Bike won't start... Please HELP! - video

S

ScottyMotion

Member
Like the title says, my bike won't start. Check the video link.

http://youtu.be/CEEakpmLuKg

It's a 99 sv650s. This started happening in the fall, but it would eventually start up and keep going, only really happened if it sat for a day or two. Good weather is here and it's time to take it out, or so I had hoped.

As you can see it starts to crank, then slows, slows some more, and stops trying all together. If I turn it off and let it sit for a half hour or so it will try again, only to fail...

The battery was pulled and maintained over the winter, tests fine out of the bike. Bike was propped up and kept in a garage. New plugs just went in, front one was a bit corroded around the seal, back one was fine.

Any ideas? Would love to fix this myself.

Thanks in advance.
 
I would've said battery too but you say it tested fine? Well, assuming it's fine and charged up, I'd probably start looking for other electrical faults. Seems to me the starter isn't getting enough juice. I'm thinking wires, connectors, relays, fuse... possibly a short occurring somewhere?
 
Heh... Funny story... (Not really)... This is exactly what happened to me tonight. I realized it was the battery when it would sound like its trying to start when I tried bump starting and saw the neutral light and headlight fading. I shoved it in the charger for about 20 mins, got it running, and headed back home hoping it wouldn't die on the way back.
Hopefully my bike starts tomorrow morning so I can get to school, but if not, then its time for a new battery.

I really hope it doesn't die at school...
 
Last edited:
PLau said:
Heh... Funny story... (Not really)... This is exactly what happened to me tonight. I realized it was the battery when it would sound like its trying to start when I tried bump starting and saw the neutral light and headlight fading. I shoved it in the charger for about 20 mins, got it running, and headed back home hoping it wouldn't die on the way back.
Hopefully my bike starts tomorrow morning so I can get to school, but if not, then its time for a new battery.

I really hope it doesn't die at school...
Click to expand...

Take the charger to school lol
 
Battery eh... Each time I charged it over the winter, which was once a month, it always started out at the 75% charge light on my charger... after trying to start the bike on and off for an hour it hooked up the multi meter and it read 11.89... Thought that was fine since it is a 12 volt battery... perhaps not. I just hooked up the battery to the charger this morning to boost it before running a load test and it is sitting at 25% charge to start, I left it in the bike overnight.

I admit I am quite the noob when it comes to this, so bear with me. I've looked up how to test the battery with the bike off, on, and while trying to start so I will see how my numbers really are.
 
That battery is finished. Open circuit voltage for a "good" battery should be closer to 13.8 volts. Flying Squirrel can help you out, he has a good stock of batteries.
 
If I do end up getting a new battery, how do I check for corroded terminals or anything else that may kill the new one?

I have a volt meter, just not educated on how to use it properly, so many settings on the dial. I know how to get a voltage reading on the battery terminals, but other than that I am lost. I've looked at the Haynes manual about checking the system, but am too inexperienced to follow it properly.
 
silverbullet132 said:
Just leave it on a charger overnight and you should be fine :)
Click to expand...

I think that its time for a new battery regardless... I have a feeling the battery has not been changed by the previous owners over approx 5 years. It may just be done.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
The battery should read 13+V on a full charge BUT even if it does (or near) it could still have a bad cell (or two) which means it is lacking the cranking amps it needs to get the bike started. Based on what you're saying and what it's doing, the battery is pooched. Fall off the wallet, put a new battery in, and enjoy the ride!
 
you need to do a load test, with the muilti meter on it turn the bike over see what the voltage drops to.

you can have great voltage but ****** cold cranking amps... she will start it up put jumper cables on it and boost it.
 
Ok, so I charged the battery, it finished around noon, tested it at around 8pm and got a reading of 12.79v. Battery went back in the bike and after a few tries it started up... here are the readings I got:
- key on - 12.09
- ignition - 9.8 to 10.5
- idle @ 1200rpm - 13.9 - 14
- @ 5000rpm - 13.5

So I took it for a spin, 25 mins, readings were about the same.

Could a fouled up front plug have caused the bike not to start in the first place, and my multiple tries at firing it up have drained the battery?

In addition to the bike working I did the common regulator/rectifier upgrade on this bike, which I had been prepping earlier this month, and got these numbers:
- off - 12.87
- key on - 12.39
- ignition - 11.8
- idle @ 1200rpm - 14.3
- @ 5000rpm - 14.37

So I'll let it sit overnight and see what's what in the morning.
 
whetaus-tr said:
Saw your bike today.

Did things work out fine ?
Click to expand...

The battery was weak and had trouble starting + would stall if I didn't rev it right when I started it.

I just went home and changed to the new battery that I ordered yesterday and it seems to be starting a lot easier. The signal and neutral light also seem to be brighter as well.
 
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