Aprilia Tuareg Wind 600 – Wont Start!

[Robster]

I'm having a nightmare with my Tuareg. It's absolutely fine when it's running, but just a real nightmare to get going at the moment.

Despite my best efforts, I'm ashamed to say I've never managed to kick start it, I've always used the Electric Start. This was fine at first, but after a while I noticed that the turnover was getting slower and slower. In my lack of knowledge I assumed my battery was on its way out and so replaced it with a new one which I've kept on an optimate.

Having not attempted to start it for a few weeks I needed to use it the other day and it wasn't having any of it. After a good few tries, some Redex, fresh fuel and a mix of kicking and electric starting she fired up and ran perfectly. I razzed round the block to make sure all was well and parked her up at home, on the optimate again, ready to use to get to work the next day.

Next day...same issue. Real slow turnover, not really fast enough to start the engine so eventually I had to abandon the plan and take the girlfriends car instead. That evening I tried again, with the bike having been on the optimate all day. No amount of kicking led to anything other than a sore foot (why did they put the kick on the left side ffs?!) and after a few slow turnovers, pushing the starter button led to nothing more than that clicking noise that usually signifies a flat battery.

However the optimate is showing green lights.

I dont know enough about mechanics to understand the problem...if anyone could give me some very basic laymens advice that'd be much appreciated! Thanks

[Cabby]

If it was a car Rob...I'd say 'lazy starter', I would guess similar on a bike.

New starter then?.....ebay?

Although the fact that it's clicking in such a short time makes the battery suspect.

Is it the same with jump leads?........you HAVE tried jump leads Rob........ROB....

'Course I don't know a lot....of I'd have fixed mine by now....

[Robster]

If it was a car Rob...I'd say 'lazy starter', I would guess similar on a bike.

New starter then?.....ebay?

'Course I don't know a lot....of I'd have fixed mine by now....

Well yeah, thats kinda what I, in my hugely limited knowledge, thought too. Parts for these bikes are like the proverbial hens teeth though, plus I dont know where it is on the bike or what it looks like.

Perhaps I shouldn't be allowed to have one eh?!

[Robster]

No other pearls of wisdom anyone?

[Sohoeasy]

Rob,before it gets any deeper.Get an effin' screwdriver on the battery terminals and just as importantly the other end.ie. where they connect to the frame and starter solenoid ,making sure they are WELL tightened ! I just have a feeling this is NOT going to be a major thing (hopefully).Double check this and then we can all talk again .....Nick

[Redbus]

I'm having a nightmare with my Tuareg. It's absolutely fine when it's running, but just a real nightmare to get going at the moment.

Despite my best efforts, I'm ashamed to say I've never managed to kick start it, I've always used the Electric Start. This was fine at first, but after a while I noticed that the turnover was getting slower and slower. In my lack of knowledge I assumed my battery was on its way out and so replaced it with a new one which I've kept on an optimate.

Having not attempted to start it for a few weeks I needed to use it the other day and it wasn't having any of it. After a good few tries, some Redex, fresh fuel and a mix of kicking and electric starting she fired up and ran perfectly. I razzed round the block to make sure all was well and parked her up at home, on the optimate again, ready to use to get to work the next day.

Next day...same issue. Real slow turnover, not really fast enough to start the engine so eventually I had to abandon the plan and take the girlfriends car instead. That evening I tried again, with the bike having been on the optimate all day. No amount of kicking led to anything other than a sore foot (why did they put the kick on the left side ffs?!) and after a few slow turnovers, pushing the starter button led to nothing more than that clicking noise that usually signifies a flat battery.

However the optimate is showing green lights.

I dont know enough about mechanics to understand the problem...if anyone could give me some very basic laymens advice that'd be much appreciated! Thanks

Free book to download here if it's any help. Have to register. RepairManualClub.com > Aprilia 600 Tuareg Wind Owners Manual ITA By Mosue

Sounds like starter, could need new brushes but get starter wireing checked first. Brushes cheaper than complete moter.

Hope you get it fixed soon.
Les'

[Robster]

Free book to download here if it's any help. Have to register. RepairManualClub.com > Aprilia 600 Tuareg Wind Owners Manual ITA By Mosue

Sounds like starter, could need new brushes but get starter wireing checked first. Brushes cheaper than complete moter.

Hope you get it fixed soon.
Les'

Thanks Redbus, I already have the owners manual as well as a exploded parts diagram. The manuals not entirely technical unfortunately, an owners handbook as opposed to a useful workshop manual.

Anyway, I had a couple more abortive attempts at starting last night, and figured I'd run the battery down as the starter relay was clicking and nothing else was happening. So I left it on the optimate again last night.

I'm off work this morning waiting for a delivery so I've been tinkering. Had the battery out again and cleaned up all the contacts, earth leads, earthing points (to frame) etc. Put it all back together, green lights on the Optimate. All thats happening now is the starter relay is clicking...it wont even turn over.

I've had the lead off that goes from the relay to the starter and cleaned that up too. There's another lead coming off the relay which disappears under the tank...I guess that goes to the battery?

Kinda stuck now...any more ideas? Is it going to be like an old car where you can "tap" the starter with a hammer and it'll turn over? I somehow doubt I'm that lucky.

Oh one other thing (he said in a Columbo style), while it was turning over but not firing the other day, it would occasionally make a really loud noise, difficult to describe, a "bang" I guess but not a fuel popping kind of bang, more a something clanging against something else inside the motor somewhere kind of bang.

Help!

[Robster]

From reading this Dommie thread describing pretty much the same issues it seems I may need some new brushes or to have the starter motor out for a look at least.

Whaddya reckon?

[Robster]

Is it going to be like an old car where you can "tap" the starter with a hammer and it'll turn over?

OK,I just tried that and it turned over real slow again....I think I may have uncovered the culprit.

Now what?!

[Lutin]

Just a suggestion, but can you remove the starter from the engine? If you can, can you turn it by hand? This should show if the bearings are playing up, if nothing else.

If so, then see if you can find an independent auto-electrician to have a look at it. If they are any good they should be able to refurbish the motor and if needs be rewind it. It shouldn't matter that it is off a bike and not a car.