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Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 27 Apr 2009
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Angry Is battery gone?

Hello All,

It's the Bosch battery on my bike and stays there since at least 5-6 years. I don't know how much amphers does it have? Didn't take the battery out.
One month ago, I fully charged the battery (nearly 20 hours) before initial ride after winter. It happily run.

It was also last year, bike was getting start difficult. I guessed somethin was wrong with starter, becasuse battery was on and had enough power in it. Something else was wrong I guessed. It was more difficult in the morning at first start when the engine was cold.

It happened like this a few weeks ago and I crosscabled from a car's battery and bike started.

It was yesterday, I didn't ride my bike since one week. Bike was not starting easily also last week. I started the bike after some try (it was quite lazy) and ridden it in city traffic for nearly 8-10 mins. I was waiting at a red light and tried to take the first gear. Engine stopped and din't start again. It was only one sound of "though click". I thought it can be starter again. Then thought it is battery. I had the cross-cable to get power from a car. Asked for the help in crazy traffic of the city. No way, it didn't start.

Tried to start it with kick-starter. No way.

Will carry the bike home today and will recharge it for some hours and will try again if it works. Will change the battery to Odyssey in a few weeks time. Hope the problems gets solved. Othervise I guess I will need a starter ? !

Do you think it is battery which has the problem?

Regards,

Sami
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  #2  
Old 27 Apr 2009
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Flat battery wouldn't cause the bike to cut out like it did but that maybe not related.

The only way you're going to know is to get a multimeter.

A healthy battery should show over 12.5 Volts. While the bike is running, the voltage should show 13-14V volts while you are reving the engine.

It does sound like your battery is dead though...
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Old 30 Apr 2009
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http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...oken-itu-41532

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...annister-42119

Sorry Samy, but that is what you are describing -

Hard starting.
At times works perfectly.
Suddenly dies. Restarts and then suddenly - refuses to restart. You wait till next day - and it will start again... ITU gone bust! -

IF it was any of the options you have considered - the bike would start when jump-started.

You could make one check - the starter relay (on the left side under the tank on pre 85 /7 close to the steerínghead).
A bad starter relay -can- cause some weird things until it fails compleatly.

If it is the relay the cost is a new relay; any will do. I use somethings like this:
Biltema Sverige
http://www.biltema.se/Archive/Produc...e/42-303_l.jpg
Art.no. 42-303
Price: about 2,- EU
BMW original (=Bosch) is far better quallity, at x10-times the price...
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Old 30 Apr 2009
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My guess is the battery or earth-connections (on battery and gearbox).

As a rule of thumb you can say that if the voltage measured directly at the battery goes beyond 8.5V when you try to operate the starter the battery is gone. If it’s above 8.5V it’s your starter or bad connections.

If you have problems with the starter:
Your bike have a Valeo D6RA15 starter (if you haven’t changed it), this starter have two weak spots:

Dirt prevents the starter pinion to move freely. Solution: Dismount, clean and lube.

Magnets in the stator house fall of. The magnets are glued and might get loose and block your rotor.
Solutions:
1) Get a new Valeo-starter
2) Get a Bosch starter
3) Get a Nippon Denso starter
4) Get a stator from a scrap yard (it’s used in numerous cars)
5) Get a stator with fixed magnets from Motoren Israel

I have rebuilt two starters the last weeks using method 3 (expensive) and method 5.

Some great info if you plan to rebuild the starter Joergs Motorcycle Pages: BMW Electrical
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