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Last Saturday was finally a beautiful day. Despite a long list of other things I really needed to do, I decided to take my first ride since putting the bike away for the winter. I had it on a trickle charger over the winter. When I tried to start it there was a rapid clicking noise, the tach showed about 1700 rpm, but the engine was definitely not turning over. My guess is that the starter has a solenoid and it isn't engaging. I did not have a chance to do any troubleshooting before leaving for work for a couple weeks. I would like to try troubleshooting/fixing this myself as the warranty ran out March 1, wouldn't you know. Any suggestions? Up until Saturday this bike has been 100% reliable.

Rod

What type of "trickle charger"? May be as simple as the battery being low.

clasic symptoms of a flat battery. The slenoid is clicking away because there is not enough power to engage the starter. Put the battery on proper charge not just trickle. Also move the bike around a bit with the second gear engaged just to make sure that nothing is stuck, a foot is enough.

I think it's the battery also...you could try a push start...it should start up.

Does your charger have a green light that comes on at full charge?

DJ

The battery was my first thought. My charger is a battery tender junior and the green light was lit. The battery is the old wet type, not the newer sealed, and of course 3 years old now. I'm surprised it would have gone bad so soon, as I have nearly always kept it on the charger when inactive.

Rod

I have (or had) the same set-up as you. '03 with the wet cell battery three years old and I use the BT Junior when not in use.

However, I have read somewhere, that you cannot leave the trickle charger on over really long extended periods. It needs to be unplugged for a period and then re-plugged in. I don't know if that is the issue. I've never had to leave mine for more than a couple weeks at most.

You may also have neglected putting in water as the cells have dried up. Don't know. But it DOES sound like that thing is dead.
Solution: Push it off for now and run it til you get back home and then check it tomorrow and see if its dead again. Then if it is get you an Odyssey PC-680 AGM.

You can pretty well bet the battery has gone to battery heaven.

Your battery is probably low on elecrolyte. In January I swapped out my '02's stock battery (with an Odyssey gel Type). I had never really used a a trickle charger and had put 35,000 miles on the stock battery. I'd noticed my Roadster's starter motor was turning slower in cold weather and would sometimes just click the solenoid - necessitating a quick charge via the accessory port. When I pulled the tank off, sure enough - all the battery cells were low on electrolyte. I had never serviced the battery before because I'd never had the tank off. I had planned all along to just let it die to the point where I would replace it with a gel type. I also took the opportunity to change my fuel filter and to just marvel at all the extra room under my fuel tank - mine's a non-ABS version. Too bad BMW doesn't have an option for a larger fuel tank for these non-ABS Roadsters... If you do opt to change your fuel filter, make sure you get a new O-ring and about 8 or so new fuel injection style fuel clamps to replace the difficult-to-remove single-use clamps you'll encounter.

My new Odyssey battery necessitated that I fabricate two small 90 degree angles out of some copper I cannibalized from two heavy duty electrical fuses. I believe someone makes these parts but I didn't want to pay their asking price or wait for delivery. Anyway, the new battery works great!

budH wrote: My new Odyssey battery necessitated that I fabricate two small 90 degree angles out of some copper I cannibalized from two heavy duty electrical fuses. I believe someone makes these parts but I didn't want to pay their asking price or wait for delivery. Anyway, the new battery works great!

I'm willing pay the price and wait. Who's got the L adapters for the Odyssey battery ?

Before replacing the battery I would suggest unbolting and cleaning the terminals and clamps with some bi-carb of soda. Scrape away any green gunk and try to get a metal on metal contact.

Never accessed the battery? It is a pain but you can do it if you follow the instructions in the handbook.

Good luck

Tom

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~lonergans/

I've already ordered an Odyssey, should be home before I am. I have pulled the battery each spring, thoroughly cleaned it and filled it, never have seen any corrosion before. Guess I will also be making some of those L shaped adaptors. I appreciate all the help on this.

Rod

your battery is dead....hence the click.....is use the BT Junior on my '04r with the new style battery (where it's not supposed to work perfectly) but I don't leave it on more than two days...using it to charge up a dead battery when the bike's been sitting for some weeks......put it on a day or so before I want to use the bike. light turns green after some hours, bike starts and runs fine....

I agree with all those that say "bury the battery". If if you get it fired up it will let you down again - when you least want it. It may also screw up the abs. New battery, mate.