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....:confused:

[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....:confused:


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?! :rolleyes:

[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 :D.....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 (http://av.rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geumBZ5iFIshsA_UPrSKMX;_ylu=X3oDMTBvdmM3bGl xBHBndANhdl93ZWJfcmVzdWx0BHNlYwNzcg--/SIG=128upb11l/EXP=1210267609/**http%3a//www.repairmanualclub.com/index.php%3fdlid=801)

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 (http://av.rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geumBZ5iFIshsA_UPrSKMX;_ylu=X3oDMTBvdmM3bGl xBHBndANhdl93ZWJfcmVzdWx0BHNlYwNzcg--/SIG=128upb11l/EXP=1210267609/**http%3a//www.repairmanualclub.com/index.php%3fdlid=801)

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 (http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=267853#post267853) 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.

[Cabby]

Rob ...Before you commit to anything.....Try the jump leads....then if it's still slow at least you know it's not for a lack of power...proviso being all connections are good...often a problem on anything old not being used a lot.........:D (Write yer own jokes.....;))

I' ve got leads and a big Cab battery if you want me to drop by.....

[Robster]

Rob ...Before you commit to anything.....Try the jump leads....then if it's still slow at least you know it's not for a lack of power...proviso being all connections are good...often a problem on anything old not being used a lot.........:D (Write yer own jokes.....;))

I' ve got leads and a big Cab battery if you want me to drop by.....

Hmmmm I have started it on one occasion before by jumping it off the car battery. But that was on the Aprilias old battery...thought the new one would give it more juice but perhaps not.

You're welcome to pop round anytime anyway mate, jump leads or not! Kettles always on and the doors always open...not literally of course, but mi casa su casa etc etc :D

[Robster]

€60 for a second hand starter plus shipping from Italy....does that sound reasonable? I have no idea how much one would be :rolleyes:

[Sohoeasy]

€60 for a second hand starter plus shipping from Italy....does that sound reasonable? I have no idea how much one would be :rolleyes:

No idea if that's a competitive price,but £35 sounds like a good price to get you rollin' in time for the summer. I'll help you fit it if your in need :)

[Robster]

No idea if that's a competitive price,but £35 sounds like a good price to get you rollin' in time for the summer. I'll help you fit it if your in need :)


Ahhh nice one dude, you're a leg end :)

I started to look at the old one and how I might get it out this morning, but it's quite well buried in the engine/behind the exhausts etc so I gave up and came to work instead! Got to earn the money before I can spend it eh?! :D

I may very well take you up on your kind offer sir, I need all the spannering help I can get :thumbup:

[Sohoeasy]

Ahhh nice one dude, you're a leg end :)

I started to look at the old one and how I might get it out this morning, but it's quite well buried in the engine/behind the exhausts etc so I gave up and came to work instead! Got to earn the money before I can spend it eh?! :D

I may very well take you up on your kind offer sir, I need all the spannering help I can get :thumbup:

Keep me posted then :)

[Cabby]

How's this goin' Rob? :)

[Robster]

How's this goin' Rob? :)

Exactly as it was near enough a week ago!

I've been away for the weekend and have had other things demanding my attention for the last few days....I'll crack on with it soon..ish!

[canoehead]

Hi Robster,

had a tuareg same era, with intermittant starting issues, had to replace the cdi, and sprag clutch, did improve things as far as i can recolect. it was entertaining kicking it over, even using the decompressor, as it had a lot of compression, and you had to make sure you'd manouvered it just over tdc, or forget it, you just weren't going to kick start it, sometimes it worked just fine doing that, other times i'd be there for ages kicking the beast, to the amusement of onlookers and my frustration. The main problem as i saw it, and form all the other people i knew who had them, was that the starter motor just wasn't man enough to turn over the rotax lump. i remember when i bought it it was suffering from starting problems, and had worn out a battery quickly. good luck with trying to fix it. when it ran well i loved it, sharp, responsive and barky, i can appreciate why you want to fix it. wish i still had mine.



2002 rd07a black

[Cabby]

Rob....Just remembered......:rolleyes:

Spoke to Stanbloke about this on Sunday.....He reckons it goes through spark plugs fairly quickly.....He was pretty sure that would cure it....

And he said you're a Tart for not being able to kick start it..........:D



















OK....I made that last bit up.......:toothy9:

[Redbus]

Hi Robster, Not knowing your bike I didnt know it had a rotax engine. Had a B~w 650 funduro, (ROTAX eng) and thought the CHAINGANG site online was probably the best in the world for info. Apart from size and kickstart it might be same engine. These blokes really take it to bits in clear english and pics. Give it a try.

Hope it helps.
Les'

[russellt]

Robster

Hope you get it sorted , whilst this is not a helpful reply it did remind me that the Tuareg was the first big trail bike I ever rode and have been convereted ever since , it is also I reckon one of the best looking of the big trail bikes . The engine is the old rotax lump used in a mulititude of other bikes ie CCM Armstrongs etc , there are a few specialist companies who should be able to help .

Best of luck

[jonpaul1st]

Good to see someone else has one of these bikes!

I have an '89 model with exactly the same problem. I haven't investigated it thoroughly as yet. I suspect it's a worn starter. ? Later models have an uprated one. I use a mix of places to supply parts. Peter Knight provides most of the parts, help and advice you could wish for. I occasionaly use force motorcycles which specialise in ex army mt350's.
The electric start failed in the depths of winter. I've used the kick start since. From cold I find this works - choke on full, run switch off, kick engine over twice (using decompressor to take it past tdc), bring engine JUST past TDC (using decompressor), choke off (if it's sunny!), run switch on and kick.
I found using an iridium plug NGK DR8eix helps
What oil are you using?
I have original aprilia owners handbook, engine manual and bike manual (fork rebuilds etc) if you need copies.