Please help starting problems.

[thebigtuna]

So after putting my bike up for a few weeks it was nice outside so I wanted to take it for a ride but it refused to start. Got it started finally and rode for about an hour. Now the next day I want to ride it and it is doing it again. Battery is fully charged but when press the start button it either just keeps trying to start over and over or now it will try once then it sounds like something is binding up while trying and then all lights go out and nothing. I've had this problem before when riding it daily and it was cold out but eventually it would like "break free of binding" and start cranking again and start up. What is going on?? Figuring its something electrical since the lights go pretty much out until I let go of the starter button then they come right back. Please help I just want to ride her

[thebigtuna]

The problem seems to be whatever is supposed to be causing this to turn or it, itself


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[Big Rich]

That picture is the end of the crankshaft (and the timing pickups).

Most likely your problem is either an old battery (even new batteries can be junk) or a loose / dirty connection. Get a multimeter and check your battery voltage at rest and when trying to start the engine. If it stays strong while trying to crank, start looking at connections (especially the engine ground).

[thebigtuna]

I think I Tested it right when at rest the meter said it was at good and when trying to crank it was clicking a lot and it dropped a lot. Got it to bump start going down a hill earlier today if that helps. I just got this battery a few months ago.

[adidasguy]

Yo have symptoms of a defective battery.
What voltage did it show after you rode?
What voltage does it show a couple hours later?

[radodrill]

I'd agree with adidasguy.

Since you can bump start it and it'll keep running for a while indicates that the pickups and coils are fine.
A bad/low battery often still has enough juice to power the lights and turn the starter, but don't provide enough power to fire up the bike.

I'd test the battery, charging system, and possibly the spark plugs.

[thebigtuna]

Is there a post describing how to test the charging system? I'm charging the battery tomorrow and having it tested. But if that doesn't work I would like to know how to charge it. What about my engine being hydrolocked? Read other people talking about their bikes having that and mine has somewhat of the same symptoms

[adidasguy]

Check your oil level. If too high, it is a problem. If too high, then you might gave gas getting into the oil.

Check voltage with your meter. Should be somewhere around 13.4v.

After charging, what is the voltage? Then, what is the voltage a couple hours later? If it goes down a lot, the battery doesn't hold a charge.

With bike running at 3k RPM or so, you should have over 14v at the battery but never more than 15v.
14 to 14.6 is about right when running 3-5k rpm when the charging system is working correctly.

[radodrill]

If the starter turns, then the engine is not hydrolocked.

If you only hear clicking, then the battery does not have enough power for the starter motor to come on; the clicking is the starter relays.


Summarizing from the Suzuki service manual:

To check the charging system:
1) make sure the battery is fully charged (switch off battery voltage around 12.3-12.8V)
2) Start the bike and hold it at 5K RPM; voltage across battery should read 13.5-15.5V
If not: Check stator:
3) disconnect the stator; this has 3 wires, you be taking measurements across 2 wires at a time (3 total readings)
a) with the bike running at 5K RPM, measure AC voltage; if any reading is under 75VAC the stator is bad
b) check continuity: you should have continuity between any of the 2 wires, but no continuity between any wire and ground;
if there is any continuity to ground the stator is shorted to ground
if there is no continuity between any 2 wires then the stator is damaged
4) Regulator/Rectifier check:   disconnect the regrec and test using Ohm or diode setting
a) with the + probe on red you should get a small resistance to all other wires (around 40 ohm R to B/W; ~ 6 ohm for all further tests)
b) with + probe on Black/white - infinite resistance to all other wires
c) with the - probe on red - infinite resistance to all other wires
d) with - probe on Black/white - small resistance to all other wires
e) + probe to any yellow - small resistance to B/W, infinite to all others (test all 3 yellow wires)
f) - probe to any yellow - small resistance to R, infinite to all others (test all 3 yellow wires)
If these checks don't pass the stator is bad.

[mister]

You're keeping the bike outside and it is hard to start. Battery is extra cold cause it is winter.  Extra strain on cold battery. Questionable battery says "enough" and packs it in. Unforunately, the age of a battery is no guarantee it will be good or otherwise.

Quick question... how are the electrolyte levels in the battery?

[thebigtuna]

It's inside now but yeah I know what you are saying. Let it charge overnight and it started up and then died 5 secs later then kept trying to crank over for about 10 secs later. Assuming it wouldn't crank fully because it was cold. Need to check spark plugs. Electrolyte levels are fine. Checked them this morning

[mister]

Just to be sure, you are using the choke when you start it, aren't you?

[thebigtuna]

Yeah I am using it. It's doing better now. Tried it again after that and it started right up. Thinking I might have to watch the battery and see if it starts depleting over time or what not. Thanks for all the help and advice!