Quick question to help solve my bike no starting

[mikeyjp1980]

Can anyone help ? Will teh bike still start and run if:

A, A valve is bent ?

B, Cam chain tensioner or chain are knackered ?

Also a few other notes when I turn the ignition on the head light does not come on any more and when you hit the start button theres a clicking noise coming from the battery/cdi fuse area on the bike ?? I did replace the battery 2 weeks ago as the bike started to make these noise when the battery died . But when you try and start it it makes a awful knocking noise but it will start and run.

As i thought I may have a knackered starter motor but replaced it tonight and still no joy. The bike makes a awful noise and does not turn over. But if you hit the start button over and over quickly it starts ?? Im a bit baffled here and I would like to do the repairs my self but dont want to strip things which dont need stripping.

Can any one point me in the right direction please !!!

[Mori Man]

Bit tricky to diagnose with out seeing it.

So your new battery was fully charged before using - clicking noise is generally the soloniod as it is trying to draw a high amperage to the starter.

If the replacement starter is good - you can connect directly to battery to test - be warned they have a kick so not for the limp wristed and only do it briefly !!

I would check all connections are clean and secure especially earths.

This should cure the start button problem.

The ruff running bad sound - before you start the bike up pull in the clutch lever (a good habit to get into anyway as it saves your starter motor spinning it round as well as your crank) , when bike fires up is it quiter? Let clutch out and see if the noise is what you describe, if so this seems normal as the KBATL clutches do make a noise.

If not the clutch then your into internals of the motor - why do you suspect a bent valve ? Are their plumes coming out of the exhaust can ? Would you know what a bike sounds like if it is only running on three cyclinders ? It sounds bad ! So quickly touch each header after initially getting it started and check all 4 are hot - WARNING this has to be done mega fast and only when the bike has been stood cold, headers heat up fast and within a few minutes hot enough to remove skin !!!

Wear gloves if you prefer and then touch the glove with other hand to see if warm , let it go cold and do next header.

Establish all 4 cylinders are running and the carbs have had time to fill to get all 4 running. If my bike is sat for a few days it can sometimes only fire up on 1 cylinder and as fuel is pumped through the rest kick in.

As I asked before what mileage and what service history does the bike have ?

MM!

[mikeyjp1980]

Hi MM Ive had the bike a year its got 37000km on it. Theres a few bits of service but nothing reference oil changes etc. Ive given it a little service but thats about it. Im going to test the starter and solenoid on sunday. But could I email you a clip of the bike starting just to give you a better idea of the problem ? as it would probly help explain. Th reason I mentioned the bent valve was when I broke down the AA man had one listern even thou the bike didnt turn over and said " bent valve or cam chain" But he didnt spend much time looking at it. Im under the impression its a electrical fault as the head light does not come on and this noise started when the battery died last year ?? Th bike will start and run its just the way you have to hit the start button quickly over and over to get it to start.

[Daniel.p]

Hey i had a coil go a month ago and the sound of only 2 running cylinders is pretty bad + i found putting my hand over the exhaust i could feel the lack of power on tick over so eletrical is 1 to check as for camchain when its running give the throttle a flick if its rattles to hell youve got a loose 1

[Daniel.p]

How fast does the battery lose power if u hold down the start?

[mikeyjp1980]

The battery seems to keep its charge its just tryin to get it to turn over is the problem. Its a total mind buffle at the moment. So any help is really help full at the moment.

[Mori Man]

Starting problem does sound like a sticky solenoid - hit it with a back end of a screwdriver as you press the starter button and see if that helps.

The other is a corroded / bad earth , so the longer you hold the button the more power it drains,　hence short sharp dabs of the button get it going.

At 23,000 Miles the cam chain isn't or shouldn't be up for replacement but the engine is due a major service.

Shim check should be your top priority even if you cure the start problem , your carbs are more than likely well out of balance too. Major service is all fluids and filters , plugs , nip back the HT leads a few mm to get good clean connections , when pulsar cover is off checking the shims clean the swarf off the pick-ups , lube your throttle and choke cables , check torque on all major fasteners.

MM!

[mikeyjp1980]

Hi MM, Ill give it a go on sunday. Can you advise the best way I can go about the setting the carbs and doing the shims, Also sorry to sound a bit dim I take it the solenoid is the part next to the battery with the 30amp fuse in it ? Fingers crossed it works !!

[mikeyjp1980]

Hi MM,

So I disconected the starter on the bike and connected it to the spare one and nothing happened just a buzzing noise the I put a jump starter on and the bike started to turn a bit. But then I battery died. You mentioned a bad earth connection were would i find it on the bike ? Also do you think its worth changing the solenoid relay any way ?

cheers

mike

[cargo]

the clicking noise from the starer solenoid is almost certainly a sure sign of a flat battery.
However reading this thread carefully it seems to me that your bike does actually start and run but there is a strange noise happening during the starting process while the starter motor is turning the engine.

I'm thinking that perhaps this noise is coming from the starter clutch mechanism or bendex a noise from there could be confused as a camchain noise or bent valve..............

I can hear the next question already

it's behind the generator cover and is a little gear mechinism that drives on to the rotor from the starter motor

[Mori Man]

I can hear the next question already

One live and one negative on soleniod to check , small earth going into neg on battery - bullet connection and a main earth coming off engine to battery.

Try looking at what Cargo suggested - lean the bike over on right hand side securely and you can remove cover with out draining the oil, have a new gasket at hand for the rebuild.

[mikeyjp1980]

Cheers guys I will have a look at the weekend if you have any other thoughts please let me know. I will keep you updated as I go along.