Bike won' start in cold, via bump or electric

[Eas85]

(bike is a Yam XJ 600 1992, 23k miles.)

Got major problems with my bike not starting in the cold, it happened earlier in the year but got it serviced and carbs balanced and seemed to sort it for a while.

Now, after sitting all weekend it won't start on mondays, by bumping or by electric start. after its bee ridden once it does tend to start on the following days, it just seems to be when its been sitting for a while.

The bike is kept outdoors on the driveway, under a blanket and rain cover.

Really don't know what to do, I'm sitting here penning this post when I should be at work already, no other way to get there as it's 25 miles away.

Have been thinking about building an insulated box to store it in at night, but unsure whether I should just buy a new(er) bike on finance, bearing in mind that I will be commuting all through winter. What bike would be best suited for all year riding?
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Currently riding a Honda Deauville NT650

[GREENI3]

Is the choke functioning correctly?

[Eas85]

yeah it seems to be, at least it seems to when the bike is running normally.
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Currently riding a Honda Deauville NT650

[fatjames]

How's the battery? I know you said about bump starting, but it's something to check.
Might be worth checking the fuel filter too, quite an easy thing to eliminate.

HTH

[jetski]

are you getting a strong spark? even a mild spark will work when warm but it needs to be a good one to start from cold

[Eas85]

Bike noob here, how do I check these things, RAC just been out they said it was probably battery
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Currently riding a Honda Deauville NT650

[andym]

My '95 Diversion would do the same thing, I never tried to sort the problem though as it would always start eventually.

I don't know if they have a problem with petrol draining out the carbs or something, but maybe try having the tap turned to pri. for a minute or two before starting.

As for the battery, how long does it turn over before going flat?

As a quick work around (won't fix the problem), maybe start the bike every day and run it up to temperature... Just a thought

[jetski]

to check the spark take the lead off the spark plug, then take the plug out, put the lead back on the plug and place it on the engine. make sure the metal casing of the plug is firmly touching a metal part of the engine. if you have to hold it in place use a pair of insulated pliers. I'm not sure if you can get a shock but its not worth the risk. anyway turn the engine over, it should turn very easily because there will be no pressure in the cylinder due to the spark plug missing and a gaping hole where it used to me. at the two terminals of the plug you should see a spark jump across. if its in direct sunlight you may not see it but you should be able to notice in the day time, certainly at night or dim light

as you won't know what a strong spark and a week spark a actually looks like you may need to do the same with another engine to compare. it may just be easier to buy a spark plug and fit it so you can rule that posability out without any faffing about

[weasley]

Check the battery connections - are they tight?
Then check the regulator/rectifier as mine got all messed up with corrosion, leading to a weak battery, which led to poor starting and eventually saw off the CDI unit.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Eas85]

The plugs were all changed when I got it serviced about 8 weeks ago, the rectifier is also new as the old one blew up a few weeks ago.

The battery goes flat after about 6 depressions of the starter, I put it on charges this morning then at midday I tried it after the sun had been on it for a and it started first time, annoying. It's just the cold, it really hates it
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Currently riding a Honda Deauville NT650

[Islander]

[kernow24]

[Noxious89123]

Does sound like that battery is stuffed, even more likely seeing as your reg/rec went bang.
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'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[sidewinder]

Had similar things happen with my divvy when i first purchased.New battery on been good ever since
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"Nitrous is like a cheap hooker, you want to hit it but are scared of the consequences

[covent.gardens]

It does prove you need a new battery if your using a charger to charge it and it still only has 6 starts in it. As you need it for work and had trouble bump starting I'd get something good like a Motobatt.

And you should probably get a booster pack so you can jump start in future. Or, if you want a booster pack on the cheap, keep your old battery fully charged with a smartcharger and you can use that to jump with, as it still has enough life left to start a bike a few times; just need some leads.

[andym]

Not disagreeing about needing a new battery, but surely as long as there is enough power for ignition lights then you should be able to bump start the bike?

[Eas85]

I will get a new battery to today, I assume they're pretty easy to fit? And see how that goes
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Currently riding a Honda Deauville NT650

[Islander]

[Eas85]

First off, attached is a pic of my current battery that's in the bike...(if it works)

went halfords and got a M6 010, YTX 9-BS (link below). It says on the side of the box Yamaha XJ series 01/92-01/96, so naturally I assume it's for my bike....completely different shape to the one in my bike, the current one is tall, this new one is short and wide.

https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_264063_langId_-1_categoryId_246903

although if you click on the fitment guide on the halfords site as per link below it says: XJ 600 diversion (92-02) YT12B-BS M6 019, I was gonna get this one but on the box it doesn't say XJ 600 at all.

https://www.halfords.com/wcsstore/libraries/document/motorcyclebatterycrl2010.pdf

So really unsure what to do now, obsiously need to take this one back, should I get the one I was originally gonna get, or get one similar to what's already in there?
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Currently riding a Honda Deauville NT650

[weasley]

Do you have a Diversion or the pre-Diversion XJ600 (aka "Seca II", but not in the UK)?
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Islander]

The battery type you need is a CB12A-A or a YB12A-A equivalent

[Eas85]

I'm pretty sure it's pre-diversion
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Currently riding a Honda Deauville NT650

[Eas85]

Unsure whether I should just get an exact copy of the one that's currently in the machine,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-XJ-600-1989-1992-12N12-4A-1-CB12A-A-Lead-Acid-MF-Battery-/140651385586?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item20bf79d2f2

Or should I try and find a decent one by motobatt for instance like Covent.garden said, The info on the motobatt website don't make much sense, in their guide it says mbt9xu is the correct model for XJ600 Seca II but I looked at it and again is the wrong dimenions.

Edit:

On the same ebay store, I think this is the motobatt model that would fit my bike...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MotoBatt-QuadFlex-MB12U-Battery-Yamaha-XJ-600-1984-1992-/180910328327?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item2a1f188a07
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Currently riding a Honda Deauville NT650

[Islander]

"This particular MotoBatt QuadFlex™ battery is a MB12U to fit a Yamaha XJ 600 (1984-1992), replacing the convential battery part numbers CB12A-A, 12N12A-4A-1, CB12AL-A2, CB12A-B, CB12C-A, 12N12C-4A-2, CB12AL-A2. "

Yes, that's a direct equivalent (see the text I've made bold above).

[JackDaniels]

Those motobatt batterys are great, i was having problems with my hornet but since fitting a new battery all my troubles have gone.
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THEORY TEST - PASSED! - 02-08-11 CBT Passed - 09-08-10 MOD 1 - 09-08-2011 - MOD 2 - 28-09-2011
2006 Yamaha JOGRR>2010 Yamaha Ybr>1995 Honda CB400 Superfour >2005 Honda hornet>1999 Suzuki Bandit 1200 > 2002 BMW R1150GS > 2013 Tiger Sport 1050 > 2007 GSXR 1000 > 2005 GS500E