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Hello all,
About 3-weeks ago my 2004 BCR seemed reluctant to start, turned over too long before firing-up.
Went for a run this Sunday, bike started fine at home but wouldn't start after we had stopped for a coffee . Hit starter and got the clicking sound as if the battery was flat, luckily a very helpful gent had a power-pack booster thingy which kicked the bike into life.
After getting home I changed battery for a replacement & fully charged Odessey battery I had, bike started fine, tried a second time and nowt, just intermittent clicking sound again. I have a spare starter motor, so fitted that, bike started fine, problem solved I thought.
Tried again this morning and bike turned over for a while before firing-up, tried 2 or 3 more times and bike started fine. Decided to nip out for a wee spin this afternoon, got suited & booted, hit starter and intermittent clicking again, switched ignition off then on again and bike fired-up no problem.

New plugs fitted last Saturday, battery & starter motor changed, would welcome any thoughts/ideas on what could be causing this starting problem.

Thanks in advance,
Rob.

Starter clicking is generally low battery voltage . I'd check the battery voltage ( even though you've swopped /charged it , it's not impossible to have two duff batteries.) I'd check the no load voltage available at the starter motor and see how it compares to the voltage at the battery. and check any earth wires. After that you have the starter and load relief relay , sometimes I think the wiring to these becomes corroded in the fuse box. And the usual breaks / chafing to the ignition switch wiring....

Rob, Like Nigel said, check your earthing cables I've had this problem in the past and it turned out to be a loose connection on the frame, (no good finding the problem after I had to push the bike from the ferry terminal to the boat at Scrabster).

In many years past , we had starting problems some times when starter motor bushes were worn ...

Slight dragging of rotor on the stator .

Cured with new bushes .

Thanks for sharing your experience/ ideas folks. Off on me hols tomorrow (not on a bike ) so will get the BCR up on the hydraulic bike bench soon after my return, get panels/tank off etc and start the search for the fault. Will keep you posted on my findings.

Thanks again,
Rob

Probably loose earth or wire some where .

Hi Rob, 1st thing that I would check is that the fuel pump primes? no prime + battery problem. HTH

Steve

I would be doing as others suggest. Electrical connections starting from battery. You could try slave battery, croc clips on positive post at starter motor and ground at frame. Give the starter a good direct feed.

I would start with the MOST obvious and cheapest option - Where the earth strap connects to the frame - if this gets rusty you will get a chattering solenoid on the starter and loss of voltage to the starter hence laboured starting. All these 1100s are now getting on in years and corrosion will be your biggest enemy.

Hello
Have you checked the charging voltage at the battery?

Hi Folks,

I have exactly the same symptoms as Rob described at the begining of this thread with my BCR. I have tried everything, including battery and starter motor replacement and the problem still persists. Before i give the bike to a dealer to resolve, are there any further pointers you guys may have come across ? I sent a DM to Rob without reply to see if he successful resolved the problem.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Many thanks.