Kawasaki er-5 starting problems

[juice]

Hi all.

I am a bit kak-handed when it comes to spanner work and I can barely tell a big-end from an oil sump but... my er-5 refuses to start and i've tracked the problem (i think) down to the electrics.

When I turn it over using the starter button, the starter motor turns a couple of times and then a little box connected to the electrics (located on the right hand side behind a removable fairing just to the rear of the fuel tank) emits an electrical buzzing sound as if it is shorting out and oxidised copper dust starts coming out from where I assume there are a couple of teminals at the rear of said box. I have checked and charged my battery with an Optimate and it is in tip-top shape. I am kind of at a loss and any advice would be much appreciated by myself and missus juice and the neighbours as they are sick of the blue language eminating from the garage!

Thanks in advance for your help!!

[Zx6man]

It does sound like a damaged battery. The optimates are a bit misleading, as they will still show its charged up good, if it can charge even one of the cells in the battery.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Sounds to me like a probably battery problem as well.

However the bit that is making the noise is the starter relay. That could also be faulty. All it does it act as an electrically operated switch. These are probably around £25.

All the best

Keith
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[juice]

Got a new battery over the weekend and all is good again. Thanks for the replies and advice, you guys are ace.

[Zx6man]

No problem. Optimates are very good, I bought a new one because I thought it wasn't charging the battery right as well. Got one on each bike now tho.