Bike has been left standing and won't start, help please! Battery-related question, symptoms follow...?

Question

...battery is apparently fully charged, plugs are clean, getting a spark at each plug, getting fuel to the carburettors, immobiliser is working OK, but when I press the starter it cranks once or twice (about half a second) and then I get a click from the starter that sounds like the sign of a flat battery, even though it's fully charged. The battery is showing 12 volts but I don't have an ammeter to check the amps. My "intelligent" battery charger switches over to "Charged and maintaining" after charging, so it thinks that the battery is OK.

Can a battery show 12 volts and still be knackered? The battery was left on the bike and the bike has been standing outside since just before Christmas.

If it's not the battery, does anyone have any ideas about what else could be causing this? I don't want to have to buy a new battery until I'm sure that I definitely need one.

(Bike is a 1996 Kawasaki Zephyr 550.)

Answer 1

Try jump starting it with your car if you have one and if it starts then you'll know it's the battery.

A battery can be just about dead and still show a reading of 12 volts.

Answer 2

your starter motor is going out, replace it... the solenoid is the clicking you hear... there is no reason for it to click but the starter stops after just a second or so, unless the motor is going out...

if the battery is getting enoug hpower to turn it over with little-no resitence (you'd know whether it was turning over like normal or slow right?) and it just suddenly stops, it HAS to be the starter motor (as long as the solenoid still clicks..) the starter is also almost an exact miniturazied version of the one on my bike....

if you wanna prove my theory get a new battery.... i bet you have the same problem when you put a new one on. if you wanna save yourself some money, replace the starter now.

Answer 3

buy a new battery

i also think since its been standing outside for such a long time the motor has become usuless and won't be able to work....

why not get an ammeter to check the amps since u said u don't have one...

Answer 4

Have you battery tested and if that is ok delve a bit deeper maybe the engines charging system [ puts life back as it runs] or rectifier

Answer 5

If you didnt add fuel stabilizer, theres a good chance the carb jets are clogged, it might be getting fuel, but at the proper amount?

Check the starter selenoid/stator; try someone elses battery before buying a new one. And check the sensor for the clutch [if you need to press the clutch to start it and it needs to be in N] in any case you always should press the clutch before starting the bike.

Answer 6

Try push starting it. Yes the battery can show 12V and still be jacked up. If it was hooked up since Christmas and never rode, it's dead or close to it.

Make sure you change the oil & filter too.

Don't bother trying to charge that dead battery again. get a new one.