starting problem

[heathy65]

for as long as I can remember my 2005 has been sluggish starting, as if the battery is on its way out. New battery fitted last year made no difference. Recently it got so bad I considered changing the starter motor. Then yesterday it cranked freely and has been ok today. So the question is why? could it be a poor earth, gunked up starter motor,  bikes trickle charged when not being used and battery id fully charged.
So anyone got any suggestions as to whats wrong?

[milleplod]

I'd say the starter motor will be caked in crap inside - my '06 bike had the same symptoms....OK once in a while....till I took the plunge as per my PM. Of course, it could be a bad earth - you can have a good look around if you take the starter off - although the 1200s don't seem to suffer with that like the earlier bikes did.
Pete

[ds99]

my 2007 model is a bit like that

[julianq]

MY 2005 was similar, a few of earthing problems, ending up running separate earth wire from battery to engine by alternator bolt and starter motor bolt, seemed to solve the problem.

[David.]

Is this Motolectric upgrade of any help or interest, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSVS_HMxR6Y

BMW Hexhead, https://motolectric.com/makes/bmw.html

[heathy65]

Cheers David. this is not the problem. The engine fires up very easily, it's the starter motor struggling to turn the engine over in the first place (as if the battery is discharged),but not all the time. some days it struggles other days it spins the engine without any problem.  Hence my wondeing if its a poor earth to the starter.

[David.]

Hence my wondeing if its a poor earth to the starter.

The video & Motolectric website basically show that they are just doubling up on the +ve & -ve leads from the battery to the starter solenoid (+ve) & engine (earth).





The likes of Halfords do a range of battery leads for a fraction of the cost which are available in the UK, https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchRouter?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10151&action=search&srch=battery+leads

An additional earth lead won't do any harm & may indeed improve the situation.

[milleplod]

The video & Motolectric website basically show that they are just doubling up on the +ve & -ve leads from the battery to the starter solenoid (+ve) & engine (earth).





The likes of Halfords do a range of battery leads for a fraction of the cost which are available in the UK, https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchRouter?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10151&action=search&srch=battery+leads

An additional earth lead won't do any harm & may indeed improve the situation.

A visit to Halfords has got to be worth it looking at those prices on Motoelectric's website! 

[David.]

A visit to Halfords has got to be worth it looking at those prices on Motoelectric's website!

Motolectric claim their technology is different, https://motolectric.com/motolectric_technology.html

[milleplod]

Motolectric claim their technology is different, https://motolectric.com/motolectric_technology.html

I bet they do - their $75 kit for the hexheads is just replacement cables matched with some very nice marketing hot air! They might be decent-spec cables, as opposed to cheap stuff.....but 60 quid's worth...plus postage?! "No hocus-pocus, no magic, no secret sauces." Indeed not, they're just cables!
Pete

[David.]

MY 2005 was similar, a few of earthing problems, ending up running separate earth wire from battery to engine by alternator bolt and starter motor bolt, seemed to solve the problem.

An additional earth lead won't do any harm & may indeed improve the situation.