VFR 400 STARTING PROBLEMS

[chrisbpr]

i have a c reg vfr400 , love the bike but its a git to start. once its bump started its runs fine all light ,indicators work fine.
can anyone tell me what voltage i should get at the battery terminals on tickover & higher revs.
thanks

[Robby]

Test test is to run it up to 5000rpm, you should be getting about 14 volts across the terminals.

If its more like 12, you likely have a dodgy alternator, if its more like 16, you likely have a dodgy reg/rec. If its 40-60, you definately have a very fucked reg/rec.

Is the battery turning the bike over at all, and if not is the relay clicking?

Could just be a dead battery.

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

my reg/rec went on my cbr400 gullarm. the unit heated up really fast(within a few seconds), over heated. As soon as it overheated then voltage going back to the batt became too low- 11.5v or there abouts.

get a haynes manual. if they do one for your year. really helpful, will give you diagnostics, and tests.

batt could have gone, stator/stator windings could have also gone. BUT it is a high probability that the reg/rec has blow, becuase the go really ofter on the honda 400s.

the untimate test is

turn on bike and let warm up.

then put on all electrics, it lights, brake lights, indicators on. this is to simutate real life riding conditions...

then rev to about 4000rpm or even 5000rpm cant remamber. check the voltage, mine reads about 13.5 (with the new reg/rec). this is fine as a full batt is about 13.3 on mine. ie charging is higher.

with out electrics off it should be higher, obviously.

try charging the battery and seeing if it holds its charge, a cell could have gone down or something . should read about high 12s or low 13s.

Btw how is it a git to start? you never said. does it turn over? etc

[chrisbpr]

thanks for the help so far.the bike will start to turn over then the stater will start to click after a couple of start attemps so i think its the batt/charging circuit , during normal riding using lights/indicators all is fine,. thanks for the tips so far it has given me a start.
chris

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

right yeah, sounds like what mine did. the batt is not charging. the bike will turm over, but it wont be powerfull enough to actually start the engine. then you will completely run down the batt after about 2 attempts.

sounds exactly what happened to mine. the lights also worked fine on mine.

try the voltage test. you'll prob find that that will show the problem.
if i had to guess at this point id say its the reg/rec. however you will need to investicate further.

We both have old bikes. when took mine apart, i unplugged all the connectors along the charging wiring system. some were really badly corroded, and were not making properly. i cleaned them up/ scrubbed them till they were like new. that helped, and could have contributed to the problem in my case, as it was intermitant.

get a haynes if it ok for your year, it has tests for reg/rec, charging system etc. good stuff.

[chrisbpr]

looks like it was a buff battery.8.5v across the cell & only 2 good cells...not good, also its very easy on this bike to leave the parking lights on , not very good for starting first thing in the morning.
thanks every one for there help.

[Shaheed]

I have recently bought a VFR400 NC30 (possibly 96 year of manuafacture) - its my first bike. It also struggles to start. I have replaced the battery (after being advised that its a dud battery). Once the bike starts, it runs fines, with no cut-offs.

I am beginning to think it might be the Regulator/Stator problem, but will need to get it looked. Wil let you guys know the results of the test.

Later
Shaheed

[Slavo]

[Shaheed]

[Slavo]

They moved the canister in '91, I think, due to heat affecting its performance. Maurice knows for sure!

Again, I'm not the person to ask as I've only owned my bike for a fortnight. If you give Maurice a PM, I'm sure he'd be more than happy to help.

I'm from the UK, (as are most here) over here, even if the bike is imported later than the manufacture date, as mine was imported in '98 it would still get a number plate to suit the year it was made.

[Shaheed]

Managed to get some idea of the period of manufacture. Its definitely a post 92. And since it seems to have been stopped manufactured in 94, its gotta be between that period.

This site helped a bit in the model ID.
https://www.400greybike.co.uk

This site was also useful and per this page, my bike is a 'model type 8 color scheme'
https://www.vsource.org/VFR-RVF_files/VFR-RVFBlindset.htm

Hope you guys find these sites as useful

Later
Shaheed
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Why wont this $*&%$# VFR start?!?

[Garnsie]

Hi, just reading the replies for the problem with your vfr not starting in the mornings. Ive had my vfr400k (unfaired version Nc21 1988 E reg) for 2 months now last couple of weeks ive been having problems with starting it in the mornings. I have to bump start it every morning which leaves me knackered for the rest of the day lol. I changed the reg/rec as the readings were in the 20s had to replace the battery because it boiled dry but......... it still wont start in the mornings or left for an hour. The battery is charging fine and has not boiled over since i changed the reg/rec. No problems at all once it is running, i left the bike for 2 days and decided to put an extra load on the battery to see if there was a problem with the ignition. I wired it up to my dads van! lol. the bike took absolutely nothing to start it it fired up instantly and sounded really healthy. Im thinking the battery it came with and the one i replaced it with dont have enough ah. Do bike batteries vary? If so what battery should mine have as i cant find it anywhere. My mates vfr400R does say anything on the battery. Any help appreciated cheers Ryan