bummed about my bike...

swader · October 13, 2009, 09:11:27 AM

So the bike sat out for the summer with a worn out clutch. well i started the bike about 2 months ago, and last night i put a new clutch in. my dad asks "you think this bike will even start?" . i guess it was my own karma that kicked in as i gave him a super crazy look and said "ummm why wouldnt it?" because as we speak, the battery is dead. we tried to jump it off and slowly it would turn over once, twice, but nothing after that. we put the bike on a trickle charger, and it showed a full charge this morning, i try it, and still not enough power. so i hooked it up back to the car because it did show more than last night, and after 3 min on the car it turned over more. so im gonna let it set on the jumper cable for aout 5 more min, that would make it about 10 minutes on the jumper cables.. wish me luck!

hootmon · October 13, 2009, 10:00:05 AM

Don't leave us hanging.. If you are still having issues, take the terminals off and clean them and re-tighten them.. This has given people problems in the past.

swader · October 13, 2009, 10:18:56 AM

okay so i tried to start the bike after about 20 min on the jumpers, and nothing except the engine turning over a few times... the battery really is just weak i think.. i got it back on the trickle charger...everything is clean and tightened up, i hope i dont have to go buy another battery.. it seems not too long ago that i got a new one put on it.. being a new clutch that hasnt ever started, could i push start it? im really thinking of dragging my bike up this hill and trying to as i have done this b4 just to see if i could do it.

roboto65 · October 13, 2009, 11:06:00 AM

If it is a 3rd gen then no push starting will not work as it needs the juice to send to the electronic ignition!!!!

Dlcarrales · October 13, 2009, 11:25:11 AM

I've pushed started mine on a few occasions its a 3rd generation.

hootmon · October 13, 2009, 11:56:06 AM

Quote from: Dlcarrales on October 13, 2009, 11:25:11 AM
I've pushed started mine on a few occasions its a 3rd generation.

+1 - with an almost dead battery..

BudMan · October 13, 2009, 02:40:48 PM

"Almost dead" is the key, Hoot.
It takes a fraction of the power required for cranking to run the electronics. That is why I hate having the headlights on all the time. If we could cut the lights out, the odds of starting with a compromised battery would be much greater.

TLRam1 · October 13, 2009, 02:55:08 PM

I think your battery is too far gone, when in storage, take it out and bring it in the garage so you can keep it charged or at least charge the battery every now and than while on the bike.

Really it's fine on the bike unless you live in the cold freezing areas but you are more apt to keep it charged if it's out of the bike. Okay I see you live in NRH and talking summer time so this last statement would be for others.

If you just want to see if the bike will start....Take the cables off the battery, jump to another battery and give it a whirl, I would not run it long.... just long enough so you are motivated to get a new battery.

Give it juice,...it will run.

drkngas · October 13, 2009, 05:52:03 PM

I cranked the idle knob way up and push started my 3rd gen after it failed to start on the 1st and 2nd push. It cranked and idled about 4k. Got me home, good thing it wasnt far.

lragan · October 13, 2009, 06:03:39 PM

I have push started mine twice with low battery due to dumb moves -- like running it out of gas.

I live on a hill, and started my "new" '96 that had been sitting too long, after determining that the battery was not going to get it going, by putting it in second gear giving it a nudge down the hill, and releasing the clutch when it got up to speed. It turned over maybe 20 times before it caught, and I had to have the "choke" on for an indordinate time before it warmed up and ran. (I intend to go through the carbs, mount a K&N filter, change the jets and shims, etc. sometime soon, I hope. My expectation is that it will start properly when I am done, just as my first Magna does.)

After riding a short distance, it started quickly. So, I went to Wal-Mart and bought their $13 battery maintainer for the second bike, since it has worked so well on my first one. It comes with a "pig-tail" that connects directly to the battery and leads out under the seat with a two wire connector that matches one on the charger. I leave both the bikes plugged into the maintainers when parked for any length of time. They charge to the required voltage, then monitor and trickle charge as necessary.

Greg Cothern · October 13, 2009, 06:19:51 PM

I think that a new battery will fix what is ailing yhour Magna!

swader · October 13, 2009, 07:01:17 PM

Okay so I got a new battery.. And nothing.. turning over maybe twice and then nothing.. Starter maybe? Any Ideas?

swader · October 13, 2009, 08:01:09 PM

after going through all troubleshooting, the relay will click when i press the start button and will turn over couple of times then gives up. so i dont think it is a bad starter as much as i think it could be in the assemble of the case that the starter attaches to as thats where the clutch is as well.. the owners manual says that it could be a messed up assembly, but would the case shut flush with no problems if it is assembled back together wrong?

hootmon · October 13, 2009, 11:08:47 PM

Quote from: swader on October 13, 2009, 08:01:09 PM
after going through all troubleshooting, the relay will click when i press the start button and will turn over couple of times then gives up. so i dont think it is a bad starter as much as i think it could be in the assemble of the case that the starter attaches to as thats where the clutch is as well.. the owners manual says that it could be a messed up assembly, but would the case shut flush with no problems if it is assembled back together wrong?

Just in front of the clutch basket is the starter clutch that leads to a couple of gears that lead to where the starter pokes through the clutch case..
Here is a video that shows a V65 Starter clutch replacement.. the Gen 3 is virtually the same..
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7272590578350336971&hl=en#

TLRam1 · October 14, 2009, 01:09:06 AM

Quote from: swader on October 13, 2009, 07:01:17 PM
Okay so I got a new battery

We were only joking we didn't really mean for you to go Buuyy a battery, we knew it was something else.

Now you know one end is good (battry), check the other end (starter) and see if it's good.

W/O looking does someone know if you can get to the Positive Lug on the starter? If so you can take the positive lead on the jumper cable and touch where the positive lead is attached to the starter, negative lead also has to be attached to the bike.

You will by-pass all the safety features so make sure your bike is in neutral.

This will tell you if the starter is good, if so, check and clean all your leads and connections along with starter switch, kill switch, maybe some I am leaving out etc. Once you find out if your starter is good or not will determine where to from there.