Starting Problems CBR1000F

I'm tearing my hair out with starting problems with my Honda CBR1000 (92).

When the starter is turning it will get sluggish and then stop as if the
motor is seized or on a tight spot. It happened fairly suddenly too. One
moment it just wouldn't start. Here is what I've had checked by a mechanic
who can't figure it out atm either .

Crankshaft is straight
Camchain is fine.
Cams are straight.
Bearings are fine.
When your turn motor by hand using a torque wrench it spins fine with no
binding or tight spots.
Tenshioner is ok.
Replaced Primary Chain
Tried new starter motor and still have the same problem.
Tried new battery.
Replaced all leads that go to the starter.
Bike is in perfect tune. Once push started it runs fine.

Considering myself and 2 mechanics can't figure out the problem it must be
something weird. Any help would be appreciated as until its fixed I'm stuck
riding a Kwaka GT550 and no one should have to go through that.

Thanx in advance
Rob
CBR1000(in pieces)
GT550 "The loaner"

 

If you replaced your starter and it didn't help, it sounds like the
problem is somewhere between your starter button and the starter.
Check/replace your starter relay. The relay might be disconnecting
after a bit of cranking and cause your problems.
-Gniewko

 

I'm agreeing with Wessman here, it sounds like an electrical problem.
Have you checked the relay between the battery and the starter? I
don't see it on your list. Crudded contacts are a common problem with
high current relays, so you might want to add the replacement of that
to your troubleshooting. Also check all the screw contacts for
corrosion and tightness, although if you really have replaced all
cables between battery and starter, these should be fine.

This really sounds like a relay flaking out to me. Check the wiring
diagram for all components and contacts between the battery and
starter, in case you might have missed something. Good luck, and post
again when you get it fixed!

 

What he said Captain Trips.

Quick/easy test: take a set of jumper leads, and connect one
end straight to the battery, and touch/hold the other end on
the connector on the starter solenoid that the wire from
the start button/start relay connects to.

(You only need one side of the jumper leads, just leave
the other colour hanging)

Bike *should* start/run as if you'd pressed the starter
button (let go when it's running and/or obviously not gonna
happen, etc, etc).


That cuts out all the middle men except for the starter
solenoid itself.

If that works, then you've nailed it down to something
between the button, the relay and the wiring (inclusive).


The solenoid is actually a mechanical combination of a
solenoid and a relay. Sometimes those clag up in the 'relay'
part (with soot, etc from arcing), and sometimes the
solenoid won't throw out properly 'cos the grease inside
went all gummy from age and weather.

If you get exactly the same result (ie: it doesn't go) with
a new starter/solenoid combination (are they an all-in-one
unit?) then I figure the problem isn't in the starter/solenoid,
so you should try the aforementioned test, then go hunting
electrical gremlins as appropriate.

G

 

Try swapping the starter solenoid (if you haven't already). My '87
CBR1000F had a CX500 solenoid fitted when I got it, so it mustn't be
unheard of for them to die.


BTH

 

I suspect gas is leaking into the cylinders causing a hydraulic lock on
start... next time it stops unscrew the spark plugs... watch for gas
escaping... careful the liquid will be under extreme pressure...


Larry L
94 RC45 #2
Have a wheelie NICE day...
Lean & Mean it... the extended warranty in every corner of your life...
If it wasn't for us the fast lane would rust...
V4'S are music to the seat of my pants...
1952 De Havilland Chipmunk...
Yank and bank your brains loose...
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/-xlax-/
http://home.comcast.net/~netters2/

 

Ahh, with all the extra newsgroups I thought you might have been a
foreigner!

Anyhoo, give Jason a ring at ACT Motorcycle Wreckers, he seems to know
a thing or two about these older CBR motors:

http://www.actmotorcyclewreckers.com.au/

02 6297 7075

If you tell him "The GPX250 Guy" sent you he'll probably laugh at you
for a bit, then have a chat. ;-)


BTH

 

whats that , you let him have some GPX's ????

 

every laughs at you when you mention "The GPX250 Guy"

well....it is harsh week

mh

 

snippety-snip

Try jumpering your handy car battery directly across the starter terminals.
If that works, you know to look at the wiring stuff going to the starter.

 

For once only one stupid bit of advice and the rest being useful, rather than the reverse *amazing*
But yes, starter relay is where i'd point the finger, i had to take mine apart and go at it with a soft
metal brush to clean all the rubbish off it, then put a bit more grease in the right spot. then the starter
worked great. The only problem was i later blew the motor up for a unrelated reason.

Mike.S

 

P.S. By the way, I hope you didn't have to pull the whole bike engine
apart

Yup gotta split the cases.

 

**** you!

G

 

Ouch.

 

If you paid for a starter motor, battery and all the other new parts as
part of troubleshooting the problem I think you might want to try swapping
in a different mechanic.

Sounds like a bad ground or similar problem. You probably want to look
for a voltage drop between battery positive and starter positive
and between battery negative and starter ground. While you're at it,
you might also want to look for mechanical losses when the starter
engages (anything rubbing or otherwise creating excessive friction)
though this seems unlikely.

 

Yes... hydraulic lock means no electric start and no push start... but
if enough time passes between the electric start attempt and the push
start effort the gas may have a chance to bleed pass the gaps in the
rings...

Larry L
94 RC45 #2
Have a wheelie NICE day...
Lean & Mean it... the extended warranty in every corner of your life...
If it wasn't for us the fast lane would rust...
V4'S are music to the seat of my pants...
1952 De Havilland Chipmunk...
Yank and bank your brains loose...
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/-xlax-/
http://home.comcast.net/~netters2/

 

Two things... Get a big Ammeter, and see what happens to the starter
draw.

The thing I'd be looking at very closely is the overrunning clutch.
That's the mechanism that disengates the starter once the engine
starts. My guess is that is binding somewhere.

 

When you push started the bike an ran it, did it idle the same way before

Ran perfectly

 

Check the starter motor clutch, the starter motor turns but the engine
turns too slowly to start, happened 1 week before the warranty ran out.
The only way I could start it was to roll start it.

Mark.

 

It doesn't SOUND like a good idea to me.

Really, I mean that literally. When I've done it (inadvertently every
time), the motorcycle I did it to has made a sound that indicates it's
a bad idea . . . . <shudder>

pooder was here saying "not ok"

I, Pooder, aPproved this Post . . . .