I have been doing some reading and looking around and see a few starter issues for my year but not quite the one I am having. I recently replaced a battery,wasnt taking charge,with a new one. I have now noticed that it is getting slow to start. The part that baffles me is that if I keep hitting the switch,it gets faster until it sounds normal. My first guess is a dirty or worn out starter. Does this sound about right? Grounding at battery is tight,I do not have a clamp on meter here but can get one. Voltage is good though.
2005 slow starter
- Thread starter sg81
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Donal
Well-known member
Have you tried measuring the voltage while actually cranking the engine?
Do you get an instrument panel 'reset' during cranking?
The answer to these will determine which way to go.
If the voltage really dips or the panel 'resets' then it looks like your starter is drawing too much current (confirm with a clamp-on meter).
If the voltage appears to drop a little but the cranking is slow then suspect your starter relay.
Do you get an instrument panel 'reset' during cranking?
The answer to these will determine which way to go.
If the voltage really dips or the panel 'resets' then it looks like your starter is drawing too much current (confirm with a clamp-on meter).
If the voltage appears to drop a little but the cranking is slow then suspect your starter relay.
That is not a typical symptom for a bad starter motor. It sounds more like the power deliver to the starter may be varying as you continue to push the starter button, making me suspect the relay.
I see that you have an '05 but you did not give us too many more details to go on, like how many miles you have on it, and whether the problem is worst with a cold bike or perhaps it's worse only when hot (which would be more in line with a bad starter motor).
Try measuring the voltage at the starter motor, if you can, or at the starter side of the starter relay. I suspect that the relay contacts may be degrading and inhibiting current / voltage delivery from the battery to the starter. Another good test is to measure the actual voltage being dropped across the relay while cranking. It should be minimal, and not vary much from one stab of the button to the next.
The problem with measuring the voltage at the battery while cranking and watching for it to dip is that it provides a chicken vs egg dilemma. Is the battery voltage sacking out due to a bad starter motor, or is the (new) battery just not up to providing the required cranking amps. You would not be the first person to have bought and installed a bad battery. You would need to measure the cranking current to differentiate that.
Out of curiosity, what brand and model new battery did you install?
I see that you have an '05 but you did not give us too many more details to go on, like how many miles you have on it, and whether the problem is worst with a cold bike or perhaps it's worse only when hot (which would be more in line with a bad starter motor).
Try measuring the voltage at the starter motor, if you can, or at the starter side of the starter relay. I suspect that the relay contacts may be degrading and inhibiting current / voltage delivery from the battery to the starter. Another good test is to measure the actual voltage being dropped across the relay while cranking. It should be minimal, and not vary much from one stab of the button to the next.
The problem with measuring the voltage at the battery while cranking and watching for it to dip is that it provides a chicken vs egg dilemma. Is the battery voltage sacking out due to a bad starter motor, or is the (new) battery just not up to providing the required cranking amps. You would not be the first person to have bought and installed a bad battery. You would need to measure the cranking current to differentiate that.
Out of curiosity, what brand and model new battery did you install?
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The bike has 42,000 miles on it. I just put in a new Westco battery but haven't been out riding. I put a trickle charge on it periodically. I will check voltage at starter over weekend and also take home my clamp on meter from work to check current. Thanks for the feedback
Boxer
Member
I had the same problem and replaced the the starter relay. Problem solved.
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