minor electrical/starting issue

[dougrs]

The bike would not start this morning, it had power, and would crank,  but not enough to get her running. This has not happened all year. Short recent story on the bike, was riding it at least once a week most of the summer if not more when I was riding it to work, no starting issues. It did sit for a couple weeks at the end of august, and I have rode it a few times in September, as recently as Sunday (but only for 30 minutes). It was about 45 degrees this morning when it wouldn't start.  Battery is a cheap battery but was new in the spring.

I checked voltage this afternoon after work.

With the bike off voltage was 12.34

At idle: 12.6

At 4500rpm: 14.55

I have done some reading and it seems that the high rpm voltage might be a tad high and I have read that the regulators on these bikes have a tendency to damage batteries by over charging.

Also, it did start, but cranked slow this afternoon when the temp was 70 degrees.

I have the battery on my trickle charger now and will leave it on there for a while.

It looks like RPM sells a nice replacement regulator that I might want to look into:http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Electrical%3ARegulator&cat=39

Any thoughts?

[movenon]

Thoughts.. Umm
Your voltages look good. The factory indicates that the upper limit is 15 V.
Yes there is a history of overcharging and boiling batteries.
If things are working as they should, after a drain down of the battery (like after starting) the output voltage would be on the high side and should reduce as the battery gets charged back up.   A good mod is to install a digital voltmeter. Cheap on e bay.

I don't know if that's the cause of your no start issue.

45 degrees, starter turning over slower. Could also be the starter.  Make sure your terminals are clean at the battery, starter and starter relay.
I started mine about once a week or so all last winter with similar temps (15-40 wt oil) in my garage with no problem. My battery is also a cheap gel battery.

George

[dougrs]

Thoughts.. Umm
Your voltages look good. The factory indicates that the upper limit is 15 V.
Yes there is a history of overcharging and boiling batteries.
If things are working as they should, after a drain down of the battery (like after starting) the output voltage would be on the high side and should reduce as the battery gets charged back up.   A good mod is to install a digital voltmeter. Cheap on e bay.

I don't know if that's the cause of your no start issue.

45 degrees, starter turning over slower. Could also be the starter.  Make sure your terminals are clean at the battery, starter and starter relay.
I started mine about once a week or so all last winter with similar temps (15-40 wt oil) in my garage with no problem. My battery is also a cheap gel battery.

George

Starter is new this year. I plan on cleaning up the terminals, they had some corrosion. Where is the starter relay? Bike is an '89.

[movenon]

I it's right behind the battery. Look for the big red wire going to it.  
You could jumper the red wire to the starter B+ wire briefly to determine by ear if the contactors might be losing an abnormal amount of voltage ? See if she spins faster..
I assume you are choking and cracking the throttle a little.
George

[RichBaker]

The bike would not start this morning, it had power, and would crank,  but not enough to get her running. This has not happened all year. Short recent story on the bike, was riding it at least once a week most of the summer if not more when I was riding it to work, no starting issues. It did sit for a couple weeks at the end of august, and I have rode it a few times in September, as recently as Sunday (but only for 30 minutes). It was about 45 degrees this morning when it wouldn't start.  Battery is a cheap battery but was new in the spring.

I checked voltage this afternoon after work.

With the bike off voltage was 12.34

At idle: 12.6

At 4500rpm: 14.55

I have done some reading and it seems that the high rpm voltage might be a tad high and I have read that the regulators on these bikes have a tendency to damage batteries by over charging.

Also, it did start, but cranked slow this afternoon when the temp was 70 degrees.

I have the battery on my trickle charger now and will leave it on there for a while.

It looks like RPM sells a nice replacement regulator that I might want to look into:http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Electrical%3ARegulator&cat=39

Any thoughts?

Check the battery voltage WHILE cranking the engine, if it drops below ~9V, the battery is toast, this is the easiest way to load test the battery.

[dougrs]

Update: My battery was just weak, problem solved.

However, I am having an intermittent issue when starting. Occasionally when I try to start the bike the engine turns over and then there is a loud metallic clank and the bike wont turn over. Eventually, it will start, but it takes a while. It does this when the bike is in neutral. thanks

[dougrs]

Update: My battery was just weak, problem solved.

However, I am having an intermittent issue when starting. Occasionally when I try to start the bike the engine turns over and then there is a loud metallic clank and the bike wont turn over. Eventually, it will start, but it takes a while. It does this when the bike is in neutral. thanks

It did this both times I started it today. When the engine stops turning over there is a puff of smoke that comes.out of the air box at the same time of thw metallic sound.

[FJ_Hooligan]

How are the intake valves?  Sounds like it might be backfiring through the intake.  Sticky intake valve perhaps?

[dougrs]

How are the intake valves?  Sounds like it might be backfiring through the intake.  Sticky intake valve perhaps?

I don't know. How would I check that?

[movenon]

How are the intake valves?  Sounds like it might be backfiring through the intake.  Sticky intake valve perhaps?

I don't know. How would I check that?

Quick and easy, do a compression check    It will not tell you what the problem is but it will tell you if there is a problem and where to start looking.
George

[Pat Conlon]

It's your battery. The loud metallic clank you hear is from the starter disengaging due to under voltage. Get a new battery and the problem will go away.

Cheers. Pat

[FJ_Hooligan]

Pat's right.  Forget about the valves, it's the battery/starter.  You could also try cracking the throttle open while cranking

[dougrs]

It's your battery. The loud metallic clank you hear is from the starter disengaging due to under voltage. Get a new battery and the problem will go away.

Cheers. Pat

It has a new battery. It seems more like something stops the engine from turning over rather than the starter disengaging.

[dougrs]

It's your battery. The loud metallic clank you hear is from the starter disengaging due to under voltage. Get a new battery and the problem will go away.

Cheers. Pat

It has a new battery. It seems more like something stops the engine from turning over rather than the starter disengaging.

Also it does not immediately turn over after the sound. It takes a few tries to get it to turnover and start.

[rktmanfj]

When was the last time the starter was serviced?