Bike won't start - clicking solenoid...

phykell · 22 Apr 2007 at 14:58

My bike's been laid up for a while and when I went to start it. It was very reluctant and eventually the battery gave up causing the solenoid to click. I charged the battery and tried again and got it started - just in time for the MOT! I rode it for a good few miles to get some charge in the battery, but after an MOT pass it then wouldn't start until the mechanics gave me a bump start. I rode it for 10 miles and got it home and tried starting it again - but the started motor turned slowly as though the battery was discharged and the the solenoid evntually started clicking again.

The battery maintainer seems to think the battery is fully charged and out of circuit the battery has a healthy voltage, over 14.5 volts. I tried using another charger but that hardly draws any current as though the battery is fully charged. Nevertheless, if the starter motor even bothers turning, it's very slow and usually the solenoid just starts clicking.

I cleaned up all the connections, but it made no difference, press the start button and the solenoid clicks furiously.

Any ideas?

My battery has never failed me before, it seems healthy so is it actually the solenoid or starter motor?

Enfield · 22 Apr 2007 at 15:07

Had two cars that did this.

On one of them I just cleaned up all the connections I could find that were linked to the starter motor and it helped - still clicked but worked better.

On current car I changed the starter and it works perfect.

Just change the whole unit mate, least then you won't have to worry about it again.

Sagalout · 22 Apr 2007 at 15:11

What bike is it?

phykell · 22 Apr 2007 at 15:22

Enfield said:
Had two cars that did this.

On one of them I just cleaned up all the connections I could find that were linked to the starter motor and it helped - still clicked but worked better.

On current car I changed the starter and it works perfect.

Just change the whole unit mate, least then you won't have to worry about it again.

Yeah, I think it's the starter. I guess I might have damaged it trying to get it to start the first time. I should know better really

Thing is, it *has* started the bike once since the first time it started clicking. I'm guessing it's quite possible for them to be damaged so they're "difficult" to start and will sometimes refuse to turn.

Sagalout said:
What bike is it?

Kawasaki ZX9R (B2)

There is a starter motor on eBay for £27 inc which I might just get - I really don't think it's the battery

bullit in head · 22 Apr 2007 at 15:36

do you have a multi meter???? or just a volt meter....

yes! then put it on the battery and try to start it.... of it drops really low circa 6-9 volts then it's the battery... it it stays high... then its something else.. bad earth , dodgy starter motor etc

bullit

mrgubby · 22 Apr 2007 at 15:51

It could just be the battery/solenoid/starter terminals. My mate had exactly the same problem on his bike, bike wouldn't start , charged the battery then just clicking.

The extra power in the charged battery was causing the solenoid cable connections to 'part' , tightened all the nuts / connections up & it was fixed

phykell · 22 Apr 2007 at 16:15

bullit in head said:
do you have a multi meter???? or just a volt meter....
yes! then put it on the battery and try to start it.... of it drops really low circa 6-9 volts then it's the battery... it it stays high... then its something else.. bad earth , dodgy starter motor etc bullit

Battery is well above 14V around 14.8V ! When I tried starting it, the voltage drops to around 8.5V; that's not good is it?

mrgubby said:
It could just be the battery/solenoid/starter terminals. My mate had exactly the same problem on his bike, bike wouldn't start , charged the battery then just clicking.

I tightened those terminals when I cleaned all the battery terminals up so I don't think that's the problem. Good point though, that happened on a Mini I had some years ago.

It's looking like the starter or the battery, or worst case scenario, both!

phykell · 22 Apr 2007 at 17:18

Just tried starting it with the lights on and they dim significantly; if I try with the indicators on, they change speed to constantly on; also the horn sounds a bit naff. I'm reasonably sure it's the battery now...

lordedmond · 22 Apr 2007 at 17:39

battery is "K" for not working ( both of them ) classic case of dud battery failing to hold and take a charge.

it will be a high resistance cell that is causing it, low volts on load and not taking a charge

Dogbreath · 22 Apr 2007 at 18:03

Out of interest was the battery maintainer connected whilst it was laid up?

phykell · 22 Apr 2007 at 18:25

Dogbreath said:
Out of interest was the battery maintainer connected whilst it was laid up?

I think the vast majority of the time it was but sometimes I unplugged it and forgot to plug it in, needing access in the garage. However, the battery actually did really well because it's the original (Yuasa) unit and the bike is 11 years old :eek:

I'm definitely going for a Yuasa replacement rather than the cheaper ones.

M&P for the battery or can anyone suggest cheaper alternative?