Starter worries

[ChristoT]

Right! I have a bit of an unusual question, and I'm hoping it's a) easy to resolve, and b) cheap to fix!

Recently, the bike has been struggling to start. Not that it grinds for ages, then coughs into life reluctantly (flat battery symptoms), but either grinds away(turning over though - I can feel the puff from the exhaust) or starts within a second or two of pressing the starter button. Sometimes, I have to press the starter (5 / 10 second bursts) a half dozen times before it engages. When it does, it engages perfectly.

Strangely, it seemed fine earlier when the engine was warm. I ride it daily, and often at high revs, so I doubt it's a battery fault... Any takers on this one?

Thanks!

[darrsi]

Battery!
Charge it firstly, and make sure leads are done up firmly.

Will start easier when warm as the engine has oil spread around it still.

[Kentish]

Valve clearances? What's the mileage?

[Fazerider]

Are you using any choke when the engine is cold?

[Punkstig]

Valve clearances? What's the mileage?

Have you tried holding the throttle open (I'm talking half way not just a touch) whilst holding the starter button,
If this makes it start easier then its an indication of valve clearances!

[ChristoT]

Valve clearances? What's the mileage?

Have you tried holding the throttle open (I'm talking half way not just a touch) whilst holding the starter button,
If this makes it start easier then its an indication of valve clearances!

Yep. My usual ploy is to not use choke (my bike only needs it on the coldest of days), and usually, I press the button whilst blipping the throttle. And normally, it starts immediately. The only difference when it wasn't starting earlier was the pitch changed. The engine *is* turning over, but I don;t know whether the sparks are not engaging or something? It's a bit of a puzzle!

(New plugs fitted last week, and carbs recently balanced, btw)

[carrier]

I had starting problems, I changed the starter solenoid.


If it is electrical, and the plugs/coils/pickup coil/relays are fine, then the solenoid

[Punkstig]

Valve clearances? What's the mileage?

Have you tried holding the throttle open (I'm talking half way not just a touch) whilst holding the starter button,
If this makes it start easier then its an indication of valve clearances!

Yep. My usual ploy is to not use choke (my bike only needs it on the coldest of days), and usually, I press the button whilst blipping the throttle. And normally, it starts immediately. The only difference when it wasn't starting earlier was the pitch changed. The engine *is* turning over, but I don;t know whether the sparks are not engaging or something? It's a bit of a puzzle!

(New plugs fitted last week, and carbs recently balanced, btw)

If you only need to blip the throttle to start it then this isn't sounding like valve clearances in my opinion, when they are badly off you'll find the need to hold the throttle open to quite an extent, not just blip it to get it started!