Blackthou
Nitrous
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2014
- Messages
- 1,365
- Location
- Essex UK
- Ride
- 2014 Black 'n' Red R3R. RamAir, Tors, DP Link pipe
Dear Captains,
Re my late 2014 Roadster.
I changed the oil just over a week ago. Went to fire the bike up afterwards and just got a firm click. As I hadn't fired up the Rocket for a couple of months (been working on and testing my old Bonnie) I wasn't too surprised. I put the battery on charge for a couple of hours, tried again and no difference. Repeated the charge and still no joy.
I thought the battery may have died but it was still showing well over 11v on an analogue meter. To cut a long story short I bought an Optimiser 4 and left that hooked up for a few days. Indications were all was well but when I tried to start her still a click and not turning over. Hooked her (jump leads) up to my car. She was hesitant on turning over - it seemed a while after pressing the button before she turned over and fired. Left her running for 10 mins. Turned her off. waited a few minutes and retried, again click then nothing. Put her back on the Optimiser and left her for the rest of the week.
Anyway I decided to get a new battery but before I fitted it I came across the thread re the solenoid. I thought that had to be it. Today I removed the starter motor and took the end cover off the solenoid. I had expected pitting and burning from what I read but all looked good. Never-the-less I removed the contacts and cleaned them, dressed the copper ring and carefully reassembled everything to make sure it was square and true. I then rotated the central piston several times to check for witness marks on the contacts. All looked good. I removed and cleaned the nuts on the terminals and the ends of the cables. Reassembled the unit back onto the bike. Checked, cleaned and refitted the battery cables. The battery voltage was 12.75v.
I went to fire her up and still click and no rotation. Wheeled her out, hooked her up to my car again and after a pause from pressing the starter button she turned over and fired up. Let her run for a few minutes, turned her off and tried a restart while hooked to my car again. There was the same pause before she turned over and fired. This time I let her run for about 10 minutes. Tried her on the button, half a revolution then click. The voltage had dropped to 12.3v but after a few minutes was back up to 12.6v.
What do you all think? I haven't tried the new battery yet in case that wasn't it and I could return it.Is it simply the battery has failed?
Jump starting works but after some hesitation. Could that be because the bike's battery is duff and that's sapping some power from my car and causing the delay?
I noticed the oil is about 3mm over the maximum mark. Could that have any relevance? I don't think it will because as I say she jump starts but thought I'd mention it.
Cheers
Rick
Re my late 2014 Roadster.
I changed the oil just over a week ago. Went to fire the bike up afterwards and just got a firm click. As I hadn't fired up the Rocket for a couple of months (been working on and testing my old Bonnie) I wasn't too surprised. I put the battery on charge for a couple of hours, tried again and no difference. Repeated the charge and still no joy.
I thought the battery may have died but it was still showing well over 11v on an analogue meter. To cut a long story short I bought an Optimiser 4 and left that hooked up for a few days. Indications were all was well but when I tried to start her still a click and not turning over. Hooked her (jump leads) up to my car. She was hesitant on turning over - it seemed a while after pressing the button before she turned over and fired. Left her running for 10 mins. Turned her off. waited a few minutes and retried, again click then nothing. Put her back on the Optimiser and left her for the rest of the week.
Anyway I decided to get a new battery but before I fitted it I came across the thread re the solenoid. I thought that had to be it. Today I removed the starter motor and took the end cover off the solenoid. I had expected pitting and burning from what I read but all looked good. Never-the-less I removed the contacts and cleaned them, dressed the copper ring and carefully reassembled everything to make sure it was square and true. I then rotated the central piston several times to check for witness marks on the contacts. All looked good. I removed and cleaned the nuts on the terminals and the ends of the cables. Reassembled the unit back onto the bike. Checked, cleaned and refitted the battery cables. The battery voltage was 12.75v.
I went to fire her up and still click and no rotation. Wheeled her out, hooked her up to my car again and after a pause from pressing the starter button she turned over and fired up. Let her run for a few minutes, turned her off and tried a restart while hooked to my car again. There was the same pause before she turned over and fired. This time I let her run for about 10 minutes. Tried her on the button, half a revolution then click. The voltage had dropped to 12.3v but after a few minutes was back up to 12.6v.
What do you all think? I haven't tried the new battery yet in case that wasn't it and I could return it.Is it simply the battery has failed?
Jump starting works but after some hesitation. Could that be because the bike's battery is duff and that's sapping some power from my car and causing the delay?
I noticed the oil is about 3mm over the maximum mark. Could that have any relevance? I don't think it will because as I say she jump starts but thought I'd mention it.
Cheers
Rick