Hard starting...thoughts?

vwboomer · September 11, 2009, 10:30:44 PM

2005 S4R.
New battery that shows at 13.7v before starting yet it cranks over sloooow. I'm going to check the power cable to the starter tomorrow but am looking for other ideas. I thought it was just a bad battery since it was the original. The bike is going in for the valve adjustment next week - I did the first one at 6k but just haven't had the time to do the 12k. It's over due for adjustment might that make a difference? This same problem was present (slow cranking) last year when valve adjustment was still fresh.

Raux · September 11, 2009, 11:35:00 PM

isn't the S4R one of those with the autostart feature (not sure what it's called but you push the button and don't need to hold it)

He Man · September 11, 2009, 11:41:06 PM

id check the connections in the wire. if its corroded then the wire will pull less amperage and the motor will struggled to operate as intended. Ive had the wire that connects to the stater corrode and fail because of the way the cap is designed. it holds in water.

vwboomer · September 12, 2009, 08:57:22 AM

Quote from: Raux on September 11, 2009, 11:35:00 PM
isn't the S4R one of those with the autostart feature (not sure what it's called but you push the button and don't need to hold it)

Yes it has the one touch start thing.

Pulled the connections today and there wasn't much corrosion but I cleaned them and put some grease on anyway. I am a bit surprised that the wire from the relay to the starter itself isn't copper

It appears to be maybe #8 wire - doesn't look like alum but I'm guessing it is. I have some #6 copper that I could put on instead but I don't know that it would make a difference.

DarkStaR · September 12, 2009, 11:16:41 AM

Check the ground near the oil breather.

64duc · September 12, 2009, 04:09:18 PM

Quote from: DarkStaR on September 12, 2009, 11:16:41 AM
Check the ground near the oil breather.

On both ends of the cable

vwboomer · September 14, 2009, 10:26:15 AM

The only ground I've checked so far is the one on the right side of the engine. The breather is on the left side? It's going in for valve adjustment tomorrow and I won't have it back until next week so I can look at it again.

needtorque · September 14, 2009, 01:10:32 PM

Im sure the guy doing the valves could probably load test the battery and also might have the ability to locate the fault if it is not in the battery.

vwboomer · September 14, 2009, 08:51:19 PM

Oh absolutely. But I can barely choke down the cost of the adjustment. I might bring it up and ask him to just do a quick check of any likely culprits.

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Hard starting...thoughts?

Raux