My TW200 is showing the beginnings of a fault. When cold, occasionally when starting the solenoid will click but the starter won't engage. Repeated clickings usually does the trick and once warm, there's no issue. I suspect the motor brushes are worn or similar but I was also wondering if the solenoid has a reputation for 'whiskering' or developing deposits on the contacts that stop it from electrically conducting at times?
Solenoid or Starter Motor? Clicking sometimes
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Yeah. Battery tests good at the posts, fluids are right, but it just doesn't work right...
The corrosion between battery post and cable acts like a resistor. The longer you let it build up the less power your bike is getting from the battery.
It's just like clogged pipes in plumbing. They need to be cleaned occasionally.
The corrosion between battery post and cable acts like a resistor. The longer you let it build up the less power your bike is getting from the battery.
It's just like clogged pipes in plumbing. They need to be cleaned occasionally.
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Now that I think about it, my battery cables were corroded also. Especially the negative side where it grounded to the frame. Also check the connection at the starter, mine was corroded down there as well. Once I cleaned all the contacts and installed a new battery I have never had the problem come back. You should also make it a point to start the bike in Neutral, as opposed to just pulling in the clutch. These bikes tend to start slower while in gear with the clutch pulled in. Slowing the start in this way means the spark plug doesn't get enough juice from the electrical system and can make starting take longer which in turn runs down the battery.
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371 Posts
One here too. The corrosion you see on the negative terminal (Sulfation) can be caused by loose cables or the battery itself being in poor condition (under charged).
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Top it up with distilled water, clean the terminals with baking soda in water and use a toothbrush (old one is preferable), spray the terminals with battery protector spray (technical term), and put it on a low amp charge overnight. If the battery is okay, this should do the trick. Lots of short runs can discharge a battery and the low charge output of the bike just doesn't have time to boost her back to full. Like n2o2diver suggested earlier.
If the battery is more than a year old, it can be suspect too.
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^ Yes, and even if it reads 12 volts or more does not mean it's good (volts vs amps and some other technical stuff I don't completely understand). If you're still getting clicking after doing all the above, you should still rule out the battery. Load test it. What you describe is a classic symptom of a weak battery.
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