Total Motorcycle Community Forums

A few days ago my motorbike was having starting problems, but I'd get it go eventually. However, the other day the bike just "died." I couldn't get it to crank, all I heard was a wimpy "click" whenever I hit the starter button.

So I figured the battery is flat, off I go to give it a trickle charge overnight. Put the battery in the next morning, checked it was all hooked up nice and secure, but now all I get is a low buzzing sound near the battery.

I did a search on this forum but I don't think I found anything. Lights work, horn is loud, so I figure the bike is getting juice. However it just won't start.

1980 Honda CB400T using an Energizer wet cell battery. I trickle charged it with a Motomaster charger on the low maintainance setting on 2 amps.

Any ideas? I will consult my Clymer repair manual later on as well.

Dead starter?

If you are not getting a click anymore, it could be the starter solinoid.(sp?)
or maybe the starter needs new brushes.

However that doesn't explain why it just died. hmm......

Do you have a volt meter to test the battery? It may be strong enough to beep the horn and light the light, but not to turn the engine over.

Just throwin out ideas.

a volt meter wont tell you what condition the battery is unless you can test it under load.

It will tell you if the battery is holding a charge right after being on the charger. Sometimes they don't.

But a load tester would be better to use, I agree.

I pretty much agree that the starter or solenoid are the issue. I am going to call my mechanic and ask what he thinks. A fellow local biker figured it's the starter as well.

Sigh...

If I feel feisty I'll take the starter out and check it like the manual describes, maybe save some labour costs by taking it to the mechanic to have it fixed.

make sure your fuses are good and tight. My bike did that when the fuse holder broke for the main fuse. That would cause the clicking I know, but I don't know about the buzzing.
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Anemia Forum

If you can get to the terminal on the starter motor, turn the bike ignition on, and use your jumper cables to jump directly from the positive terminal on your battery to the starter terminal. This will bypass the solenoid, starter button etc. If the bike turns over properly or starts, you know your starter motor is cool.

Then check the solenoid, take the starter switch off the bars and check it is clean, as this can be a problem as well.

Good luck

Quick update: it was the battery, not my starter or solenoid.

Got a new battery and all is well again.