01 CBR F4i Starting Issues

Mxer33 · 09-02-2007, 10:31 PM

Alright guys I need a little help here. As the subject says I am having starting troubles with my 01 CBR. Just last spring about 3-4 months ago, my battery went dead and I couldn't get the bike to start, no big deal. I just went out and bought a new one and the bike fires up no problem I figured I was about due for a new one. I ride it a few times no issues with starting at all. I bet I have less than 15 starts on this new battery and now all of the sudden this "new" battery won't take a charge. I can get my bike to start if I jump start, it runs just fine. I let it idle awhile and I even rode it around the block a few times to get it to charge but just as soon as I shut it off, then try to restart it's got nothing. I am at a loss here...is my battery just a complete dud and it won't take a charge or am I having charging issues with the bike? I will admit it was a cheapy from the honda shop but at $50 it's as much as a freakin car battery! For what it's worth and I don't know if this will tell anybody anything, when I was letting it idle, when I revved the motor the lights would get brighter but once it went back to idle the lights would dim a bit...so my guess it's not taking a charge correctly? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

RayOSV · 09-03-2007, 01:35 AM

The new battery was installed a few months ago? Was it completely charged before installation? Did you ride the bike much over the past few months?

If the battery was not completely charged, it would take several hours at high rpm on the bike to charge it. If the bike sat for a few months or was only run for short periods of time after the new battery was installed, the battery is probably discharged. Try putting in on a trickle charger (like a Battery Tender) overnight.

bumblebee · 09-03-2007, 12:56 PM

Start at the battery...have it load tested...AutoZone and places like that will sometimes do it for free. Also, check the starter...I had a starter going bad and it would act much the same way...it wouldn't start with battery alone, but would start when jumped...

Mxer33 · 09-03-2007, 02:15 PM

I will probably take the darn thing into like Autozone first and maybe they can tell me if it's bad or not? I am just at a loss as to why it would have gone bad so quickly. I am not sure as to whether or not it was fully charged before I put it in or not...I just dropped it in and rode away. Like I said before I bet I have less than 15 starts on the battery. I haven't had the chance to ride a whole lot this summer at least for extended period of times so maybe I am just not giving stator enough time to charge it? Does Autozone and places like that carry batteries for bikes? Thanks for the suggestions guys. I will keep you posted.

Veefer97 · 09-03-2007, 04:04 PM

Here is the write up on how to check your charging system. The Honda voltage regulators are of poor quality and fail often

Battery goes dead during ride
If bike has permanent magnet (it will have 3 yellow wires (not always) coming from alternator cover).
Note: Check general condition of any visible wires unplug and replug connectors on charging circuit to clean off corroded terminals (it’s yanking at straws but sometimes it helps.
At 5k the bike should put out +13.5V at the battery
Check resistance of coils (maintenance manual helps here to get the proper ohms). Use voltmeter on AC setting and check output of each wire while bike runs. At about 5k RPM it should read +50V. If not replace stator.
If stator checks OK see what the DC volts output is at the voltage regulator. Should be +13.5V at 5kRPM. If not replace regulator

Mxer33 · 09-03-2007, 07:14 PM

Well I had the battery checked and it's dead. Still can't understand how it went bad so fast. Sure seems like an awfully small battery for what it's supposed to do.

RayOSV · 09-03-2007, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mxer33

Well I had the battery checked and it's dead. Still can't understand how it went bad so fast. Sure seems like an awfully small battery for what it's supposed to do.

Likely the battery wasn't fully charged when you first put it in the bike and never got fully charged because of not much riding. Easy for a battery to go dead under those conditions.

Mxer33 · 09-04-2007, 12:15 AM

RayOSV,

That's what I am leaning towards having been the problem. I guess next time I will trickle charge the battery before I drop it in the bike. Thanks for the help!