It’s an awful feeling to kick the starter on a motorcycle and get nothing from the battery. That’s when it’s time to do some motorcycle battery trouble-shooting.
Here are some of the most common problems with a motorcycle’s electrical system and how to diagnose and fix them.
- When there’s no power at all, even to the lights and the horn, the place to start is with the main fuse, found on the red lead close to the battery.
- With an intermittent power loss at starting, check the battery terminals for loose connections and tighten them.
- When the driver hears a clicking noise while trying to start, it usually means the battery charge is too low to turn over the starter. The clicking comes from the battery activating the solenoid but not having enough power for the starter. Another sign of a low battery is if the starter turns over very slowly and can’t start the cycle easily.
- When there’s a strong sulphurous smell like rotten eggs while riding, that’s typically a sign that the battery is being overcharged. Stop the motorcycle immediately and switch it off. Have a mechanic fix the charging fault.
- If the battery loses its charge after a couple of days, it could be time for a replacement.
- If the battery goes flat and won’t start the cycle right after being ridden, it’s another charging fault. To check, rev up the cycle with the headlight on. If the lamp gets dimmer when revs increase, it’s definitely a charging fault, possible the rectifier.
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