Bike won't start from ignition but battery checks out | GTAMotorcycle.com

Bike won't start from ignition but battery checks out

kgreen

kgreen

Well-known member
I stored my Honda Rebel 250 in my father-in-law's garage over the winter. He has a Motomaster trickle charger thingy and said that he'd take care of the battery over the winter so I removed the battery and gave it to him before I covered up the bike for storage.

This spring, I put the battery back in when I brought out the bike and it won't start via the ignition. I bum started it no problem and drove it around for a bit... bike runs fine... but it still won't start via the ignition button.

At first, the ignition button made a tick tick tick tick sound when I pushed it but now it doesn't do anything.

When the key is on, the panel lights and the headlamp come on but they were admittedly dim... even after running the bike for a bit... so, I figured that it must be the battery.

So, I went to CT and bought the Noco Genius G7200 Smart Battery Charger for $89 thinking that this would solve the problem but when I hook it up to the battery (external to the bike) it says that the battery is 100% charged. It sits there clicking and when I connect a volt meter to it, it seems to jump with every click from ~10v to ~16v and back again. Click click click click... eventually, I come back and all lights are flashing on the charger so I turn it off.

Any thoughts? Will buying a new battery help or should I be looking at the ignition?
 
I hate to be captain obvious, but did you make sure the bike was in neutral/clutch pulled when you tried to start it via ignition... cause that's what this sounds like. If it's still doing it, and your battery says its fully charged, try hooking it up to a car battery to jump it. If it starts, your battery could be toast (i feel unlikely), if it doesn't then you may have a starter problem.
 
Take the battery in to Canadian Tire, they will check it for free. Then go from there.
 
DraginMiFeet said:
Take the battery in to Canadian Tire, they will check it for free. Then go from there.
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Their battery testers don't have a setting low enough for motorcycle batteries. If they test it on the car battery setting it'll say even a brand new motorcycle battery is toast.

kgreen: Sounds like the battery is cooked. Buy a new one, and take back your "Noco Genius G7200 Smart Battery Charger" and pick up a Battery Tender Jr. Your Noco is for CAR batteries and will absolutely cook your bike battery at a 7 amp charge rate!

-Jamie M.
 
lol... FINE CC... always good advice but I'm sure that wasn't the case... what's funny is that I was sitting there with the kickstand down, wondering why it wouldn't start when it dawned on me... palmsmack... but sadly, even with the kickstand up, it still wouldn't start.

I tend to agree with those who thought it was the battery. I just didn't want to order a new battery at $110 and then not have it work because I was missing something else.

Also, I did take it into CT... the guy at the counter didn't seem overly knowledgable when it came to batteries. He sort of shrugged his shoulders and offered to sell me a new one.

I am a little concerned about the commons regarding the Noco charger. It says right on it that it is made for these types of batteries and the reviews seemed to back that up so I'm a bit shocked... but I will take it under advisement. I also have a 24V lawn mower so I might just keep it around or that.
 
kgreen said:
lol... FINE CC... always good advice but I'm sure that wasn't the case... what's funny is that I was sitting there with the kickstand down, wondering why it wouldn't start when it dawned on me... palmsmack... but sadly, even with the kickstand up, it still wouldn't start.

I tend to agree with those who thought it was the battery. I just didn't want to order a new battery at $110 and then not have it work because I was missing something else.

Also, I did take it into CT... the guy at the counter didn't seem overly knowledgable when it came to batteries. He sort of shrugged his shoulders and offered to sell me a new one.

I am a little concerned about the commons regarding the Noco charger. It says right on it that it is made for these types of batteries and the reviews seemed to back that up so I'm a bit shocked... but I will take it under advisement. I also have a 24V lawn mower so I might just keep it around or that.
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The charger may work with the type of battery you have, but motorcycle batteries are way too small to be charged at such a high amp rating. I think my Ctek 3300 charges at 0.8A.
 
Battery voltage can appear ok even though there are problems with the battery. You either need to load test it or just take the plunge and get a new battery. Given the things you've tried, I would just get a new battery.
 
lostinspace said:
Battery voltage can appear ok even though there are problems with the battery. You either need to load test it or just take the plunge and get a new battery. Given the things you've tried, I would just get a new battery.
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+1

i had a battery that would hold voltage (show 12.5v) but would not deliver sufficient amperage. so you cant just go by the voltage it shows. i would think your battery is toast. it happens to all of us. do you know how old the battery is?
 
If you haven't checked already I'd say check all the fuses as well.
 
You don't need the kickstand to be up to start the bike.. you just shouldn't be able to drive off with it down. Before you go buy a new battery, try to jump start it with a car battery (car off). If it starts up then your battery is toast, if you still get that clicking then there's a good chance your battery is fine and you're missing something else (starter/not in neutral)
 
You need a new battery
 
You need a new charger, or just don't try to constantly 'maintain' it during the off season.

Smart chargers kill batteries. They're usually turning down the juice when they should be turning it UP... that's why your charger thinks the battery is good, and yet the battery won't start the bike.

The best way to keep a motorcycle battery living a long time is to charge it manually (when it needs it,) checking the V and I as you go.

You also need a new battery, although one can also restore a heavily sulfated battery by using the boiled water & epsom salt method.
 
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