[ddonovan]

I've got a 1098S with 7300 miles that intermittently will not start. It usually will turn over the engine immediately when you push the starter button but sometimes it does nothing. Recently I wanted to top off the tank for winter storage and it started right away but after riding 5 miles to the gas station it would not turn over the engine when it was time to leave. I can turn off the ignition then back on and wait for the dash to initialize and push the start button again and it may or may not start, after 2 or 3 times of doing this it will turn over the engine and start right away. It will do this cold too. The battery is new and the bike has a custom tuned ECU. Any thoughts would be appreciated, smartasses need not respond.
Thanks.

 

[Tuned]

Welcome to the forum!

Yea, I've seen this a few times and it could be a few things.

The first place to look is the battery. If it doesn't have quite enough amperage, it may take a few taps to get the engine past a compression spot, so it will spin. A decent way to test the battery is to throw a multimeter on it and determine what the ignition-on voltage is (should be 12.5) and the start voltage (should be above 10v) If it drops much below 10v when the starter motor is trying to turn over the engine, then it's most likely an uncharged or bad battery.

If the battery is brand new and it's been determined perfect, then you could be looking at the starter sprague and idle gear pin issue these engines are starting to have as they age. What happens is that the idle gear can twist very slightly and jams the starter motor from engaging the gear. When you release the starter button and try again, it allows that idle gear to relax and eventually it will start. The sprag clutch is a one-way system, designed to keep the idle gear and starter motor from spinning whilst the engine is running. When it fails, it can also be intermittent, the starter motor spinning, but sounding like it's not catching the cylinders.

Hopefully this data gives you a few places to start!

Happy New Year and again, welcome to the forum.

 

[mrnelectro]

To above all of this, also check starter button contacts. Spray some contact cleaner inside RHS housing. Easy things first....