Hi,

I'm currently in need of a starter motor and battery for a 2006 F650GS. I don't mind used and wondered if anyone has an F650GS in storage from which I could take them (and pay new price for them) or if anyone is coming to UB in the next week who could bring them with them if I had the parts shipped to them in advance?

Alternatively if anyone knows anyone who may help. I.e. Any tour companies that use F650GS' or anyone who may have a dead f650gs/one for sale in the area etc.

Any help appreciated. This is one of many major problems recently and I would really appreciate the help!

Mike

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You don't need an original battery. Any 12V battery that will physically fit, will do.

Can't you find someone out there that can repair a starter motor? Its normally a pretty simple motor and in asia they can repair almost anything.

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Poul
May you enjoy peace and good health !

I'm past looking for an original battery and haven't had an original battery since I bought the bike. Finding a 12v battery that fits is proving difficult. As for the starter motor, we've stripped it down and found nothing obvious that's wrong; making it almost impossible to repair because it seems the problem lies in the sealed part of the motor. I'm looking for a permanent solution, not a bodge job. Having replaced the battery with a cheap chinese battery in Bishkek (all I could get), it only lasted 2000 miles. I need a more permanent solution now, otherwise I'll just face the same problems throughout Russia.

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Have you tested the starter motor BYPASSING the starter relay circuit ??

A starter motor is a simple device really. Very common and easy to rebuild. But I understand your situation. Sometimes replacing is just easier and less stress in a foreign land.

To get a replacement starter motor, you pretty much just need to find a motor with the same throat size and same splines..

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Yes we've tested by bypassing relay. It looks in good condition when you open it up despite a chip on a magnet. But it's dead. As I've said, I'm not looking for a bodge job. I need to be confident that this bike can get me home from UB via 7000 miles of Russia etc. So not looking for a 'quick fix', I'm looking for a solution.

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Same thing happened to my Hilux it was the rectifier that went followed by the starter

Mike i would try a quick fix bodge job for now to get yourself to a Russian city (find a motorbike club ) and then get the bike fixed right there. I have never been to Monoglia but would think in Russia it would be alot easier to fix it right there rather than in Mongolia....maybe i am wrong

sorry to hear your bad luck AGAIN, good luck

P.S tell your mother the crunchie bar and other food bars she posted for me to give you tasted nice

Go to the oasis and ask at the repair shop beside the oasis.

There is also a blackmarket nor far away where you can get batteries, but as wesley said, try to go to Ulan Ude, there is a biker club as far as i know.

A starter motor is quite simple.
And you are sure, it is not the relais?

Is there a reason why your battery doesn't last long?
Did you check the fluid?
When the load is to high, it boils the acid out of the battery.
Just an idea.

because, if 2 batteries die in a short time, i would search a bit deeper

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The mechanic at oasis thinks the starter is dead and doesn't seem massively motivated to help. He really doesn't want to help try to get the parts.

I replaced the dead motobatt gel battery in Kyrgyzstan with a cheap Chinese one and it hasn't got me very far, so keen to only bother replacing with a decent one. Even so, I've been to the market and not found one that'll fit. It was thought that the VR killed the previous battery and both were replaced.

A few weeks ago the bike died in Kyrgyzstan and the battery and rectifier were replaced. This time it suddenly died while riding after 7 hours of almost constant riding on a hot dusty day in South Mongolia. The dials suddenly started spinning, the clock flashing 'bat' and it cut out. I took it all apart, cleaned it all, gave it a bit of time to cool down. When trying to start again, the clock still flashed 'bat'. I tried to jump it off a passing car and the starter motor relay was clicking but the starter wasn't doing anything. I think that means the relay is okay?

At the time, the battery fluid levels were fine and there were no leaks but it was extremely hot. On an f650gs the battery is located right next to the oil tank. Both of which get very hot after a long day and I had a tank bag on too so not sure if the heat was just too much for the cheap battery.

In the meantime the battery was knocked over in minibus on way to UB so all acid leaked out, giving us no chance to properly test battery and of course confirmed that it's ruined. Some of this acid also got on starter motor and starter motor relay so this obviously hasn't helped.

So I don't know if it's coincidental that the VR and starter motor have died so close together; or if anyone knows if there's a likely underlying cause that's causing these issues. An underlying issue that will cause more problems once the starter, starter relay and battery are replaced.

