Another Non-Starter

Hi everyone

I appreciate that this topic has been covered quite a few times before, but I am running out of options and want to try and tap into the experience of the more seasoned bikers (remember, I'm still a noobie)

Was having some intermittent starting issues going back a few months. Just seemed sluggish when I asked it to start but it did eventually, so put this down to the bike being outside without a cover. Then one morning, wouldn't start

I got the multiple clicks from the relay / fuse box area when I try to start it, which I put down to the battery being flat (checked the fuses and relay which were both fine) and not having enough charge to turn the motor. Charged it up, still nothing, got a new one as old one was in need of a replacement ( it was starting to crack) Worked fine for 3 days, left it for a week (work sent me away for 4 days) came back and same thing happened - click click click

Rethought and traced it to the starter motor sticking or needing a clean. Took it out following the guide in from kungfoopoodle, cleaned it up (it did look awful) put it back in, fired it up first time and worked fine for 2 days and about 5 starts. Wouldn't work after that so had to bump start it.

On the way home, noticed the light getting much brighter when I rev the engine, which would suggest regulator rectifier, but unsure if this could effect the battery / starter?

Can someone finished this story off with a happy ending please?

JapManEng wrote:On the way home, noticed the light getting much brighter when I rev the engine, which would suggest regulator rectifier, but unsure if this could effect the battery / starter?

Yep, that would possibly explain it. Battery not charging up enough to start the bike.

Try hooking up a voltmeter to the battery with the engine running. At 3500-5000 revs you should read 14.5 volts or thereabouts.

Took the battery out and charged it on trickle charge (don't have access to a volt meter until tomorrow) and charger fully charged the battery within 20 mins (on lowest setting) which would suggest plenty of charge in the battery, but not enough to turn the starter?

As you say, JapManEng, it does sound like the battery's not in bad shape.

Off the top of my head.....

Bad earth connection to the engine perhaps? Corrosion on this would increase resistance to current flow, reduce the kick to the starter motor.

So to find the earth, I am going to need that voltmeter

Looks like I will have to start calling in a few of these favours I've saved up.

Appreiate the help

It's worth checking the earthing on the starter motor *and* the resistance back to the starter relay - mind you, it is probably worth cleaning all the connections up anyway.

I've just had a thought that I don't really know about the earthing on the CB500...

Is the earth from the battery to the starter motor the only earth between the battery and the frame/engine? Or are there more places to check?

FYI my bike has always been a bit dodgy at starting in winter and has seemed to eat regulator rectifiers and batteries - I had thought this was down to my short start-stop journey to work not providing enough power to charge the battery properly when the headlight is on, but I might be wrong....

I will keep that in mind ET as I have noticed a few of the connections have been attacked by various oxide mites

Mine was having the starting issue where it was finding it difficult to crank, but now, I just get the click-click-click (high resistance) sound from the relay when I press the starter and the previously mentioned possible RR fault with the lights being brighter with a flick of the throttle once it's been bump started

A new battery hasn't solved it and cleaning the motor has proved useful for about 5 or 6 starts so I'm open to any suggestions other than these two, which seem to be the main culprits (or so my trawling of this forum has thrown up)

Well that was a bit of a farce and it's not over yet but the starting issue has been resolved!

Turns out the brand new battery was defective! So all that hassle and it turns out I just needed another new one. So I have a re-conditioned starter motor now as a backup

Not the end of the saga thou - New battery is all well and good but tested it when it was put in new (about a week ago) and all was well. Voltmeter was showing good charge and a peak in volts around 5000rpm. Happy days

Yesterday however, went to start it and dead. Voltmeter says 0.1 volts so charged it up and re-fitted. Started no issues, but now when I rev the engine, the volts remain constant so that's my alternator gone!

i personally would clean up the engine mounting bolts on to the frame esspeically the part of the frame that comes off to get the engine out. i have noticed a big change in the speed of the starter motor turning and the charging system since i had the engine out to drill out the front bolt