Not Starting

[MJ 125 a.k.a. Camo Tablet]

My starter won't crank over the bike anymore! I checked the batt. volts when running, and not, and they are fine. I did buy a new batt. (Tusk lithium) and put it in because I had a trip planned the last week, was worth a shot, I thought. Didn't work, I still barely get a crank out of it if that. Had to kick start lots for a week long ride.
Anyone got Ideas PLEASE!
P.S. Tusk batt. stinks!!!!, I put the old one back in after my trip. I had plugged in my phone at night to charge it and the batt. was completely dead in the morning, the phone wasn't fully charged either. Then the lights wouldn't even light up on the odometer and I "could not" kick start it, I had to charge the batt. for a short while first. Help!!!
2022 CT Has 12,000 miles on it.

 

[oldskool]

Sounds like a dead shorts to me. Take a quick look for abraded wire. If it is still under warranty let them sort it out. I hate electrical Gremlins

 

[m in sc]

Try a new regular battery. as said, check for connections but id bet its the battery. im no fan of li-ions in bikes

 

[MJ 125 a.k.a. Camo Tablet]

Thanks! I suspect it might be my USB since it acted funny and didn't charge my phone. Going to disconnect all my accessories and try it with the battery fully charged. Stopped at the dealership and they could only say "that will be $150/hr." It's 1 year and 3 weeks old. I'll try it in the morning and let you know. Thanks again!

 

[dmonkey]

If you don't already have a multimeter, I'd recommend picking one up. Many people hate wiring and electrical systems, but if you read the instructions that come with the tool there are often example steps to walk you through checking things like battery voltage, parasitic draw, or checking for shorts. If those aren't in the instructions, there are YouTube videos for just about anything you can think of. Harbor Freight have a cheap one that doubles as an amp clamp, very useful for troubleshooting vehicle electrics.

Now that you have a drained Tusk lithium-ion battery, be careful to not plug it into a conventional battery charger without first confirming if it's compatible with lithium-ion batteries. Many of those chargers have an equalization mode that intentionally overcharges the battery, and a desulfate mode that pulses frequency or voltage. Those are harmful to lithium-ion batteries and can result in a fire. You either want to charge the battery in the motorcycle where there's a voltage regulator, use a charger that is intended for use with li-ion batteries, or use a very simple constant current/constant voltage charger.

 

[MJ 125 a.k.a. Camo Tablet]

Thanks dmonkey! I do have a good multimeter and I'm semi-decent at using it. I've disconnected all my added accessories and have the original batt. in it fully charged. It still only turns the starter barely a half a second and not kicking it out. There is a Starter Relay for sale for it, but I could not see where it was located on the bike, thought I might test that.

 

[m in sc]

put the original battery back in and jump start it off a car. if it works, its the battery. (yes you can do this no harm no foul). likely the drain from the usb as you stated, had a friend that chased the same issue on a 900 tracer that was caused by a usb adapter as well, was wired into constant power and would kill the battery if it wasn't ridden for about a week or so.

 

[MJ 125 a.k.a. Camo Tablet]

I'll give it a try. I ride almost every single day, even through winter, so it doesn't sit very long for the batt. to discharge. I'll let you know. Thanks again

 

[MJ 125 a.k.a. Camo Tablet]

Tried to jump it, didn't work. Batt. in the bike reads 12.79v I'm still guessing the relay, if I can locate it. not sure if the starter itself is the problem, the bike is only 1 yr. old but I've put over 12,000 miles on it. Going to give up for today. Thank you for your time!

 

[m in sc]

def check the connections at the relay, follow the red battery wire to it. if this bike lives outside, check the starter switch button isnt corroded internally.

 

[MJ 125 a.k.a. Camo Tablet]

Unfortunately it does live outside. under a tarp. I will check. It was hard to follow the wires the first attempt, but I didn't take off the right side panel that time, probably under there. I'll take apart the starter switch first. Thank you!

 

[oldskool]

Unfortunately it does live outside. under a tarp. I will check. It was hard to follow the wires the first attempt, but I didn't take off the right side panel that time, probably under there. I'll take apart the starter switch first. Thank you!

Ahhh that brings corrosion up as a leading suspect. Outside storage is a bike killer. You may need to go through every connection to check for corrosion. Clean them and seeing as it lives outside a little dielectric grease is a good idea IMHO.
As for jumping a bike off a car, its best to jump off the battery without the car running. There is the possibility of causing damage to the battery or electrical system. Some think it will not harm the bike but many , including motorcycle manufacturers, say that it is a possibility. The cars battery is more than enough to get her going without the car running so why take the chance?

 

[m in sc]

won't hurt anything, 100% sure of it, done it. he'll I jumped angies supercub off the galaxie, running,, and that has a 180 amp g3 alternator. lol. however, a battery is plenty.

 

[oldskool]

won't hurt anything, 100% sure of it, done it. he'll I jumped angies supercub off the galaxie, running,, and that has a 180 amp g3 alternator. lol. however, a battery is plenty.

Others report issues. Some combinations may be ok but why even take the chance seeing as any car battery has far more than enough power by itself to do the job?

 

[m in sc]

its all 12v-14v. again, no issues. been doing it over 30 years. don't overthink it. a battery in a car typically has well over 500 cca and causes no problems by itself. if its a cheap lithium ion on the bike thats been pancaked, it might have an issue, but so will hooking up to a conventional charger.

'others have reported issues' i would challenge any of those gladly. I would bet those 'issues' were the result of hooking it up wrong.

 

[MJ 125 a.k.a. Camo Tablet]

Tried it off a new car batt. sitting in my shed. fully charged. I do suspect that corrosion might be the issue. So I am going to take the time to go through contacts starting at the starter switch. thank you for that great advise to use a little electrical grease on them. Going to take me a while but I will get back to you all. Thank You for your great ideas and thoughts

 

[MJ 125 a.k.a. Camo Tablet]

Another quick note, I do live near the salt water and fish from my bike very often at the beach, though I don't drive on the beach it still is salty air.

 

[oldskool]

its all 12v-14v. again, no issues. been doing it over 30 years. don't overthink it. a battery in a car typically has well over 500 cca and causes no problems by itself. if its a cheap lithium ion on the bike thats been pancaked, it might have an issue, but so will hooking up to a conventional charger.

'others have reported issues' i would challenge any of those gladly. I would bet those 'issues' were the result of hooking it up wrong.

I know a Vietnam Vet who claims to have had unprotected sex with hookers over there numerous times and was unscathed. I still wouldn't recommend it

 

[m in sc]

fyi dielectric grease is NOT conductive. use contact cleaner, actually wd40 works well, then put dielectric grease on after. its a protectant.

since i'm sure somebody else will challenge that, here:

What Is Dielectric Grease?

A look at dielectric grease and how it is used in automotive ignition spark plug wires, electrical harness connections, and other automotive wiring situations.

www.motortrend.com

 

[m in sc]

I know a Vietnam Vet who claims to have had unprotected sex with hookers over there numerous times and was unscathed. I still wouldn't recommend it

based on what?

not the hooker thing btw.