell me I need a new starter!

 

Thanks

 

I wonder if you ran the battery down?

If the idle RPM was not high enough to have the alternator kick into (full) charge mode/level it would drain the battery but I'm not sure if thats possible?????

[philbytx]

If you go through all the battery checking stuff, you have good voltage, you pulled the clutch lever in etc and it still "kinda" cranks but seems to "sieze" up mid-start (and your dash lights dim right down), it COULD be detached starter magnets in your Valeo starter. Although this does mostly occurs in R1100's.

 

If you checked out the eletrickery system and it is OK, then remove your starter, do the bendix clean-up and then check it out on the bike with the tupperware removed. Plenty of info around on the board.....

 

 

[Moto-Moto]

Thanks for the ideas. I did have a fan on the bike while it was running. I need to test the battery as stated.

i took the tupperware off and the starter is filthy, so I don't think it will hurt to clean it up as well. A couple of questions:

 

What do I use to re-lube/grease the starter?

Do I have to take the Panel that holds the footpeg off? If so, are there any tricks to things to avoid?

 

Thanks

[outpost22]

Thanks for the ideas. I did have a fan on the bike while it was running. I need to test the battery as stated.

i took the tupperware off and the starter is filthy, so I don't think it will hurt to clean it up as well. A couple of questions:

 

What do I use to re- /grease the starter?

Do I have to take the Panel that holds the footpeg off? If so, are there any tricks to things to avoid?

 

Thanks

 

Glad to hear you had a fan on it. It would not be fun coming back to a pile of melted plastic.

 

To get to the starter, you will have to remove the side plate that holds the left foot pegs. Just be careful of realigning the cam that the shift linkage fits into when re-installing. Otherwise, your bike may become stuck in one gear. (Ask me how I know this )

 

The starter removes with two allen bolts and the removal of 2 wires. Very simple to get to. Use silicone grease to reassemble.

 

Here are some links

 

Click

 

Click

 

Click

 

[Moto-Moto]

OK, I got the starter out and cleaned. I was disgustingly full of gunk. I got everything reassembled and started it with the tupperware off. it started up immediately.

I put the tupperware back on and tried to start it again....can you guess the outcome? I did take the battery out and checked it to make sure it was ok before I started it the first time (without the tupperware). Going back through the board, I did see that I needed to reset the brain (turning on and turning throttle full open twice). If I tried to start the bike prior to this, could it drain the battery?

 

I put it back on the Battery Tender and figure I will let it charge overnight. The starter is trying, but this time it sounds like it doesn't have enough power to turn over.

 

Matt

[philbytx]

Is it NOT starting at all or "kinda" starting?

If it is NOT starting it could well be a dodgy switch(sidestand/clutch/starter). However, if it is "kinda" starting but then bogging down, it may well be detached magnets. Initially, mine was intermittent, started, then not start, kinda start. Let it rest, then it would start. Finally, it wouldn't start at all! Turned out I had 3 of the 4 magnets detached inside the can, so I replaced the starter with a new unit.

 

 

 

 

[Slyder_Steve]

Philby,

Was this on your RT? Reason I ask is I'm expereincing the same thing now. Starter is totally whimpy, the clock resets to 0000, but the battery tests good.

 

Anyone got a suggestion? Had to bump start it twice now--not fun!

 

Steve

[Slyder_Steve]

Dang...9 minutes and no response...

[Slyder_Steve]

Okay, so I reinstalled the battery, cleaned the connections and she starts. We'll see if this repeats...

[philbytx]

Steve,

 

That is good news for you mate .

On the R1150's, connections tend to be the issue. However, most of the Valeo starter issues were on early R1100's, very seldom on R1150's.

 

[Ian]

I get the same symptom on my R1100RT (2000). I thought it was an electrical problem but found that if I put the bike in gear and rock forward or back the starter then works. It has been like this for several years and i just put up with it.

 

Worth a try?

 

regards,

 

Ian