Starting electrical problem

[greggtheegg]

I don't know if I have a bad battery or if something else is at play...  Sometimes when I try to start the bike, the engine turns at a really low speed, sometimes I hear something (starter relay?) clicking, but the bike does not start...  I'm told this could be the battery inconsistently holding a charge, a bad relay, bad pulse generator, a bad starter, or something else.  The charging system is fine and I can pop the clutch going downhill to start the bike.  I've taken the battery in to get tested and it puts out 200 cranking amps and 12 volts, which is in spec.  Whenever this slow starter problem happens, I take the battery in and it tests 12 volts but only like 80 to 100 amps.  The battery is about 6 years old but is well maintained.  I just don't want to get a new battery if something else is happening to cause the battery to wear down.  There are no shorts or anything causing a slow drain.  Does anybody have any definitive ideas as to how to make certain my battery is causing the problem before I buy a new battery?  Thanks!

[Earl in Pensacola]

REPLACE THE BATTERY!  Test or no test, you need a new battery!  Just be sure that you buy an OEM battery (made in Japan).  Then if problem continues, do the starter button maintance.

[fudgie]

Yep, battery! 

[R J]

Replace the battery.........   You apparently have an intermittant internal short.  Common for a motor battery with any age on it..

6 years old, you have done gotten your $$$$ worth out of it.......

To make you feel better, the next time it pulls this stunt on ya, roll our car/truck up beside the bike, turn the other vehicle off and put jumper cables on it.    BAD battery, bike should fire right off.

[john]

i had a similar problem a few weeks ago with the big yellow ...   ???
took all cables off battery  and scrubed'em cables  clean ... fuses ... relays   
all back together with the white electric grease   ...
make sure you snug it all real tight when ya put it back together   

[FLATSIX]

Yep also !!    Identical problem - starterrelay made those clics - thought it would be that, but at the end it was the battery .

Replace the battery and you'll be happy again!