900 having starting trouble

Started by Autostrada Pilot, March 02, 2010, 06:04:59 AM

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Autostrada Pilot

So I have a 1999 900.  I rode it about 5 weeks ago to get the battery charged up and put fuel stabilizer in before the ride. When I got home, I pulled the battery and took it in the house (figured the warm house would be better than the garage for storage-as I don't have a battery tender).


A couple days ago, we had a 55 degree day so I put the battery back in, checked the air in the tires, and tried to fire it up.  It kicked hard several times, but wouldn't turn over. After a minute or two, I could hear it kicking softer as the battery lost juice. I tried hooking jumper cables up to my car (it was not running)-the lights would turn on, but NOTHING when I push the starter.

I took the battery out again and charged it up for a few hours yesterday, but when I put it back in the bike this morning-once again the lights turn on but I get NOTHING when I push the start button.


Any ideas?  What can I test to narrow down the problem?

2003 Monster 620 Dark - Sold

1999 Monster 900 City - Sold

After 7 years of Monsters, I'm sadly bikeless right now.

junior varsity

Step one: Make sure handlebar switch is in "run" position when you push the starter. Seriously, sometimes even the best of us can over look this.

Check the starter solenoid which resides directly below the battery box. This go out occasionally. It has one cable running from battery positive terminal (you'll see it plugs into a plastic 3-way harness coming off the positive terminal - juice from battery to starer solenoid and juice from battery to wiring harness). The solenoid has a second wire, leaving it and traveling down to the starter in front of the oil sump. The third wire is a small two prong plug, that runs to the wiring harness. This little solenoid sits directly below the battery box, and is affixed by a rubber sleeve and two mounting tabs.

You'll want to make sure all those connections are good, as well as the battery connections themselves. If the connections all look good (and the battery has been back on a tender since last time) and still won't even click - think about replacing that solenoid. I picked up a spare awhile back from DesmoTimes.

That's the cheap end of things. After that, more comprehensive tests could be done to look at the actual starter.

Our old carb bikes require quite a bit of juice to get started and running, since it takes a few tries when its been cold (and the carbs are incredibly cold natured).

Duckintime

Get a digital volt meter and start taking a look. See what kind of any voltage your getting to the starter when you hit the start button. If no voltage, check your connections at the battery, AND the connections at the other end of the battery cables. Loosen the cables a bit, and swing them side to side, then re- tighten. You might just have a bad connection that wont pull the current needed to spin the engine. Also check the clutch lever switch. Another issue can be the starter relay.
 Put your meter on the battery, and turn the ignition on.. what is your voltage? Then attempt to crank it over.. again, what is your voltage?
 Get us some readings if you can and let us know  [beer]

junior varsity

1999 900's have no clutch switch. That new fangled crap is only on the newer bikes.

Autostrada Pilot

I'm positive the kill switch was set to "Run" (I toggled it back and forth a time or two).

I'll check the connections to the starter solenoid tonight. The battery terminals looked really good and clean, but I'll try wiggling them around a little bit as well.

I'll also get some readings in a day or two (I have tons of homework to do tonight so I don't have much time to fiddle with the bike).
2003 Monster 620 Dark - Sold

1999 Monster 900 City - Sold

After 7 years of Monsters, I'm sadly bikeless right now.

Howie

Step 2 is charge the battery and get it load tested.  Unless you know your battery is good you are  [bang]  Batteries discharge over time, the warmer the battery, the higher the discharge rate.  The only reason for bringing a battery indoors is if it discharges enough it can freeze.  If the battery looses 50 % of it's charge and is allowed to sit sulphation takes place and it will need to be replaced.  

Autostrada Pilot

So last night I jumped the starter solenoid and the starter kicked. Glad to get it diagnosed so I can order a new one.

Howie - while I'm waiting for the solenoid to get here, I'll get the battery checked out. As the carb'd 900's don't love to start (especially in the cold) I want to make sure it's as strong as possible.


It looks like the battery tray and airbox are all 1 piece with the ignition coils mounted to the top.  It is as big of a PITA to remove the battery tray and airbox as it looks?  (Call me a sissy, but I'm fairly new at working on bikes and don't want to get in over my head).
2003 Monster 620 Dark - Sold

1999 Monster 900 City - Sold

After 7 years of Monsters, I'm sadly bikeless right now.

junior varsity

Its really not that hard. BUT you do not have to remove the airbox/battery tray to get to the solenoid if you don't mind some busted knuckles.

If you do remove airbox, its essentially this: unplug wires (label as necessary), unscrew two screws at bottom of airbox (note that left hand side includes grounding-to-frame cable and nut) - set aside, one screw under front left side through frame (accessed from below airbox), loosen rubbers around carbs, and try to wiggle out past ignition key housing. Realize you need to remove that (so unplug it, loosen up bolts, remove).

I suggest busted-knuckle city if you can possibly get your fingers down in there.

Here's where I picked up my spare solenoid: http://www.desmotimes.com/ --> Electrical & Lighting --> Starter Solenoid (browse to get there, the short link isn't as helpful, but here it is: http://www.desmotimes.com/product160.htm)

Beyond charging battery and making sure its competent, I might also suggest upgrading the wires from the battery to the solenoid to the starter, and from the frame ground to the battery (and really, for double triple extra help, the motor to the battery ground, rather than motor to frame ground). Powerlet makes an upgrade kit for the first three wires I've listed, and you can make the fourth (or, all of them if you like), the kit is also available from DesmoTimes (same electrical and lighting page)

Autostrada Pilot

Quote from: ato memphis on March 03, 2010, 07:00:13 AM
Its really not that hard. BUT you do not have to remove the airbox/battery tray to get to the solenoid if you don't mind some busted knuckles.

If you do remove airbox, its essentially this: unplug wires (label as necessary), unscrew two screws at bottom of airbox (note that left hand side includes grounding-to-frame cable and nut) - set aside, one screw under front left side through frame (accessed from below airbox), loosen rubbers around carbs, and try to wiggle out past ignition key housing. Realize you need to remove that (so unplug it, loosen up bolts, remove).

I suggest busted-knuckle city if you can possibly get your fingers down in there.

Here's where I picked up my spare solenoid: http://www.desmotimes.com/ --> Electrical & Lighting --> Starter Solenoid (browse to get there, the short link isn't as helpful, but here it is: http://www.desmotimes.com/product160.htm)

Beyond charging battery and making sure its competent, I might also suggest upgrading the wires from the battery to the solenoid to the starter, and from the frame ground to the battery (and really, for double triple extra help, the motor to the battery ground, rather than motor to frame ground). Powerlet makes an upgrade kit for the first three wires I've listed, and you can make the fourth (or, all of them if you like), the kit is also available from DesmoTimes (same electrical and lighting page)

Thanks. Desmotimes is out of stock so I'm calling my local dealer (hopefully it's reasonable or I'll order it).

I think I'll remove the box as I want to make sure the carbs are clean (seems like I need to remove the airbox for this too).  Once school is out and I have a little more free time I'll look into making a upgraded wires kit.  Thanks for all the advice.
2003 Monster 620 Dark - Sold

1999 Monster 900 City - Sold

After 7 years of Monsters, I'm sadly bikeless right now.