I'm ready to smash my bike to bits!!!

[keystonejenks]

Okay, some of you already know the story but for those that don't here is a brief overview. Since October of last year I've been having intermittent starting problems. There is an electrical gremlin in there somewhere.

Anyway, when this problem first came up on my way home from Ohio in October, I took it to the dealer the next day. They didn't find anything. The tech (Bill) even rode the bike home everyday for a week to try and get the bike to duplicate the problem - nothing.

The bike acted fine the next few times out and then, it left me stranded for HOURS at a meeting place where I was suppose to go for a group ride. When my wife arrives on the scene to help me load my bike (7 hours later) the bike all of a sudden decides to start!!   It was back to business as usual.

Fast forward a few months (bike is acting fine) - I'm supposed to go on my second big ride of the season. The bike WILL NOT START - it won't even crank.  

I thought, maybe it was a bad battery so I replaced it - nothing. I double check all the fuses - nothing. I check all the wiring - nothing. So the bike is in pieces and I'm defeated so yesterday I drop it back off at the dealer. I pull into the dealer and Bill sees the bike strapped to the back of the truck - "Still?" is what he said right before he sighed.

The bike has not started in OVER a month so we roll it off the back of the truck. Bill turns the key and it fires right up!!!!! IT STARTED RIGHT UP WITH NO HESITATION!!! NONE!!!!  DIDN'T EVEN HESITATE!!!!    

I turned to him and say, "You've got to be shitting me. Hey, do you have a sledge hammer back here so I can smash my bike to bits?"  

He smiles and says, "We'll solve this, let's not be drastic."

Hopefully they fix this problem because if they don't - I'm pushing this ***** bike off a cliff OR running over it with my father-in-laws truck!!!

[keystonejenks]

   Sounds like fun, smashing a Daytona to bits.  I'm there for you if you need help - I can bring my own sledge.    

What do you think I should tell the insurance company? Will it be collision or comprehensive?  

[badger]

First three things I'd think about HARD would be ignition key switch, sidestand switch, kill switch and ignition key switch in that order.  The vibration in the back of the truck may jiggle whatever's loose in there enough to make contact again.  Since it doesn't die out while riding, I'd put my money on the ignition key switch mostly, but it could be the others.  Voltmeter at the starter would be a big help proving lack of juice there (rather than bad starter or solenoid).

Kick starts/ roll starts sure were a nice back up method...

[davenay67]

Mysteriously lose the rear SSSA and wheel before you go "Office Space" on the bike....

Have you checked the sidestand switch, in case this might be the issue..??

Dave.

What do you think I should tell the insurance company? Will it be collision or comprehensive?  

[keystonejenks]

Mysteriously lose the rear SSSA and wheel before you go "Office Space" on the bike....

Have you checked the sidestand switch, in case this might be the issue..??

Dave.

Yes I did actually.  That was the first thing I checked when the issue first came up on our ride home from Ohio. What happened though is once the bike cooled down it would start bike up. But since then, that problem has been duplicated either.  

[Tar Snake]

First three things I'd think about HARD would be ignition key switch, sidestand switch, kill switch and ignition key switch in that order.  The vibration in the back of the truck may jiggle whatever's loose in there enough to make contact again.  Since it doesn't die out while riding, I'd put my money on the ignition key switch mostly, but it could be the others.  Voltmeter at the starter would be a big help proving lack of juice there (rather than bad starter or solenoid).

Kick starts/ roll starts sure were a nice back up method...

Years ago I had an intermittent ignition switch on an old Honda 550K. I seem to remember symptoms like Badger described, when open there was no starting it at all, kick or electric, but if it started the bike never acted up while riding it.

Good luck and lock up all your implements of destruction for awhile!

[Rincewind]

Mysteriously lose the rear SSSA and wheel before you go "Office Space" on the bike....

That's what I had in mind.  



I draw the line at insurance fraud though, sorry, that's all you.  

