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Post by unclebuggies on Jun 3, 2012 13:46:18 GMT -5
Yesterday I was out riding, stopped for gas, and when I tried to start back up there was no crank to the starter. After trying the starter, all the lights and gauges went dead too. They'd come back on, maybe in a few seconds or a few minutes, at random. Or not. But if they did come back on, trying the starter again would make everything go dark again, and no crank out of the starter. Just a single click from the starter relay next to the battery.
I've charged the battery overnight, and now it reads 12.36 volts across the terminals and at the scooter's ground too. The lights and gauges came on a couple times this afternoon while I was messing with the scooter, but the same result as yesterday when I try to start. I even tried jumping across the two big terminals on the starter relay. No crank, and the lights and gauges went dark again.
So maybe the starter relay is dead? Maybe the starter? One of those diodes under the floor panel next to to coolant overflow tank? I'm stumped. Any suggestions where to look next? Thanks, all.
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Post by torque on Jun 3, 2012 17:14:13 GMT -5
Best suggestion: Call Jim at Sunright.
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Post by doomsday on Jun 3, 2012 20:02:46 GMT -5
I am by no means an expert, but I am betting the battery. Try to jump start it and see if it will crank.
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Post by quicksilver on Jun 3, 2012 20:21:13 GMT -5
Check the fuse next to the battery. It sounds like it is loose and making intermittent contact.
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Post by unclebuggies on Jun 3, 2012 21:05:28 GMT -5
Battery is fine. With or without a jump, there's no power at all to anything. Gas gauge needle doesn't even move, and the tank is ful. Quicksilver, you mean the 20amp fuse in the starter relay? It looks good and reads 0.02 ohms. The spare fuse also looks and tests good, and makes no difference when I switch them out. Torque's advice is looking like my next step.
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Post by cloudsifter on Jun 15, 2012 10:20:27 GMT -5
How did this turn out?
Thanks,
James
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Post by scooteritch on Jun 15, 2012 10:44:48 GMT -5
unclebuggies - I have a post currently active with a starting issue on my Linhai 260 that is very similiar to your situation. I think I have pretty much come to the conclusion that my battery is the culprit. My battery fully charges to around 12.8 volts and will start the first time around. However, if I turn the engine off and try to restart, it immediately drains the battery and the scooter will not start. The headlights will go almost dark as I hold the starter button and then will come to full brightness when I let go of the starter. I was told that this is good sign that the battery has gone bad. I was able to start without any hesitation when I jump started the scooter.
I took the battery back to Battery Plus this morning and had them test the battery and it showed a good voltage reading when testing it with no load. However, when they load tested the battery, it dropped below 6 volts and the person at the store said "Oh yeah, the battery is bad!".
So, don't be fooled by the reading on your battery. Also, shouldn't your battery at full charge read more than 12.36 volts?
Hope you are doing well. : - )
Scooteritch
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Post by oldkid on Jun 15, 2012 13:32:56 GMT -5
A fully charged battery should read 12.8 volts when at no load. A battery that reads 12 volts at no load is dead and usually will drop down to about half that under starter load. Usually best to swap out the battery first if you can make sure something is not pulling ther power out of it.
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Post by unclebuggies on Jun 15, 2012 15:47:31 GMT -5
I'll check out the battery next. After confirming that the starter would crank when I bypassed the relay, I tried replacing the starter relay. No good. I've seen your thread too, scooteritch. I've seen those little diodes down by the fuse box. Did you try replacing those?
BTW, after charging the battery I do have all my lights and gauges again. Just no cranky.
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Post by unclebuggies on Jun 16, 2012 20:52:50 GMT -5
Who's got two thumbs and feels like an idiot? THIS GUY! Thought the new relay didn't work, but then noticed the kill switch on the handlebars was activated. After moving it to the right position, it cranked like a champ. It tried to start, but I have the air intake removed so it wouldn't idle. I'll get it reassembled tomorrow and head out to have the battery tested. It is four years old, so it's likely borderline and couldn't hurt to be replaced.
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