Follow up to Bike won't start- 04 RT

[Moto-Moto]

Ok, quick question. If you hit the starter and all you hear is a clicking sound is that a good sign that the starter is dead? The battery has been on a tender for the past 4 days, since i took the starter off and cleaned it.

 

I am going to take the Tupperware back off, remove the battery and take it to be tested, but in the meantime, if I need to order a new starter I want to do that.

Thanks

[NonComp]

I guess, most likely its the battery. Part 2 might be to remove and clean up and lube the starter and clean the cable connections. Part 3 might be to replace the starter.

[Moto-Moto]

I cleaned and lubed the starter, cleaned all the cable connections on the starter and the battery.

Right after I cleaned the starter, I tried starting it prior to putting the tupperware on and it started right up, then once I got it all put back together it won't fire.

[4wheeldog]

Still sounds like battery to me. Only quick check would be to put a voltmeter on the battery when you hit the button......If it goes below 9 volts, almost surely the battery. The tender can bring it up to full voltage, but it can't fix the damaged cells.

[knight88]

Check the battery under load, it may show 12v but under load it could be bad. The tender won't do it, or if you can just jump start it and see

[Moto-Moto]

I have a Honda VTX with a 12Volt 12 Amp-Hour battery, could I use it to try and start my RT to get a better idea if it is the battery or the starter? Will that hurt the BMW?

 

I don't have a volt meter (need to buy one, any suggestions)?

[RPG]

you can get a cheap DVM at Radio Shack. If you want a nicer one, look at the Fluke Series. I use several day to day. My personal favorite is a 77.

 

As others have said, just because the battery is showing charged per the battery charger means nothing. You need to check with a voltmeter, while it's cranking.

 

RPG

[NonComp]

I don't see how jumping off of another 12v motorcycle battery will do any harm to your bike. Give it a try.

 

I don't use a battery tender. I have an automotive charger that is switchable in output (2a 15a 100a) and has settings for 6 and 12 volts and deep cycle batteries (100a is for starting). The 15 amp setting is useful to 'shock' a m/c battery for a couple of minutes when it is flat, to get it to accept a charge at 2a.

 

The point is that such a charger can also be set to charge at 15a to put out enough current for a short period of time to also start the bike.