Starter hesitation?- Read this first!

darth · #1 25th March 2009

Out of neccessity I finally took the time this spring to troubleshoot my click-no start problem which began last summer. Originally I thought it was a bad battery, so last summer replaced the OEM with a Yuasa battery. It seemed to help for few days, but the problem persisted and got steadily worse towards fall. One thing I did experience was that due to the terminal design, I could not keep the Yuasa battery terminals tight, they kept working loose. These two pictures show the differnce between the Yuasa and the OEM. The Yuasa has less surface area because it uses a stainless spacer between the terminal and the cable.

Yuasa Battery

OEM Battery

By now, you probably noticed that the negative terminal is mostly missing. This is a testimony to why you want to make sure the battery terminals are tight and clean. A few days ago I attempted to jump start the bike with my battery booster, and because the negative terminal was dirty and loose, it was a poor enough connection that there was actually a voltage drop across the connection causing it to melt. So I purchased a new battery (OEM again... better terminal design IMHO). While I was installing the new battery, I discovered that the ground stud that connects the negative battery cable to the engine block was corroded on the threads that screw into the engine block.

So I hooked everything up, put a voltmeter between the engine block and the negative battery terminal and hit the starter.... sure enough, there was a substantial voltage drop right across the ground stud! It looked OK and measured OK with an ohm meter, but when the starter current was applied there was a voltage drop. Took the stud out, cleaned everything up, reassembled everything... I now have a smooth running bike with no error codes and best of all no starter hesitation at all!!!

Starts just like when it was new. I'm 99.9% confident the corroded ground stud was the source of my starter issue all along.

cantolina · #2 25th March 2009

Really great post with excellent pics, to boot!

One other thing I'd add.....I like to SLATHER the terminals and fasteners with dielectric grease, then wipe it off after its fastened....the dielectric grease does an excellent job of inhibiting any arcing....

Thanx for this!!!

FoxsterUK · #3 25th March 2009

Excellent advice.

I regularly check the state of the battery connections because they often work themselves loose and I was finding it a real pain to get to that bolt for the neg connection on the engine. So I bolted it to the one I've ringed here in green instead. Its been working fine like this for some time and its a hell of a lot easier to get the neg lead off now.

Fox

PS - The dielectric grease is a good idea but a cheaper and more readily available alternative is Vaseline.

darth · #4 25th March 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by FoxsterUK

Excellent advice.

I regularly check the state of the battery connections because they often work themselves loose and I was finding it a real pain to get to that bolt for the neg connection on the engine. So I bolted it to the one I've ringed here in green instead. Its been working fine like this for some time and its a hell of a lot easier to get the neg lead off now.

Fox

PS - The dielectric grease is a good idea but a cheaper and more readily available alternative is Vaseline.

That's the connection I used to verify that the other one was the culprit... good idea on moving it.

okienarc · #5 17th December 2009

I am curious as to the bolt location ... your picture isn't popping up for me (juse the infamous red "x")

brprider · #6 25th March 2009

Thanks for the heads up on this issue! I've been dealing with starter problems forever. That's the one connection that I have failed to take apart and give a good cleaning.
I will tonight.

I sure hope this does the trick.

argentcorvid · #7 25th March 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by darth

OEM Battery

Wow. Looking at my battery, I can tell there was a similar issue in it's past. The terminals are nowhere near as square as the ones on your new battery. Kinda looks like mine got a little melty. I did have some issues with it about 2 years ago, but I've dinked around with the battery and cables a couple times since then and it works fine now. The weird part is it works just like a new battery - I only had it on the charger once over the winter.

shoei · #8 23rd April 2009

Thanks for the tip I have been having some starting issues just recently. I checked all the connections and it seem to help for a few days but now I seem to be back to where I started. I'll have to check that stud out. Thanks again.

humpbackbob · #9 23rd April 2009

Amazing coincidence. I just got back from a "Service Seminar" at the Dealership.(That's dealerspeak for sales opportunity). I have been having some batt problems recently and asked the tech about it.He said to bring it in as they could do a load test to check the battery. He also said to check that ground connection as it is the culprit in many a "bad battery" situation.

BrianRides · #10 28th April 2009

I appreciate this thread, and post #3 as well. If I come up with any tips of my own, I'll be sure to share.