Any motorbike mechanics out there?

[Deleted member 26715]

Can you get to the starter terminal? Do you have access to jump leads? Not like this stupid Suzuki is it that you have to pull in the clutch, even if it's not in gear, ping! light bulb moment, it's not in gear is it, is the neutral light on?

Alan...

 

[Norm]

My guess is the battery is properly dead. New one probably called for.

But the lights work and don't dim when the starter is thumbed.

 

[Dilbert]

I only had Suzuki's but the starter switch was fairly rudimentary as I recall, couple of bits of copper and a spring, if you can get it apart its worth a look and clean it up with a pencil eraser or a nail file. Otherwise as others have said it could be your starter motor. One thought, (and i can't remember how motor bike Starter Motors engage so this may be Bull Droppings) put in in gear and bump it forward, the movement may move the starter motor round a bit to a part of the rotor that is in better shape, or nudge the brushes back into contact. From your symptoms it sounds as it your starter circuit is not making at all somewhere.

 

[black'n'yellow]

But the lights work and don't dim when the starter is thumbed.

ok, I missed that bit.

Does the fact that it comes & goes indicate anything?

I missed this bit as well. Of course it indicates something. It indicates you may have an intermittent electrical problem, which you probably won't trace without a circuit tester, at the very least.

 

[Dilbert]

The intermittent thing could be a loose connection or a dry solder joint. As black,n, yellow says they are a bugger to trace.

 

[Firestorm]

Does the side stand have a kill switch built in?
Some bikes have one in the clutch lever too?

 

[Deleted member 26715]

But the lights work and don't dim when the starter is thumbed.

All that means is not power is getting to the starter.

Alan...

 

[Stewart H]

Try some jump leads from a car WITHOUT STARTING THE CAR direct to the battery, failing that check battery / starter cables, if the bike has been hanging about the starter might benefit from a strip and cleanup, quite easy on an Airhead BMW.

 

[swee'pea99]

Many thanks all...I shall pick up on suggestions in a couple of days - I'm away all today tomorrow. Much appreciated.

 

[User6179]

Stick the charger on the starter and see if it turns to rule out a sticky starter , make sure out of gear n clutch out with stand up aswell .

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Stick the charger on the starter and see if it turns to rule out a sticky starter , make sure out of gear n clutch out with stand up aswell .

That will not work, a standard charger will not have the current to turn a starter over

Alan...

 

[Norm]

All that means is not power is getting to the starter.

Alan...

No it doesn't, particularly in relation to the post which I quoted.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

In gear?

kill switch?

Clutch in?

Sidestand switch?

 

[Deleted member 26715]

No it doesn't, particularly in relation to the post which I quoted.

Beg to differ, if the wire to the starter is hr or dis then pressing button will do nothing, also if it has sidestand/neutral immobisilation then again the lights will not dim
Alan...

 

[User6179]

That will not work, a standard charger will not have the current to turn a starter over

Alan...

Been a while since i used to muck about with motors but am sure i used to just cross the terminals on a starter with a screwdriver and it would turn if the battery was charged enough,I must of had a transformer maybe instead of a charger but we used to stick the negative and positive on then just earth starter or whatever component to make sure it worked before fitting.