On top of this there's a grinding sound in the right side of engine when above 3000rpm in neutral, 1st and 2nd gears. Any thoughts on what that could be. I can't start the engine at the moment to show oasis mechanic and I've tried to explain it but not sure he understands.

So what are everyone's thoughts on likely causes and potential solutions?

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to respond, it's all really appreciated.

Mike

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It is hard to give any hints from far away.

I would take a good battery, see if the starter turns.
If it does only click, it still does not mean that the starter is bad.
This can be a bad battery too

If not-> shorten the connection of the Starter relay with a tool.
( the 2 thick connections )

If the starter turns now, it is the relay, if it doesnt, it is either the starter or the battery or a loos Connection of Ground or plus ( the thick cables )

But, if i hear about electrical Problems as strange things happen, and dying lightbulbs in connection of dying batteries, i usually look deeper and check the regulator first .

Mayby try to get your bike running, and then measure the voltage on the batterie when running.
at idle speed, at 4500 rpm ( or something like that ) and with and without lights.

If it is over 15 Volt, you might have a problem in the regulator.

It does not help you, when you replace a battery and the cause of death is still there.

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Hi Mike,
You can ask the guys from Steppenfuchs travel. As far as I know, they used 650s for their tours. You'll find the contact on Alles zum Thema Reisen in der Mongolei. Their workshop is close to the oasis. There is also a KTM dealer in UB. Urmaa from the Oasis has the contact. We'll arrive in UB the 27th. So if we can help you out with a starter let me know. Batteries are not possible to transport with the plane.

Greetings
Claus

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agree with the suggestions to do whatever it takes to get the bike to Russia and get bike club / repair shop in Russia to fix it.

At least there they will have (a) a much wider range of batteries in terms of finding one the right power and size and (b) can strip down and rebuild a starter motor if required.

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Try the guys at the KTM store. Chinzo (pm for contact details or speak to
Urnaa) is friends with them and can put you in touch. They recently got in a shipment of batteries that might work for you.

Also, if a KLR650 battery will fit in your bike, I have a spare one in the basement of oasis that you would be welcome to. I just had a new one shipped in from the states via Sakura International (~2-3 weeks plus dealing with customs, thanks to Pete for the help with that) that I am using now, but the one at Oasis works fine.

Jake

An update on this one. I couldn't get a battery in UB and I'll be honest, I didn't come across any locals who were particularly keen to help, including the mechanic at Oasis and Vait at Steppenfuchs. The starter motor just started working again so it may have just been the spilt battery acid that initially stopped it working. Following your advice, I did what it took to get out of Mongolia and bought 2 small batteries, strapped and wired them together, mounted them on the rear of the bike and connected them using 2m cables (pictures below).

I then rode to Ulan Ude where I stayed with Sasha's family. He thinks the regulator/rectifier is broken but we couldn't get a regulator or battery in UU so rode onto Irkutsk.

Here I went to the bike shop and they didn't have any fitting batteries either. While there the mechanic tested the regulator, alternator and charging system as a whole and thinks there's no problem. He also thinks that my current 2 battery (12V 9A each) isn't causing any additional damage.

I've now decided to put me and bike on train to Moscow and ride home from there saving me and the bike 5000km. I'll be in Moscow on 01/07/14 and I'm planning to ride back to UK via St Petersburg with current set up but carry a spare battery with me in case these ones stop working.

So, does anyone know where I can buy a good battery that fits in Moscow? And, what does anyone think of the conflicting diagnosis' and whether I can expect any more problems between Moscow and UK with current set up?

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When i read text i saw so many repair attemps and thinking by repair people that i doubt many of them capability and understanding of what they are fixing.

As many have requested please get your bike running and measure what is voltage output bike is giving to battery with multimeter (voltage meter)? If reading is something between 14.2-14.5V then your bike rectifier is ok. if it is over 14.5 V or more likely over 15V then it is bad and your bike is burning your battery.


Paraller connection what you have done to your battery might be enough to hold overvoltage some time as you incread A/H to 18 amps and basicly you have two normal batteries there now(how much is normal in GS650? 9 Amps?) but it will fail eventually.

Try to print out or get this fault finding diagram, get multimeter and start to follow instructions and you should find reason quite soon.
https://www.electrosport.com/technic...ng-diagram.pdf

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