A serious WTF? Or just bad timing?

[Wise1]

Ok, so don't laugh but this has got me really puzzled.

GSF1250 2007 plate.

Use it to work Mon - Fri, nothing else. 12 miles a day.

Every morning it starts fine. Every night it starts fine.

However! Every now and then when I fill the tank up It won't start at the petrol station. I say every now and then, thats 4 times now. But only seems to happen when I fill the tank right up than my usual "that will do" approach.

Anyway, happened again tonight. Left work, all fine, drove 6 miles home via the petrol station, filled up. Won't start...

It's like flat battery syndrome. Try to start it and tries to turn once or twice but dies quickly. I could only get it to start with a jump.

Went out a couple of times since and it starts fine, no issue at all.

I have the battery charger on it now just in case but that's 4 times now this has happened after filling up, not every time it seems random. Never does it at any other time. Even the guy in the garage came out and said "Again! It's not my petrol"

So, bad timing and it is the battery or something else. I am really thinking it's just the battery but then
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Current - 2007 Suzuki Bandit GSF1250 - 1999 Suzuki TL1000R
Previous - GSXR750 SRAD, Fireblade, ZXR750, CBR600

[instigator]

Sounds like your rectifier is on it's way out and it's taking your battery with it. I come to that conclusion because it seems to be happening when you restart the engine after a few minutes which would indicate low battery voltage.

Check battery voltage with multimeter. Or when you get to work, turn bike off, leave a minute or two and try and restart it.

[Wise1]

Could be.

When I put a meter on the battery it sits just over 12v, with ignition on its just under 12v and running it's near 14v.

Had it out for 5 mins there, let it sit for a few mins and starts no problem. But then the charger has been on it.
____________________
Current - 2007 Suzuki Bandit GSF1250 - 1999 Suzuki TL1000R
Previous - GSXR750 SRAD, Fireblade, ZXR750, CBR600

[Robby]

I've had the same at a local petrol station with bikes with immobilisers. Not sure if it's something to do with the television transmitter next to it, or the electronic gear at the petrol station, but my immobiliser didn't like it.

[The Artist]

I would say this is a problem with hot starting. When were the valve clearances last done?

[Wise1]

Valves have never been done, it's got 13,800 miles on it right now so I suppose they could be needing done.

But nah, valves would not mean I could not turn it over and need a jump start from car.

But there are plenty times I stop on my way home at a shop for example and it never does this.


____________________
Current - 2007 Suzuki Bandit GSF1250 - 1999 Suzuki TL1000R
Previous - GSXR750 SRAD, Fireblade, ZXR750, CBR600

[The Artist]

[Wise1]

Yup. Even when I put the jump leads on it was just 1 touch of the starter and that was it, back to life...
____________________
Current - 2007 Suzuki Bandit GSF1250 - 1999 Suzuki TL1000R
Previous - GSXR750 SRAD, Fireblade, ZXR750, CBR600

[The Artist]

Loose connection somewhere maybe? Just strange it happened at the same place each time.

[ricklincs45]

Just out of curiosity, have you tried using a different fuel station when you fill up? What Robby mentioned about electronic equipment interference rings a vague bell from years ago. Would be interesting to know if the same thing happens at a different location.

If the bike is refusing to turn over, that would point to a power/voltage drain somewhere, whereas it turning over and over without starting would normally point to fuel or mechanical issues.

Rick
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Author '80 Bikes, and counting...' Currently getting frustrated with an MZ 125 TS.

[ricklincs45]

Just out of curiosity, have you tried using a different fuel station when you fill up? What Robby mentioned about electronic equipment interference rings a vague bell from years ago. Would be interesting to know if the same thing happens at a different location.

If the bike is refusing to turn over, that would point to a power/voltage drain somewhere, whereas it turning over and over without starting would normally point to fuel or mechanical issues.

Rick
____________________
Author '80 Bikes, and counting...' Currently getting frustrated with an MZ 125 TS.

[dougon2wheels]

Had exactly the same many years ago on my cbx750, then later on my zx6, starting from cold.....fine, run for 10 mins, stop for 5 mins and then it wouldn't start again, eventually got to the bottom of it, it was a duff cell in the battery,it had enough current behind it when it was cold, but once its had a bit of current going into it, the cell buckles, making it unable to supply the extra current required to start an engine......probably worth having a heavy current test done on the battery.....or a new battery if your feeling flush

[dougon2wheels]

Had exactly the same many years ago on my cbx750, then later on my zx6, starting from cold.....fine, run for 10 mins, stop for 5 mins and then it wouldn't start again, eventually got to the bottom of it, it was a duff cell in the battery,it had enough current behind it when it was cold, but once its had a bit of current going into it, the cell buckles, making it unable to supply the extra current required to start an engine......probably worth having a heavy current test done on the battery.....or a new battery if your feeling flush

[LordShaftesbu...]

[Alpha-9]

[dodgydog]

[Islander]

[Wise1]

Let me be specific then with the voltages.

Off - 12.57v
Ignition on - 11.91v
Running - 13.9v - 14.3v

That does not seem unreasonable to me.
____________________
Current - 2007 Suzuki Bandit GSF1250 - 1999 Suzuki TL1000R
Previous - GSXR750 SRAD, Fireblade, ZXR750, CBR600

[Wise1]

I just got around to the bike again and found out what was causing this whole episode.

I will let the pictures speak for themselves
____________________
Current - 2007 Suzuki Bandit GSF1250 - 1999 Suzuki TL1000R
Previous - GSXR750 SRAD, Fireblade, ZXR750, CBR600

[LordShaftesbu...]

Looks like something's broken! But what is it?

[The Artist]

[DrDonnyBrago]

[Wise1]

Indeed. It is a fucked starter motor, clearly the magnets were moving about to mostly start the bike, but sometimes not.

Anyone got any idea where I can get a new one or decent 2nd hand. Struggling to find anything on the net.
____________________
Current - 2007 Suzuki Bandit GSF1250 - 1999 Suzuki TL1000R
Previous - GSXR750 SRAD, Fireblade, ZXR750, CBR600

[DrDonnyBrago]