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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: STutter on June 24, 2013, 08:55:02 AM

Title: Weak starting in the morning
Post by: STutter on June 24, 2013, 08:55:02 AM

Hi guys, can anyone shed some light on this issue?

I had a motobatt battery in STutter and it seemed to get progressively harder to start in the mornings. During the day though no problems at all.

I thought this might be a charging issue, so I replaced the battery with a wacky-doo lithium battery (so light!). Anyway, this morning was particularly cold (for Townsville) and again, it was quite weak to start.

Is there a chain of troubleshooting I can continue with, or are weak starts on cold mornings a regular thing?

Title: Re: Weak starting in the morning
Post by: Abe on June 24, 2013, 09:13:06 AM

I'm no sparky or auto elec, but I'll start looking at:-

Have you got any farkle/s that is permanently engerised (always hot)

Check all cable connections and cables.
Measure battery before cranking.
Measure battery after cranking.
Measure the output of the alternator.
Measure battery at 2000RPM, this should tell you if the battery is being charged by the alternator.

Take battery to a "battery place" and ask them to "load test" the battery.

No doubt the brains trust here will chime in and give you a better idea.

Cheers
Dave

Title: Re: Weak starting in the morning
Post by: Brock on June 24, 2013, 01:56:03 PM

With bike at 2000 RPM, the battery / alternator should give a reading on a volt meter of 13.8 to 14.2V.

If reading is 12 volts or less then the alternator isnt working.

Which bike do you have??

Title: Re: Weak starting in the morning
Post by: STutter on June 24, 2013, 03:52:17 PM

I have a 2000 PY model

I have a multimeter etc, but am a bit time poor til Friday, so I'll take a reading for voltage closer to then

Title: Re: Weak starting in the morning
Post by: saaz on June 24, 2013, 05:05:00 PM

If all the above tests ok, sometimes new spark plugs help.  My 96 model leaps to life in Canberra winters, so Townville should be relatively easy.

Title: Re: Weak starting in the morning
Post by: STeveo on June 24, 2013, 06:16:47 PM

If your battery and alternator check ok I would look at the starter relay terminals, the starter relay itself, cable to the starter motor or maybe the starter motor is getting a bit slow and needs overhaul.

 :bl11

Title: Re: Weak starting in the morning
Post by: STutter on June 24, 2013, 09:36:46 PM

I also should mention I've got not farkles on there. I think the starter might be a good way to go as the battery / charging meter on the dash is always up near 14 (analogue is hard to tell exactly)