Will not start GS550T (1981)

[Anonymous]

I bought a 1981 Suzuki GS550T yesterday and i have a problem. If I ride it and turn it off it will not start until it cools down. I bought a new battery but it did not solve the problem. It does act like it wants to start but then makes a sound like the battery is going dead. Now the strange thing is if i get jumper cables and put them on my truck and my bike it starts right up. Like i said the battery is brand new. I am at a total loss. Someone told me it could be the coils and someone said it could be the alternator if it has one. I have no clue this is my first bike and I do not know anything about working on them.Any help would be greatly appreciated.


bmcentyre@insightbb.com

 

[SqDancerLynn1]

Need more info does it try to start/ does the starter turn the motor?? can you push start it?

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like it could be your reg/rec or alternator. You might be running on straight battery and not charging. This would drain your battery so no instant re-starts. When the batt has time to charge up again, it'll give you the extra boost you need.
There are some excellant posts in the technical area or even the old Q & A area that will guide you through basic troubleshooting steps. I would start with the alternator and then the reg/rectifier.
Electrix...our sponsor...has an excellent troubleshooting step you should check out.

Keep us posted. Good luck

 

[moto_dan]

You might be running on straight battery and not charging. This would drain your battery so no instant re-starts. When the batt has time to charge up again, it'll give you the extra boost you need.k

Very curious as to how a battery, in time, charges up again after it has been drained from running to provide the extra boost for starting :?

 

[Anonymous]

Dan;
I've read this in a couple of different articles...not very sure of the true technical aspects..but here it goes anyway.
When the battery is discharged, it is never fully out of power. The acid bath is usually still good enough, given a no-load rest period, the acid would work on the plates...doing their thing so to speak...getting the plates the ions they need. For sure it is a weak battery, but given a "cooling off" period, it could have just enough power to pop the engine.

Or something like that...it's been a while since I read this.

Any electro pros got any feedback on this??

 

[earlfor]

Me too Dan, since in the past, I have had a severe problem with overcharged batteries that have been sitting and unused for long periods. I once went on vacation for two weeks and came back to find my car had 220 volts in the battery. Being a quick thinker, I deftly popped off the caps and poured 208 volts out.

Earl


[quote="moto_dan"

Very curious as to how a battery, in time, charges up again after it has been drained from running to provide the extra boost for starting :?[/quote]

 

[HiSPL]

 

[lecroy]

This could be a lot of things. How long after turning it off did you wait before trying to start it the first time? Are we talking seconds, or do you turn it off for a minute to talk to your buds and then notice it won't start. When you did try and start it, did you check the basics (fuel, spark and compression)? I assume the crank is actually rotating when you try and start it. When it does run, does it make good power?

 

[Anonymous]

I tried to start it right after i turned it off. Yesterday i tried to jump it again and it ran for a few minutes (idled) and then it shut off. When the bike is running it runs great no power loss at all

 

[lecroy]

Based on the engine making good power, forget the fuel and compression. I am thinking you need to check the spark right after you shut it down and repost.

 

[Anonymous]

Okay i am convinced that it is the voltage regulator/rectifier, but i called the local bike shop and they want 162.99 for a new one. Any suggestions on where I can get one alot cheaper?

 

[earlfor]

Buy a new Electrex. Mine cost $102 and it comes with a guarantee. They are sumper simple to install. the electrex is larger than the stock RR. I found I had plenty of space behind the right side cover for mount the electrex.

earl

Okay i am convinced that it is the voltage regulator/rectifier, but i called the local bike shop and they want 162.99 for a new one. Any suggestions on where I can get one alot cheaper?

 

[Anonymous]

I am new to owning a motorcycle so where do i buy that and how do i know its the right voltage.

 

[earlfor]

There is a link to Electrex on the GS homepage. I've copied the URL to the regulator/rectifier applications page from their site, it..
http://www.electrexusa.com/electrex_regulators_Suzuki.html
Just scan down the list until you find your bike listed.

Earl

I am new to owning a motorcycle so where do i buy that and how do i know its the right voltage.

 

[Anonymous]

Whoa Mule!

Whoa Mule!

Before I handed over $100, I'd do more investigating!!! Not saying anybodys wrong with their diagnosis, but there are ways to check these things out with a simple multimeter. I think on Electrex's site they have a flowchart to pinpoint problems. Bob

 

[lecroy]

I am sorry. Normally my brain is not so out in the weeds. I went back and read what you had wrote. Yes, you are on the right path. Yes, get a cheap Volt Ohm Meter at the local hardware store. Don't spend more than $30 on one. I have not seen a regulator go bad on any of my Jap bikes, but have seen problems with the stator on one and connectors failing on others. If you find a good flow chart, no problem. If you need help using the meter or have questions on the chart, I will try to be more on the ball next time.

 

[argonsagas]

Do the checks as recommended.....only one qualification..Lecroy suggested using a cheap VOM...my experience has been that the cheap ones give inaccurate readings, but this is not necessarily a constant as it may have been because the ones I tried came from the same store..

First thing I would look at is a bad ground. The hint is that a battery from another vehicle will work right away....reason is likely that the car battery has a higher voltage potential than yours and (since it is bigger) has a deeper draw, while yours has suffered due to a bad ground, even though it was on a running bike, plus the bike frame etc. may have heated up a bit and, coupled with rust/corrosion, the heat may have worsened an already poor ground..

Wire the battery ground terminal directly to the frame AND to the starter .
Make a new and clean connection to be sure.

Clean all other connections on the bike as well....all of it is for your benefit.