83 CB550 Starting issue

[dlswimmer]

Hello everyone,

I just recently purchased a 1983 Nighthawk CB550 from someone.  It is my first bike and I can't wait for the weather to get a bit warmer so I can get out on the road.  There are a few things wrong with it and I plan on taking it into a shop to have it looked at, but right now I need to get it started so I can get it there.

When I purchased it, for a week or so I started it every day with not too much of an issue.  From what I understand there might be an electrical issue which bleeds the battery, so I keep it connected to a charger/maintainer.  A couple weeks ago I tried to start it and all I got was a sputter and stop.  From then on, all I get when I push the starter button is a single click.  I am fairly positive that this is the Starter Solenoid firing, but nothing happens past that.  There is no turnover, the only sound at all is that clicking.  I took a volt meter to the battery and got the readings from it.  When everything is off the battery is pulling 13+ volts, but as soon as I turn the key it drops below 12 volts.  I don't know if this is common, but I was told that it needs to be at least 12.25 volts to start the bike.  If that is the issue, then there must be something electrical causing this problem.

Can anyone give me somewhere to start or some ideas?  As I said, this is my first motorcycle but I hope to learn as I go.

Thank you,
David

[bentman]

Probably needs a new battery.  Even though your reading 12-13 volts there may not be the amps needed to spin the starter.  You could try jumping it from your car - jump it from the car battery, but DO NOT start the car.  If it starts right up you'll know it's the battery.  Also check all connections between the battery & starter as well as the ground connection for loose and/or corrosion.

Good luck and enjoy your new ride.

Dan

[dlswimmer]

Probably needs a new battery.  Even though your reading 12-13 volts there may not be the amps needed to spin the starter.  You could try jumping it from your car - jump it from the car battery, but DO NOT start the car.  If it starts right up you'll know it's the battery.  Also check all connections between the battery & starter as well as the ground connection for loose and/or corrosion.

Good luck and enjoy your new ride.

Dan

What should be the amp draw in order to start it?  I will try jumping it from my car as well.  On a day where its above 20 of course.

[ExTex]

Please post your location.  Someone may be close by and willing to help.

Gasoline does not like to vaporize below 40°F and batteries do not work well either.
If you are having problems, a warmer day will help.

But it does should like a battery replacement would be useful
Check with Wal Mart, they have the best price IF they carry a battery for your bike.

I'm not sure that the current draw of your starter is, but it is large.
Don't run the starter much over 5 sec at a time or you could overheat it.

I think 16 gauge wire (6 ft) will work for jumper cables IF your battery can supply any power at all. 
I used to start smaller bikes with 18 gauge wire.

Check that you have fuel and that the emergency switch is set to run.
Also that the transmission is in neutral.
(just good practice, but they do not make the battery sound low.)

Keep at it.  You have a great bike and a good one to learn on.

Ride Safely,

[ExTex]

P.S>   Check the electrolyte level in the battery.
Add distilled water (only) if low.

I had a battery with no Amp capacity and it was low on liquid.
A drink and a charge overnight and it worked for a year or so.

 

[happycommuter]

Seeing how there is no clock or computer memory, current draw should be almost zero (<5mV?) when off.  If you have an ammeter it's simple to hook if up in series between the battery and cable.  If there's a leak, go around disconnecting things one by one.
Also, once this thing gets started, make sure it's actually charging before you go too far.  At least make sure the lights get a little brighter when the throttle is blipped.
Even with a crap battery and faulty charging system, I've never had a bike that wouldn't briefly start with a jump start.

Dan's MC says something about dropping 1/4 tsp of epsom salt in each cell of an old dying battery. 

[dlswimmer]

Thank you everyone for your ideas.  I will look into them.  I just wanted to let you all know what I did today.  I tried to jump start it off my car (I got cables).  Even while connected to my car, I only got a single click from the starter solenoid, and absolutely no turn over.  My battery is holding some charge, so I can assume that it must not be a battery issue, but either a wiring issue or a starter issue.  I have tried starting it on warmer (50) days but no luck. Today it was about 45.  When I jumped it, the positive was connected directly to the starter solenoid and the negative on the negative side of the battery and still no turn over at all.

Btw since it was asked, I live in Columbus Ohio.

[wanetor]

Check all so the switch assy, I had the problem to started my CB550CS and i find out, it was the switch assay, it was jam, and this is the reason I was not able to started the engine.Open and get a look inside maybe the grease with the pass years ,become a chunk of grease and blocked the movement of the switch.Look below ,the part n 20 is the switch assy . get also a look in the slave clutch .

[detdrbuzzard]

make sure you don't have corrosion on the battery cables

[dlswimmer]

I just wanted to let everyone know that I figured out the issue and got it fixed.  The only problem that the bike had with starting was because of the starting motor.  I guess it had been slowly failing for a little while and that was draining the battery significantly.  The starter finally died and of course kept the motorcycle from starting.  I got a salvaged one in this weekend and it started up no problem at all.  Thanks everyone for your ideas/help.