Triumphrat

Grumpymann · 03-15-2008

Hey I have a 02 T-Bird 4000 ish miles on it. And I just had it in for the 6,000 mile service about 3 weeks ago and all was fine. though it was outside but covered I replaced the battery and went to start it and......

All I get is a click. nothing else. I checked the switch for the kickstand and it seems fine.

There is another guy that has a bike and he parks right next to me his is having the same problem (new Handa sport bike.). We managed to get his started by push starting.

My questions are simple. Is my started dead?
If so how much will it cost me?
And how bad a time am I in for if I try to change it myself? (Note: I SUCK at fixing mechanical things.)

Any help would be great!

lovecuba · 03-15-2008

Is the headlight burning brightly when the ignition is on? If so, when pressing the start button does it dim right out? If it does then you may have had a faulty battery installed or one that does not have sufficient charge. A new battery really needs an overnight charge @ 2 amps for at least 8 hours prior to use.

Starter motors are generally 'high milage' items. In my case 40,000 miles and still going strong.

Grumpymann · 03-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovecuba

Is the headlight burning brightly when the ignition is on? If so, when pressing the start button does it dim right out? If it does then you may have had a faulty battery installed or one that does not have sufficient charge. A new battery really needs an overnight charge @ 2 amps for at least 8 hours prior to use.

Starter motors are generally 'high milage' items. In my case 40,000 miles and still going strong.

The headlight dims a little when I try to start.

Are you saying that all I have to do is charge the battery even if all I'm getting is a single simple click, and the battery is brand new?

BigAl8295 · 03-15-2008

Sounds like a dead battery.

Gdsila · 03-15-2008

No doubt its the battery.

Greaser · 03-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpymann

Hey I have a 02 T-Bird 4000 ish miles on it. And I just had it in for the 6,000 mile service about 3 weeks ago and all was fine. though it was outside but covered I replaced the battery and went to start it and......

All I get is a click. nothing else. I checked the switch for the kickstand and it seems fine.

There is another guy that has a bike and he parks right next to me his is having the same problem (new Handa sport bike.). We managed to get his started by push starting.

My questions are simple. Is my started dead?
If so how much will it cost me?
And how bad a time am I in for if I try to change it myself? (Note: I SUCK at fixing mechanical things.)

Any help would be great!

WHy suspect the starter? If it was OK before the battery change, and then didn't work AFTER the battery change, why would you suspect a starter?

jimmyj900 · 03-15-2008

Could be battery, cables/connections, solenoid or starter.

A 'new' battery only has a surface charge -- voltage is good but there's no capacity to speak of.

Charge the battery first with a 2-Amp or less charger. More current than that will cook the battery.

Be aware that it takes about 7 hours to charge a 14 Amp-Hour battery with a 2-Amp charger, so a 'quick charge' of shorter duration won't provide a full charge.

If that doesn't get it cranking then short across the solenoid 'big' terminals with a screwdriver.

Be sure the bike is in neutral, clutch pulled in and preferably with the rear wheel off the ground because it will try to jump off the kickstand.

If the starter cranks, the solenoid is probably bad.

If it still doesn't crank then either the starter is bad or there's a loose/corroded cable end that needs attending to.

If you've been having a lot of trouble starting and have worn the battery down a couple of times with continuous cranking, then you've probably damaged the starter.

You should never crank the engine more than 5-10 seconds at a time and then let it sit for twice that long with the key turned off. That lets the starter commutator cool off and the battery pull some of it's 'deep' charge to the surface where it will do some good.

Continuous/long cranking burns the commutator causing it to roughen and grinds down the starter brushes very quickly.

Jim

Greaser · 03-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyj900

.........

You should never crank the engine more than 5-10 seconds at a time and then let it sit for twice that long with the key turned off. That lets the starter commutator cool off and the battery pull some of it's 'deep' charge to the surface where it will do some good.

Continuous/long cranking burns the commutator causing it to roughen and grinds down the starter brushes very quickly.

Jim

Excellent advice!
I see lots of people who will crank and crank........

Short story: When I used to run demoliton derbies, we were in a round and the car died. We were trying to get into the finals. I had a 1500CCA heavy equipment battery so I cranked and cranked.......
Eventually we melted the starter connections. Desperation! I'd never subject a road vehicle to that kind of abuse.

Grumpymann · 03-16-2008

I charged the battery over night.
Put it in and tried to start the bike. The sane thing happened.
I hooked the battery back up to the charger and all of a sudden the battery needs to be charged again (The lights on the charger indicated that the battery needed to be charged again after e hours it says that it is 80% charged.).

I don't "hear" the starter "Doing" anything just one simple click. Not turning and turning. There seemed to be an "Attempt" at starting before all I got was a click.
The starter turned and turned but nothing. getting weaker and weaker till in the end all I got was just the click.

I'm at the end of my rope. I have no idea how to find the "Solenoid", what that is, what it dose, nor how to cross it. I just laid out more money that I could afford to get it serviced trying to keep it in shape.

Any help any one can give me would put me in your debt. I'm about to take a hammer to this thing!

BigAl8295 · 03-16-2008

Are your battery cables connectors tight?