'My bike won't start and makes a fast clicking sound.'

[Pete.]

Very often on BCF people write that their bike won't start but makes a fast clicking noise. This post is to explain what the noise is and why it happens.

The starter motor on a bike uses a lot of power to turn the engine. The starter button cannot handle the current that the starter draws from the battery so a large electric switch called a solenoid is used. The solenoid can always be found by following the heavy wire from the battery + terminal.

If the battery is healthy, when you press the starter button it sends a small electrical current to the solenoid which pulls in a contact with a heavy 'click' and supplies the heavy current to the starter motor. The starter is now connected directly to the battery and can crank the engine.

If the battery is not in good condition, or close to being fully discharged, something different happens. This time when you press the starter button it sends a small current to the solenoid which once again engages with a heavy click. This time however, because the battery is low on charge it doesn't have the capacity to supply the starter with the heavy current it needs but the starter is still demanding that current so it takes what it can from the battery until the voltage drops down almost to zero. Now the solenoid no longer has enough power to keep the contact in and it releases with another heavy click. This releases the starter load on the battery which recovers enough to once again energise the starter solenoid and you get another click. As before, the starter load pulls the battery voltage down to zero, the solenoid releases and it clicks again.

The solenoid will keep clicking like this in rapid succession until you either release the starter button, or the battery becomes so flat that it will no longer energise the solenoid at all.

If you have this fast-clicking noise then firstly check the battery connections are nice and tight, as loose or corroded terminals can also cause the same symptoms. Next check the voltage across the battery terminals, or if you don't have a multimeter put a battery charger on the battery to build-up some charge. If after charging your battery for a while you still get the clicking noise there's a good chance your battery has come to the end of it's life and you require a new one. Try not to let your bike stand for long periods without giving it a top-up charge or leaving it connected to an battery tender/optimiser. Allowing a bike battery to discharge for any length of time can quickly reduce it's capacity.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[19van71]

Good post, let's hope it gets read?!?
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Living the dream....on my little 'ol CG125

[The Tot]

Ought to get the mods to sticky this. Particularly since most of us are brushing the dust off our bikes in the garage in preparation for spring, or for those noobs buying bikes for the first time in order to get into the spring rush.
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The Tot 2007 Yamaha R1 4C8 2002 Yamaha FZS1000 Fazer &
www.youtube.com/Titot182 for your bike gear reviews and pop punk covers
Earl Of Easycore Pop Punk Will Never Die!

[manitoba007]

I have this problem right now. I have just brought a zxr 400 a week ago. Worked fine untill the other day.

Ive replaced the battery but still getting the rapid clicking/buzzing noise.

What should i do next?

The last owner didnt use it much.

Cheers

[19van71]

[Pete.]

If you have fitted a new battery then your first port of call is to check all of the heavy connections. Make sure that the + and - on the battery are clean and tight, so old corrosion spoiling the connection. Make sure also that there are no other connector-rings for stuff like chargers, alarms etc under the main ones - any additional ones should be on top of the main power leads not between the heavy connectors and the battery posts.

Check the engine earth cable (heavy black lead from battery to engine) where it's fixed to the engine. Make sure it's not loose and the cable isn't frayed where it fits in the clamp ring. Same goes for the red cable from solenoid to starter. At the starter motor post is a common place to corrode.

If you have a set of jump leads or a booster pack you could try putting the -ve one on the exhaust someplace and the +ve to the starter motor connection. Make sure you are in neutral first. If this causes the starter to spin then you have an electrical connection fault. If not, the starter is faulty.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Paddy Blake]

Also try kicking it and shouting at it.

Paddy.

[Timmeh]

If it's still clicking, make sure that the battery is connected the right way round, and that the engine is in the frame.


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GSXR400 x2 | '94 RVF400 | '93 TZR125 4DL (again)
20:22:30 BLUEX5: i would love to be forced to undergo a**l plugging with different sizes
20:48:18 Temeluchus: comp you hunk of smouldering homos3x you

[TUG]

[Paddy Blake]

[manitoba007]

Hi guys, thanks for the help.

Last night i got everything apart and checked for loos connections etc and corrosion.

Its a brand new battery and fully charged so no problems with that.

All connections are good and secure. The starter relay fuse was a little corroded with white powdery stuff. Could it be as simple as replasing the 30 amp fuse in the starter relay.

How can i test to see if the starter relay is not working and needs a new one. I dont have any jump leads at the moment so cant do that connect to the exhaust thing.

Also I dont know if this makes any difference but when its in neutral and i press the starter button the starter relay makes a crazy buzzing noise. But when i hold the clutch in it just clicks in and out when i press the starter button.

Thank you so much for any help.

I realy need to fix it now and cant afford crazy mechanic prices. Anyone in Birmingham willing to help me for a few $$$

[Vincent]

[manitoba007]

I just tried to start it by bypass the starter relay. Putting a screwdriver across the terminals on the relay. Nothing! no spark! just same clicking.

Now for some reason the neutral light dosnt come on even though its in neutral.

I guess all i can do is send it to the workshop. Pay lots of cash! They will charge me 40pound just to pick it up even though its only 2mile away.

Anyway if anyone else has any ideas or advice of what i can do myself to fix it.

Also anyone in Birmingham that can fix it i have cash not much but enough!

Cheers

[manitoba007]

ok just spoken to different dealer very nice guy.

He said it could be some clutch switch or something to make the bike think its in gear so will not kick in the starter.

[Pete.]

If you shorted the solenoid and got no spark then you have one of two problems:

Faulty Starter.

Bad earth.

Do this - remove the starter and put 12 volts to it directly using jump leads. If it doesn't jump out of your hand it's faulty.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[manitoba007]

Thanks Geri.

My mate has just had a quick look at it. looks like it might be the earth. He tested it with a vold meter thingy.

I followed the lead from the - terminal on the battery to the engine where its attached. Dam nightmare to get too. I got to it but my tools are too big to tighten it as its seems a lil loose!

[Pete.]

If it's loose at all then likely the engine coating had gone and the alloy has gone all cruddy, giving a poor connection.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Paddy Blake]

[Pete.]

Very true of course. Must be careful not to catch the frame or engine with the red jump lead etc
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[BanglarBike]

[Evil Hans]

Thanks for resurrecting a 17 year old thread just to spam us, you c**t.
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Triumph Sprint ST 1050. And it's Red.

[Grumpy Grandad]

[hellkat]

My Suzuki (ancient) quite often gives a loud BANG! upon switching on the ignition.
And *then* it makes the clicking noise ... sounding like its gone and died on me.

So I walk away in disgust , make a cup of coffee and text people that I'm not gonna make it cos the bike is playing up, then I go back to it in order to lock it up again, and I try the starter ... just to check, yanno ... and it starts just fine first time.

We changed the solenoidal thingie whatsit and it didn't do it for a while but now its gone back to doing it sometimes. But I havent started that mofo up for prolly nine months now.

Cunt of a thing.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Pete.]

[mentalboy]