hi, because your clock resets it sounds like you are loosing voltage under load. have you tried a volt meter on the battery terminals to see what the cranking voltage is. normally should not drop below 10 volts or so. weak battery ,bad earth or connections would be 1st to check. if the compressors were not working it would drag the current down but not sure if it would be enough to upset the clock.

 

The clock resetting is what prompted me to buy a new battery. I went with a gel type as a replacement. I have checked the voltage while sitting and at idle and everything checks out. I'm not sure how to check the cranking voltage, but I assume that it is done with the electrodes attached and watching the voltage readout while cranking.

 

. What happens is when I push the start button it engages the starter and the engine but makes a "rika,rika" sound like the engine is not rotating but moving back and forth. When this happens, it also resets my clock
I thought maybe it was the battery and replaced it because it was over 5 years old. No change. Could it be the starter? Has anybody else had this problem?

de, battery up to charge? mine did similar for a while nursing a 7yr old batt. Trickle charge always helped it. New batt fixed it. never had bak fire tho, you still got stok pipes with cats? fuel accumulation mite explain bak fire.
Sticky decompression solenoid - weak battery mite explain aka aka ak, no fire at the plugs <11v at batt.
Try trickle charge over nite even in good weather. Post results. poncho

 

Poncho,
New Battery, stays on trickle charger most of the time. Problem occurs even with full charge on battery. I've considered the sticky decompression solenoid, actually it was the first thing I considered. I went as far as cleaning it and relubing it according to a thread on this forum. Still have an issue. No stock pipes, no cat. I have a set of Vance & Hines. It has exhibited the problem even in warm weather after an hour long ride, stop for lunch, same problem. It eventually starts but seems to be getting worse. Could it be the starter/solenoid?

 

I'm still stuck at the clock re-setting. That alone makes it sound like electrical system voltage type issues. Does it re-set at the beginning, or after you've cranked on it a while?

 

BigT,

The clock resetting on start up is the first sign of a low charge on the battery.

I had the same issue.. it would still start, just sometimes I would lose the clock/trip settings. It happened more and more frequently.

When I put in a new battery, it never happened again.

Like DavidR said, just cause it's a new battery, does not mean it's a good battery.

 

Big T
It begins to crank then sounds like it gets stuck. It is then that everything resets. When it starts, it starts normally and immediately. Lately though, it's doing that "rika,rika" sound which comes after the reset.

 

Bad battery (new doesn't mean good)

*Bad starter pulling too many amps

Decompression solenoid sticking causing too much cranking compression that the starter can't overcome.

These are the probable causes. Have you watched the decompression solenoid work? All of these will exhibit the same symptoms.

 

what everyone else has said...

 

I first suspected the battery, that's why I replaced it. Once replaced, I didn't trust it and kept an eye on the charge as well as the charging system. Pretty sure that isn't the issue. But, it is easy enough to monitor. I also suspected the decompression solenoid and I have observed it working, especially when I have the problem I've described. It rocks back and forth in time with the "rika, rika" sound. The mere fact that a couple of folks know what I describe as the "rika, rika" sound gives me pause on what the cause may be. I'll go back through the checklist again. It almost left me stranded 200 miles from home. Love this bike, it's the best I've ever owned, and a whole lot cheaper than a psychologist!

 

yes to check cranking voltage connect meter to battery and start bike ( or try) and see what the battery voltage drops to.. you could also try the same test again with the negative meter connected to the motor case. if the earth strap is good readings should be the same.

 

had the same problem last year and after buying a new batt. with no luck I started going and moving all of the switches...on/off, kick stand ect. and after playing with all of them a few times and using some contact cleaner problem solved, the one that caused it I don't know but it's all good now so hope this helps !!!!! mike

 

Wrenchjockey- Thank you for that explanation, I will certainly give that a try!
Wttn water - definitely worth a going over, whether it needs it or not.

 

Could you do the following:

1. Take voltage reading across battery.
2. Turn on key, take another reading.
3. Leave key on for a full five minutes, with key still on, take another reading.

Post back with three readings.

 

sfair - Will do!