BMW K bikes (Bricks)


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rclarkbow

rclarkbow
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My first thought is a bad battery, as I haden't started the bike for about 10 days when it first "barely" started weakly. Started it two more times after only riding about a mile between each time, third time was very very weak, and almost left my stranded at a gas station. 

Got the bike back home, tried to start again the next day, and it would turn over a bit, but wouldn't start, and now it's not turning over. 

However, my question is the headlights and all instruments remain illuminated, does this sound like a weakening battery?

I want to attempt a jump start, is it safe to jump start from a car using positive battery terminal and grounding to frame with black jumper cable?

    

moriarti

moriarti
Life time member
Life time member
Simpl answer is YES best answer is fully charge the battery and try it on its own study


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1984 k100 rs red/black VIN  0004449 Now sold to Olaf
    

Holister

Holister
Life time member
Life time member
rclarkbow wrote:.....
I want to attempt a jump start, is it safe to jump start from a car using positive battery terminal and grounding to frame with black jumper cable?
When jumping you really should connect the black cable directly to the negative terminal on the battery.

The battery sounds like it's dead. If it's a lead acid type, check the levels in each cell. The plates should be covered.
It's possible you aren't getting a proper charging voltage from the alternator.
The best thing to do first is to use a DMM to measure the voltage of the battery at rest (static voltage). Should be around 13.0V  Below 12.45V and your battery is kaput.
If you can get the engine running, then measure the voltage at 2,000rpm (charge voltage). Should be around 14.0V


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1989 K100RT     VIN  0097367 (naked)  
1996 K1100RS   VIN  0451808
 Starting engine became increasingly weaker, and now bike won't turn over Austra12    Fuel:  95 Octane
Engine Oil: Nulon Full Synthetic 15W50
Gear Box Oil:  Nulon Synthetic 75W90
    

Point-Seven-five

Point-Seven-five
Life time member
Life time member
Take the battery out of the bike.  Put it on a charger(not a maintainer/trickle charger) overnight and then take it to an auto parts store to have it load tested.  That is the only way to really tell if the battery is any good. 

How old is the battery?  A lot of batteries are only good for 3 or 4 years.  Being a northern bike, winter storage can be pretty hard on a battery, especially if the bike was put into storage with anything less than a full charge.

Once the bike is running again, do the check on the alternator.  As mentioned, at 2000 rpm there should be at least  13.8 to 14.0 volts at the battery terminals.  Speaking of terminals, they should be shiny clean and tight.  Good connections are important not only to get all the current necessary to the starter, but loose terminals will also prevent the battery from taking a full charge. 

A weak alternator output is often the result of worn brushes.  If they need to be replaced, it's a good idea to get a complete voltage regulator assembly with brushes to replace all the wear items at the same time.  Around here, I can get the alternator "rebuilt" with new brushes and bearings for about $120.

As to your question about lights.  A weak battery can run the lights since they only draw about 10 amps where the starter can draw as much as 75 amps.   Good lights but weak starter action is usually a good sign that the battery has a lot of internal resistance caused by deterioration of the plates.


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Present: 1991 K100RS "Moby Brick Too"
 
Past:
1994 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
1988 K100RS SE "Special Ed"
1994 K75S "Cheetos"
1992 K100RS "Moby Brick" R.I.P.
1982 Honda FT500
1979 Honda XR185
1977 Honda XL125
1974 Honda XL125
1972 OSSA Pioneer 250
1968 Kawasaki 175
    

88

88
Life time member
Life time member
Don't be tempted to confuse Voltage with cranking amps. I have had several batteries (in various machines) where the voltage after a charge looked OK but they just didn't have the Oooomph (technical term for cranking amps Starting engine became increasingly weaker, and now bike won't turn over 652573 ) anymore


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Starting engine became increasingly weaker, and now bike won't turn over Ir-log1188....May contain nuts!Starting engine became increasingly weaker, and now bike won't turn over Ir-log11

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." - St. Augustine from 1600 years ago & still true!

K1 - 1989 - AKA Titan (unique K1/K1100RS hybrid by Andreas Esterhammer)
K1100RS - 1995. AKA Rudolf Von Schmurf (in a million bits)
K100RS - 1991 AKA Ronnie. Cafe racer project bike
K75RTP - 1994
K75C - 1991 AKA Jim Beam. In boxes. 
K1100LT 1992 - AKA Big Red (gone)
K100LT - 1988 - AKA the Bullion brick. Should never have sold it.
    

92KK 84WW Olaf

avatar
Life time member
Life time member
Also need to confirm your charge light comes on and then goes off.


__________________________________________________
1992 K100LT 0193214 Bertha Blue 101,000 miles
1984 K100RT 0022575 Brutus Baja Red 578 bought 36,000 now 89,150 miles
1997 K1100LT 0188024 Wotan Mystic Red 689 58,645 now 106,950 miles Deceased.
1983 K100RS 0011157 Fricka 606 Alaska Blue 29,495 miles Damn K Pox Its a Bat outta Hell Now 58,200 miles. 
1996 K1100LT 0233004 Lohengrin Mystic Red 38,000 miles currently 51,800 miles.
1983 K100RS 0004449 Odette R100 colours 58,000 miles. Sprint fairing now 63,390 miles

Past:
1968 Yamaha 80 YG1
1971 Yamaha 125 YAS-1
1968 Honda 125 SS
1970 Honda CD 175
1973 Honda CB500-4
Honda CX 500
    

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