ER-5 starting problems

Pickle · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Karma :

Bought a 2001 ER-5 from the secondhand part of George White's in London. She's great when she goes, but the problem is getting her going.

I've only had her two weeks, and she turns over but isn't catching, to the point where I'm flattening the battery. Last week one morning she died completely - not turning over at all, not even a click from the starter - but then I tried her when I came home from work and she started almost first time. I'm starting her exactly like they showed me too - full choke, no throttle.

I took her back to where I got her (via a £60 recovery van Evil or Very Mad

) and they reckon it was just that I needed a new battery, but it seems pretty weird that she came back to life like that - surely if the battery was gone, it was gone? I'm going to go pick her up tomorrow, and hopefully she'll be fixed. Apparently she is now starting first time every time... I've had a hundred different blokes give different opinions - sparks, wiring, etc. and wondered if anyone here had any advice to give. Is it just the battery, or something else?

FerretFing · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Karma :

HI, when I bought my Er5 it was being a real pig to start - a simple multimeter test across the battery terminals showed 4v when I pressed the starter Shocked

- anything under 9.5v usually means fubarred. I got a new battery & everything was sorted. My guess is they knew already & just wanted to sting you for more cash - but I`m a cynic Twisted Evil

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Could just be the battery, see if that does the trick.

I've also had ignition switches go a bit intermittant on me on a GPZ500s and a KLE500, both of which use the same engine as the ER5, probably the same switch.

Thing is, it gives you every impression it is working (lights come on, starter turns over) but it hasn't made contact with all the terminals meaning there is no spark.

Watch the rev counter as you press the starter, if the needle moves, the CDI is powering up and discharging. If the needle stays still, chances are there is no spark.

Usually switching it off then on again does the trick although you would eventually need to replace the switch part of the ignition.

Most dealers offer a minimum of a months warranty on second hand bikes. At two weeks old, sale of goods act would probably still cover you anyway although not necessarily for the recovery.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

Pickle · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Karma :

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

Pickle · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Karma :

So rode in this morning in the lovely sunshine - such a good feeling! Very Happy

And she started first time, so fingers crossed my troubles are over for now.

Funny though - the second I sat on her to ride home from the dealer's yesterday she was dead. Not even a click from the starter. I'll called the bloke over and she did the same for him. Lots of head scratching, then for no reason she finally started.

My bike is possessed, I tells ya! Twisted Evil

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

dci19 · Derestricted Danger Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Karma :

Them symptons are the same as my bike. Honda cbf500. So if I replace the ignition switch, starting the bike will be cured, I mean no more charging the battery every 5 days.

I do squirt 3 in 1 oil down the barrel every now and then.

If the ignition switch is dodgy, would/could that affect mpg's?

sorry for hikacking the thread

tia mike

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :