the bike has been sitting about 3 months in cold winter.
I tried to start it but can't start it.
when I push start button, the engine turns for half second and I can hear the noise from the starter.
I tried to jump the battery since battery was low. it was still doing the same.
here is the problem, I didn't see oil moving through the glass when I was shaking the bike sideways.
there was some oil in it but it wasn't moving. maybe frozen??
so the bottom line, starter just makes the noise, what's the first thing I should check?
Gas? :)
What year and model of Monster is it?
How cold is it?
Did you have the battery on a tender?
How old is the battery?
it's 02 998 (sorry, not a monster lol)
the battery is pretty new.
it's not a gas issue.
there is no cranking? sound. I just can hear little motor sound from the starter.
As a first step, make sure the battery is fully charged.
And how cold is it?
about 20 F.
since i don't see oil moving through the glass, I am thinking if I should pour some oil.
there was no leak when I was riding it so I doubt it leaked during 3 months.
so I am not sure why I don't see the oil.
At 20 degF the oil is very thick, like syrup.
You would need to hold it for a good while to get it to run back to the sight glass.
It never gets that cold here where I live, but I've found my Monster to be rather hard to start at 30 degF.
Charge the battery.
The first thing to check is the battery voltage at rest and when cranking the engine. Voltage is especially important on fuel injected bikes, where the battery needs to power the starter motor, the electronics and the lights.
Do you hear the gas pump (sort of a buzz) when you switch the bike on? Do the instruments and lights come on? When you hit the starter button do you just hear the clacking of the starter relay or is the engine actually turning?
What makes you say "it's not a gas issue"?
like I said, I jumped the battery from car battery (the car wasn't running). I thought this should be enough to start the motorcycle with dead battery (it's new battery though)
I hear gas pump sound when I turn the key.
sorry I am poor at explanation. I know this is not gas issue since it didn't crank the engine. there was just Bee sound from starter (maybe something else, not sure)
I see lights from speedo and headlights.
maybe I have to actually charge the battery instead of jumping it from other battery.
I will try this and see what happens
Quote from: Pepe' on February 04, 2011, 06:11:34 AM
The first thing to check is the battery voltage at rest and when cranking the engine. Voltage is especially important on fuel injected bikes, where the battery needs to power the starter motor, the electronics and the lights.
Do you hear the gas pump (sort of a buzz) when you switch the bike on? Do the instruments and lights come on? When you hit the starter button do you just hear the clacking of the starter relay or is the engine actually turning?
What makes you say "it's not a gas issue"?
If you are hearing the starter motor turn but the engine isn't the problem is the starter sprag. The sprag is what disengages the engine from the starter motor once the engine starts. It sounds like yours is disengaging early. If you have an open clutch cover or take the cover off you can see if the engine is turning or not.
A new sprag is pretty expensive. At 20o thick oil could be an issue. Try moving the bike to a warmer area or, since the battery seems good, bump starting it. Then see if the starter functions better.