Sports: Re: [DucatiST] Re: Lesson learned - but need suggestions

Good news Allan!

I wonder if your original problem was due to a bad earth? Not sure if the ST2 set up is the same as the 4, but there is an earth lead on the 4 that's hex keyed into the crankcase on the top, just behind the vertical cylinder. This connection can corrode and cause intermittent starting problems, as it can't cope with the load from the starter. If the 2 has a similar earthing setup it maybe worth undoing the hex bolt (which can be hard if it's corroded) and cleaning up the connection.

Cheers - Nick

  See the face, admire the bikes, yawn at the holiday snaps...    http://www.worldwidewobble.com

On 23/04/2013 3:19 PM, Allan Stern wrote:

Thanks, one and all, for your suggestions and support, especially Hobatz, who said I should go in the house, have another beer, and let my wife fix the bike. The first part of your suggestion was right on, Gary.

I did go out and buy a volt meter, took the right fairing off (except the very bottom), and found the battery reading to be 13.5 volts. Perfect.

I then pushed and prodded every wire coming out of the battery. Didn't find anything loose or pulled out at the non-battery end. Was going to start looking at relays and other stuff when I decided to try the bike again.

When I hit the starter button, It started right up! Like nothing had ever been wrong.

The roar of that engine filling the garage sounded mighty sweet, let me tell you. Even though it was 9:30 pm by then, I opened the garage door so the neighbors could share in my joy.

But if you ask me what was the problem, I still couldn't tell you. Perhaps the new battery had not been fully charged up by the shop. I did put it on the trickle charger when I got home and noticed it wasn't full up (I didn't have a volt meter then). IF that were the case, though, wouldn't the starter still crank a little bit, as it does when the battery gets low? Just wondering.

There is one place where I could not get the two fairing pieces together, even with loosening everything, and pushing things around -- That was under the nose, where the little nose piece fits with (or doesn't fit with) the right-mid fairing piece. I was able to get the left side together, but the right-side holes were still about 5 mm apart. Didn't want to force anything so I tightened everything else back up and things seemed pretty stable even with that one nut missing. There's a tiny gap that's barely noticeable to any but the most discerning eyes.

Thanks again, guys.

Allan
'01 ST2

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