[bluedogok]

Yes I did actually.  That was the first thing I checked when the issue first came up on our ride home from Ohio. What happened though is once the bike cooled down it would start bike up. But since then, that problem has been duplicated either.  

I had the same thing happen on a Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, it start fine cold, run for awhile and all of a sudden die. It was the ignition control module, this motor had it mounted to the distributor instead of the inner fender. It sounds like the same type of thing, I don't know if it has a similar type device or if is built into the computer. It maybe the computer, maybe a relay somewhere.

I know that it was frustrating for me in the car and was lucky that if finally died at a mall next to a Texaco service center and friends were in town.

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

First three things I'd think about HARD would be ignition key switch, sidestand switch, kill switch and ignition key switch in that order.  The vibration in the back of the truck may jiggle whatever's loose in there enough to make contact again.  Since it doesn't die out while riding, I'd put my money on the ignition key switch mostly, but it could be the others.  Voltmeter at the starter would be a big help proving lack of juice there (rather than bad starter or solenoid).

Kick starts/ roll starts sure were a nice back up method...

Because it doesn't die while he's riding, I think the ignition switch can probably be eliminated.  However, if when the key is turned (I'm no expert on Daytonas and how they start up) the bike doesn't go through the usual stuff it has to do before you can start it (like on my 06 Sprint- the gauge hands sweep, fuel pump pressurizes) then the ignition switch is probably the problem.

If the dealer can't find the problem, the next time it happens (hopefully when you're at home) I would bypass the sidestand switch first, and then see if it starts.  Then I'd bypass the clutch switch if it didn't start.  If it didn't start after that, and it did go through its "boot up" procedure when you turned the key, then I'd guess you have bigger problems, hopefully not one that requires a new ECM.

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I've never tried push starting my Sprint, but I believe you can still do it.  I have on one or two occasions turned off the motor while cruising down the road and just turned it back on and let the clutch out to start it back up.  Works just fine.

[Playinthestreet]

I had a similar problem, but infrequently, on my 99 ST.  Poor connection at the clutch switch.  But I'll bet you've checked that 100 times as well

[tumbler]

I had a problem very similar last year on my vstrom. It just would not start and couldn't be bump started either. Newer Suzukis (I don't know if Triumphs are the same way) can only be started if the clutch is pulled in. It turned out that the connector for this sensor came loose up by the clutch. Plugged it back in firmly and never have had the problem since.

[badger]

Clutch switch huh? I haven't seen those before.  Who all has those?  (another possible switch in the list).

[Playinthestreet]

On the Triumphs it's at the clutch lever.  

[RexRider]

Clutch switch huh? I haven't seen those before.  Who all has those?  (another possible switch in the list).

I think most bikes now have them, but I could be wrong.  I know my ZRX won't try to crank over when in gear, unless the clutch is pulled in.  

[badger]

I think most bikes now have them, but I could be wrong.  I know my ZRX won't try to crank over when in gear, unless the clutch is pulled in.  

I gotta check, but I think my ducati will (if not in gear).  I thought it was a neutral safety switch, not clutch switch

[Nny]

What about the starter button itself?  I'm no mechanic, but I've had that happen a few times on some iMacs at work.

[Gaolee]

Y'know, this is going to sound idiotic, but have you checked the battery terminal connections?  I had a similar problem with my TT600, and the battery wasn't screwed down tight.

[miles]

So, does it do all the diagnostics when you turn the to "on"?  If not, look at the kill switch.  

Does it do the diagnostics, but not crank over?  Check the starter relays and connections.  

Does it crank and crank, but not fire up?  Check the clutch and sidestand switches.

I like the idea of checking the battery connections, too- that may account for the randomness of it all.


miles

[CafeTBird]

I thought it was a neutral safety switch, not clutch switch

That is another switch.  It is in line with the gear changer.  The clutch switch is up by the clutch lever.

[weegee96]

What do you think I should tell the insurance company? Will it be collision or comprehensive?  

Coming from a claims adjuster...neither...intentional act, not that it's not justified, but not covered!!!   lolol