Starter

[laraza]

Guys need some help.

Half way through a European trip and the bike has started playing up.

Key in, lights come on, kill switch on, needles sweep and injectors prime.

Press starter button...loud click and nothing, keep trying and at some point it starts normally.

I have eb kit fitted and I've checked the earth on the starter.....ideas?

 

[Grumpy Ole Codger]

Had exactly the same problem today. Bike has been laid up for a couple of weeks as awaiting my new exhaust system from @Paul Bryant ...it's in the post now.. Fitted some cheap Chinese thingy just for the Mot. Bike started, reversed out of shed, bike cut out. Tried to restart and just a loud click.??? What?? Battery was shagged even though it's been on an optimiser. Removed battery and its was 10 years old.. Tested it with a battery analyser (perks of my job to have one lying around) and the voltage was low and current capacity was nil. So you cannot polish a turd, no matter how good the optimiser maybe. Might be the same issue??

Edit: Thinking about it, I presume you have tried the obvious - loose terminals on the battery??

 

[laraza]

Had exactly the same problem today. Bike has been laid up for a couple of weeks as awaiting my new exhaust system from @Paul Bryant ...it's in the post now.. Fitted some cheap Chinese thingy just for the Mot. Bike started, reversed out of shed, bike cut out. Tried to restart and just a loud click.??? What?? Battery was shagged even though it's been on an optimiser. Removed battery and its was 10 years old.. Tested it with a battery analyser (perks of my job to have one lying around) and the voltage was low and current capacity was nil. So you cannot polish a turd, no matter how good the optimiser maybe. Might be the same issue??

Edit: Thinking about it, I presume you have tried the obvious - loose terminals on the battery??

I did check the terminals, it's also intermittent which is weird

 

[1K9]

Battery terminals go loose. Just tighten them a little and see if this fixes the problem. If this fixes the problems add a lock of pressure washer and reassemble.

Tap on the cover of the starter solenoid. Try again. If this gets you going consider www.repairkitsuk.com/1.html.

 

[DEcosse]

The very first thing to check (after fundamental battery check) is to see if the headlights go out when you hold clutch/press start
Either they do go out (which they should) or don't, either way gives big clue as to where issue might be.

 

[laraza]

The very first thing to check (after fundamental battery check) is to see if the headlights go out when you hold clutch/press start
Either they do go out (which they should) or don't, either way gives big clue as to where issue might be.

They do go out when I press the starter

 

[DEcosse]

That narrows the field - says the starter control circuit including starter relay* is all working
Potentials
Battery/terminals
Starter solenoid

* outside possibility could be the headlight/starter relay, but it is clearly switching and would be unusual (but not impossible) to just have bad n/o connection

If the voltage was collapsing off the starter load due to poor charge it's another possibility
Measure the voltage with key on/lights on & what happens to voltage when starter engaged
Can you report numbers?

 

[barbagris]

Bloody hell Frank - The gods obviously do not want you riding an R3 in Spain, mate.

 

[cootertwo]

 

[Grumpy Ole Codger]

Have you had any joy on the solution yet?