Title: Wont start
Post by: Radiocure on December 21, 2004, 02:27:21 PM
Post by: Radiocure on December 21, 2004, 02:27:21 PM
I had a chance to search your site, but I couldn't find anything that fit the situation. So, I hope this doesn't annoy anyone.
During the past few weeks, I have been using my car. The bike was covered in the backyard. I got it out yesterday to start it up. (I made sure to charge the battery for a while before hand.) I also set it to 'prime' for a minute to make sure there was gas in the carbs, then set it back to 'on'. I tried starting it, and it made a few tries. But then it stopped.
Now all it does is make loud clicks when I try to start it. I thought that this might be the battery. So i charged it again. But it still doesn't want to do anything but make clicking noises. Since I'm a noob, I feel pretty helpless.
Plus, I feel really guilty for leaving it outside for so long without running it.
I was just distracted.
Any advice? Thanks a lot.
_Carl Stanley, Hayward, Ca.
During the past few weeks, I have been using my car. The bike was covered in the backyard. I got it out yesterday to start it up. (I made sure to charge the battery for a while before hand.) I also set it to 'prime' for a minute to make sure there was gas in the carbs, then set it back to 'on'. I tried starting it, and it made a few tries. But then it stopped.
Now all it does is make loud clicks when I try to start it. I thought that this might be the battery. So i charged it again. But it still doesn't want to do anything but make clicking noises. Since I'm a noob, I feel pretty helpless.
Plus, I feel really guilty for leaving it outside for so long without running it.
I was just distracted.
Any advice? Thanks a lot.
_Carl Stanley, Hayward, Ca.
Title: Wont start
Post by: Radiocure on December 21, 2004, 02:57:44 PM
Post by: Radiocure on December 21, 2004, 02:57:44 PM
anyone out there?
Title: Wont start
Post by: John Bates on December 21, 2004, 03:06:20 PM
Post by: John Bates on December 21, 2004, 03:06:20 PM
My guess is that the battery didn't get enough charge. Let it charge overnight and try again. :cheers:
Title: Wont start
Post by: Kerry on December 21, 2004, 03:14:43 PM
Post by: Kerry on December 21, 2004, 03:14:43 PM
It definitely sounds like a lack of electrical "oomph".
Once you get the engine to turn over, let us know if you have other problems with starting or running.
Once you get the engine to turn over, let us know if you have other problems with starting or running.
Title: Wont start
Post by: Radiocure on December 21, 2004, 03:18:54 PM
Post by: Radiocure on December 21, 2004, 03:18:54 PM
alrighty, thanks a lot. I'll give it a try
Title: Wont start
Post by: scratch on December 21, 2004, 04:19:53 PM
Post by: scratch on December 21, 2004, 04:19:53 PM
Check to make sure the battery has fluid, too.
Title: you could....
Post by: coll0412 on December 21, 2004, 07:40:04 PM
Post by: coll0412 on December 21, 2004, 07:40:04 PM
If throwing it on the charger doesn't work you can always push start it...
Since you are a noob.... :oops:
I mean to do this what you want to do is first is put the bike in 3rd gear, find a desent slope, or a friend to push you. What you need to do is get the bike moving at a descent clip(pull your clutch in), make sure your ingnition is on, kill engine button is on the run postion, and a good speed drop the clutch and she hopefully fire up the first time
Since you are a noob.... :oops:
I mean to do this what you want to do is first is put the bike in 3rd gear, find a desent slope, or a friend to push you. What you need to do is get the bike moving at a descent clip(pull your clutch in), make sure your ingnition is on, kill engine button is on the run postion, and a good speed drop the clutch and she hopefully fire up the first time
Title: Wont start
Post by: TheGoodGuy on December 22, 2004, 12:13:42 AM
Post by: TheGoodGuy on December 22, 2004, 12:13:42 AM
you may have volts, but not enough amps...
do one thing check your fluid and top it off, give it a good charge.. if that doesnt work, jump it from you car (but it should not be running). Your car battery has more than enough oomph to kick the GS starter.
do one thing check your fluid and top it off, give it a good charge.. if that doesnt work, jump it from you car (but it should not be running). Your car battery has more than enough oomph to kick the GS starter.
Title: Wont start
Post by: dgyver on December 22, 2004, 06:38:19 AM
Post by: dgyver on December 22, 2004, 06:38:19 AM
Check for any corrosion on the battery cables and connections.
Title: Wont start
Post by: Radiocure on December 22, 2004, 01:02:21 PM
Post by: Radiocure on December 22, 2004, 01:02:21 PM
there was a lot of corrosion on the battery cables. In fact, one of the screws looks like its stuck together with the nut. And theres some rust on the black cable connection.
Title: Wont start
Post by: dgyver on December 22, 2004, 01:14:45 PM
Post by: dgyver on December 22, 2004, 01:14:45 PM
All of that corrosion needs to be cleaned off. That is what is limiting the current flow. After cleaning, apply some terminal grease to keep it from happening again.
Title: Wont start
Post by: Radiocure on December 22, 2004, 01:29:41 PM
Post by: Radiocure on December 22, 2004, 01:29:41 PM
what should I clean it with?
Title: Wont start
Post by: Radiocure on December 22, 2004, 01:30:16 PM
Post by: Radiocure on December 22, 2004, 01:30:16 PM
oh. and if there are some scratches on the connectors, would that affect current too?
Title: Wont start
Post by: dgyver on December 22, 2004, 01:36:58 PM
Post by: dgyver on December 22, 2004, 01:36:58 PM
Scratches won't make any difference. Use a wire brush, steel wool or somethng similar. Baking soda in water solution will react with any battery acid build-up, usually on the positive terminal and has a white granular texture. Wear safety glasses and gloves when cleaning. Nasty stuff. Kerry has a pic somewhere.
Title: Wont start
Post by: Kerry on December 22, 2004, 01:50:17 PM
Post by: Kerry on December 22, 2004, 01:50:17 PM
Quote from: dgyverKerry has a pic somewhere.I'm not sure which picture you're referring to.
There's this one, of water & baking soda that was applied to the negative terminal while the battery was in the bike (dumb! dumb!) and dripped down onto a connector. (This is the connector that went bad and had me running on one cylinder for a while. :x) ...
... or this one, of the same battery after I had retired it and left it sitting for a couple of years. (The stuff on the terminals "grew" there afterwards - the terminals were fairly clean when I pulled the battery.)
Title: Wont start
Post by: dgyver on December 22, 2004, 02:17:02 PM
Post by: dgyver on December 22, 2004, 02:17:02 PM
That may be the pic I was thinking of.
My bad...it is the negative terminal the gets most of the corrosion, not the positive.
My bad...it is the negative terminal the gets most of the corrosion, not the positive.