Bike unused for a while - a few problems!

[Steve1rc]

Hi,


I've not ridden my bike in over a month now due to a knee injury, but I finally managed to get it out, in time for the sunny days to go for a ride. I expected the battery to be dead and put it on charge for a while, but it still needed jumping to start.
Checked the oil, chain etc and set out gently on it, but after a couple of miles the dials and odometer stopped working intermittently (Mainly when I accelerated..) and then they cut out completely, and only showed back up briefly when I indicated.

It also started running on (I think 3 cylinders, and then 2 at some points) And I had no power to accelerate. I'd turned back home but along the dual carriageway I must've only been able to do 50 or so (I couldn't tell speed..) in top gear, and everytime I accelerated the engine started braking and I lost speed, and what acceleration I could get was really jerky, so I coaxed it home. It had to be bump started a few times as well, as the revs just dropped off completely and it lost all power. It was backfiring a few times too, the worst being when I changed down after losing most power.

I was wondering if anyone has any ideas as to what it could be? I'm new to motorbikes so have plenty to learn.. I'm guessing the power may have something to do with the alternator, but even when I put the battery on charge it still seems to have no power. If anyone could help I'd really appreciate it as I'm pretty stumped!!

Thanks!

[Steve1rc]

Also just to add it is an '00 FZS600 (Sorry, I put '01 previously), 33k miles (no mods that I am aware of apart from an old Immobiliser which had become faulty after buying so I had to bypass), and I've searched the forums for similar posts but not been able to find anything out really!

[riz]

If you charged it then still had to jump start it i'd look towards the battery, if you could borrow one to 'fault diagnose' if not go at it with a multimeter both static and with the bike running.

[Orangegrump]

After a three month layoff I had a similiar experience.  I traced it to a faulty to a faulty coil pack.

[69oldskool]

Had similar symptoms with a loose battery terminal,
so i reckon battery would be prime suspect.

[red98]

check the battery first 

[Steve1rc]

Thanks for the replies! I'll be up in the morning to check out the battery, and hopefully it'll sort some of the problems out, or identify them!

I also forgot to mention, the bike was also backfiring, the worst being when it lost all power and couldn't get up a small hill, so I changed down a gear and it let out an almighty bang, far worse than the others I'd heard, and then needed to be bump-started.

[Orangegrump]

Misfire from unburnt petrol caused by lack of spark as a result of the coil not firing two of the four cylinders - IMO

[Steve1rc]

I was sure the battery would be fine as it was "new" when I bought the bike in November, but it was showing 9V when I connected the multi-meter. It dropped at about 1v/2mins when disconnected from the charger, so that's that! I'm looking at ordering this one:
http://goo.gl/4q2mM
Has anyone had any experiences with them? I have the YT12B-BS, but apparently these are better?


Next job to look at the spark plugs then I guess, and the coils!


Thanks for all the help so far

[humbucker88]

9V?! that thing is well and truely dead. I bought a motobatt recently after reading some reviews, starts perfectly everytime, no complaints. Busters does it for £40: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271048375789

[darrsi]

Just a word of caution, i deal with batteries a lot at work, and chargers go bad as well. It's natural to immediately think the battery's the culprit, but i'd put a meter on it when it's charging first to rule it out. No point in having 2 batteries and a moody charger!

[Steve1rc]

Good point Darsii, I did that just now, and it only charges upto about 10V, but seems to stop there, it charges okay up until there. Would that suggest the charger or battery?

[Fazerider]

... it only charges upto about 10V, but seems to stop there, it charges okay up until there. Would that suggest the charger or battery?

The battery is what I'd suspect, 10V would correspond with a reverse charged cell.
Check the charger outputs at least 13.5V when not connected to the battery.

[Steve1rc]

Just checked the battery again, it's down to 7.2V after being left uncharged overnight. The charger though seems to show -1V across it. Also, if I turn the charger to car mode and put it on the battery the battery terminals show ~11.2V

[Fazerider]

That battery is certainly junk!
As for -1V from the charger... maybe it's a clever one that detects whether a battery is connected. You might be able to fool it into producing a normal output by connecting a 12V bulb as a load (a spare tail light or indicator light should do).

[Steve1rc]

Now you mention if Fazerider, I think that's the most likely reason! thanks

9V?! that thing is well and truely dead. I bought a motobatt recently after reading some reviews, starts perfectly everytime, no complaints. Busters does it for £40: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271048375789

This battery says it's for a '01 bike, I just realised I mistakenly said mine was '01, it's a '00. Would the battery still fit it? It has a different code, CT12B-4 CT12B-BS instead of YT12-BS, and MBT12B4. Are they all interchangeable?

[darrsi]

00/01 same bike basically in that respect.
http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php?topic=34.0