Bike won't start...

[Firebucket]

I have an '04 TA. Last week I dropped it (grr argh to Edinburgh council who think putting bike parks in sloping corners off cobbled cambered streets is a good idea). It has engine guards, and the only visible damage was a broken indicator, which I've now replaced (new set works fine).

After picking the bike up again I rode home no worries.

However 2 days later when I went to fix the indicator I found a patch of oil on the ground. No obvious source, and lots of oil in corners so I cleaned everything up and left it another day, to see if I could spot where it was coming from, and also to make sure it wasn't just scottoiler stuff that had ended up in the wrong place after the drop, and slowly dripped its way back out.

No luck, it's still leaking (though not very much, and still not sure where from). Tried to fire it up to move it to somewhere I could get a better look and...it wouldn't start. First just a bit reluctant, and it's cold, so I used the choke. Which caused it to stop making any sort of bike-starting noise, and instead make a really nasty clicking/jarring sort of noise, not like anything I've heard before. Further attempts yielded either the same noise or nothing at all. The brake light flickers in time with the clicking... I haven't checked the battery yet (although it's been less than a week since it was last used, and I haven't had any issues with it before), but when my GPZ battery died the bike just failed to start, no weird noises!

Anyone have any suggestions, either about failure to start or about the possible source of the oil leak? Closest I can get for the latter is somewhere just in front of the oil filter, but not the filter itself. My big worry is that no oil means when I tried to start it first time everything seized up, but it hasn't leaked that much, and I checked the dipstick beforehand there was still some in there. I don't know much about engines though...

Laura

[paul9]

try charging your battery,it sounds like an electrical problem,probably just a low battery,check levels in battery in case you have lost a bit of acid unless its a sealed battery.

[piguglyshandydrinker]

As mentioned, give the battery a charge, I'd take a plug out of each cylinder, dry/warm them on a radiator & crank it over with no spark plugs in ( sounds like it may have hydraulic locked (oil/fuel in the cylinder)), put the plugs in before trying to start again.
Check the kill switch is set to run.

I cannot see how a light drop would cause oil to leak, that is probably from the scottoiler, but if the bike has been on its side fuel may have flowed out of the overflow pipe, diluting oil which is now dropping on the floor?.

Phil

[donkster]

Laura - the not starting is symptoms of a failing battery

as the voltage drops, the battery can activate the solenoid but no the starter giving that weird clicking noise

if the battery is over 3 years old, I'd put a new one, as charging it will only temporarily cure the problem and will a little bad luck will leave you stranded somewhere instead

[moon]

the clicking sound is usually insufficient battery power, maybe you lost the electrolyte (liquid) from the battery when you put the bike on it's side. A dry cell (or a number of them) drastically reduces the battery's capacity to accept a charge, which would explain why you got home ok & now wont start.

check battery electrolyte levels & then recherge.

[StumpyFingers]

When it fell over it may have loosened an earth cable, Check the terminals are tightened properly first then work from there.

[Mudwiz]

Sounds big time battery.
Probably new one time, they don't last as well as the rest of the bike!

Having a rest will not normally cause any leaks etc from a TA, odd bits of petrol maybe, but thats all. Get a push, bump start it, fit a new battery, enjoy!

.

[pale rider]

I'm inclined to agree that the batteries may be the weakest link for transalps I've just today gone to start my 05 model after leaving it stand
for just two weeks (no drops this time!) and it made one half-ar$$ed attempt to fire then i got the weird whirring and clicking sounds mentioned
earlier.. I got me brother to give me a push and all was well..so if you havn't got a brother who goes to the gym a lot.. then check electrolyte levels on your battery to make sure none spilled out when the bike fell over and adjust if necessary then take the battery off the bike and charge it overnight and put it back on the bike if this doesn't cure the problem then you'll have to replace the battery..

In my case I think it was a combination of the always on headlights robbed me of electrical energy at a crucial time and the two week stand had evapourated some of the fuel in the carbeuretters and the vacuum operated fuel tap was delaying the process of replenishment given the conditions

Once i got it going I took it for a long blast to try and put something back in the battery via the alternator but i will find out in the morning if I will need to take the battery off and bench charge it like I just advised ....watch this space.

[alpslapper]

Can I highly recommend a trickle charger such as accumate or oxford. I have the accumate one. I rigged an outdoor socket, and every now and then, (when I remember) I leave it plugged in under the bike cover for the weekend. Much easier again if youre posh and have a garage. 4 years on never had a minutes jip from the battery.

Course, now I said that, it will be flat as a pancake when I go out in the morning

[pale rider]

Hi tom... The daft thing is, I have an optimate in the shed but its been the life support for my other bike but the alp lives outside and i use it daily, except for the last two weeks that, is oh well let that be a lesson to me......