CLACKETY CLACK, NO START

[DgM]

My 1983 R65, when starter button is pushed, emits quick clacking/spinning sounds, engine doesn't spin.  Starter motor freewheeling?  Tried rolling bike a bit in gear, same thing.  Happens with gearbox in neutral, gearbox in 1st with clutch in.  Started fine two days ago on several occaisons.  Anyone have same experience?  Help!

[MrRiden]

Im guessing here but it sounds to me like what your hearing could be the starter solenoid making a chattering / clicking due to not enough voltage. Is it possible that you have a flat battery? Can you check it with a voltmeter / load tester [most auto parts shops have one if you don't]. Another possibility is that the starter gear [bendex] is not engaging the flywheel but check the batt. first it's easier to do.
rich

[Bob_Roller]

Sounds like it could be a battery charge issue, if the battery is not a sealed type, remove the caps and check the electrolyte level in each dell, if it's low add distilled water only, I would charge the battery then, and also check the cables at the battery for security and corrosion.

Also follow the negative cable to where it is bolted to the transmission, again check for security, and corrosion.

Welcome to the world of 25 year old motor vehicles !!

[DgM]

Thanks.  Will check battery.  Please be the battery.

[DgM]

Battery reads 11.94.  Should it be higher? Some cells are very low on water.  Will fill and charge.

[Bob_Roller]

If you have exposed plates in the battery, probably not to far in the future, you're going to be replacing the battery.

Service the battery with distilled water, charge it overnight at a low rate, and check the battery voltage tomorrow.

Check the battery voltage when you push the start button, and see what it reads then.

[DgM]

Battery was almost bone dry.  Previous owner must have never checked it.  After all night charge reading was 13.64.  While starting engine - which started right up - reading dropped to 11.9, raising revs a bit led to rising reading ending around 12.9, stayed that level.  Will take for spin later to see if battery will take charge.  Thanks for help.

[Bob_Roller]

Well, at least you know the starter is still good!

Now would be a good time to do some research on replacement batteries, so you have an idea what you want to do when your current battery quits .

The battery size for our R65's is not a common size in aftermarket 'lead acid' batteries for motorcycles, some require cutting the battery box for the battery to fit.

So do some measuring of the battery you have, before you go out and purchase one.

Up until I moved to a suburb of hell 15 years ago, I was getting 5-6 years on an OEM battery from BMW.

But with the current generation of sealed batteries, I will not willingly go back to a serviceable type battery again.

[MrRiden]

Glad it turned out to be deferred maintainace on the battery! I got my last one in an Auto Zone store in Lompoc Ca. far away from home. They even had a listing for my old bike in their computer! Imagine that!
rich

[Justin B.]

Rich, having dealt with the morons at the Auto Zones here I find that astonishing!

[Bob_Roller]

I find it more shocking that they had the battery in stock !

[Justin B.]

Years ago I tried getting a set of spark plugs for my '95 RT.  I had the Bosch number but they didn't carry Bosch and without an exact vehicle to look up they had no clue as to how to cross the Bosch number to something else.  I went to an old store that still had "books" (along with terminals) and was in and out in 5 minutes...

[MrRiden]

Rich, having dealt with the morons at the Auto Zones here I find that astonishing!

Yea, the Road Gods were with me on that day. Kid was a stone gear head and he wouldn't let me take it 'till it was properly charged! Get out on the road, there's really really great people out there! Now If I could only get the Road Gods to visit my town. Sheesh! Yas all know what I mean!
rich

[awaffa2003]

hey just a thought, is it okay to get water on the starter? like the whole thing...like to wash it...

[Bob_Roller]

I don't think it would be a good idea.

There are rubber plugs covering up the openings in the starter, when I took my starter apart a few years ago, those plugs were hard and non-compliant, meaning they are not doing much to keep moisture out of the internal parts of the starter.

If you plan was to clean it up then paint it, I would remove it, clean it with an automotive cleaning solvent by hand no cleaning with a garden hose or the like.