Washed bike now it wont start...

**Yeager** · 08-12-2010, 06:23 PM

I rode my bike over to where I was cleaning it so I know it started just fine earlier today. I washed it and wiped it down and now it wont start I read up and checked the fuses head light comes on and so does the horn but the sound it makes is getting quieter the more i try to start it. its an 06 rebel so its possible its the original battery but again it started just fine.

please help

**flitecontrol** · 08-12-2010, 06:43 PM

Welcome. Sorry you're having problems. Check your battery cables to be sure the connections are corrosion free and tight. Have you tried push starting it in 2nd to see if it will fire? Sounds like the battery is getting weak. Can you take it out, make sure the electrolyte level is correct and charge it?

**cagie** · 08-12-2010, 06:49 PM

Did you get any water in the air filter box?

**Yeager** · 08-12-2010, 07:03 PM

no water in the air filter that I can find cables were good and when i ran started it, it fired up and ran fine so is that an indication the battery is done?

also when I stopped and shut it down and tryed to restart it it again just clicked.

**Twister** · 08-12-2010, 07:59 PM

From what you describe sounds like the battery, but it could still be the solenoid or starter. If It was my bike, I would invest 4 bucks on a multimeter and 9 bucks on a baterry tender at harbor freight (Harbor Freight haters, go ahead, bring out the torches and flame this post) Check your voltage when the ignition is "off" check it also when running. If you have 13 to 14volts when running above 2200 rpm and under 10 volts when off yes, it is probably the battery. Try to "rescue" it by adding distilled water to the top line, do not over fill, because when you are charging it it will boil, this is normal. Charge it on the lowest amlps that you can set your charger-tender to. Charge it for as long as you can 24-36 hours is great, but you might get away with only 12 hrs.

If you don't have these readings, it is probably something on the starting system ie brushes, solenoid, etc.

**flitecontrol** · 08-12-2010, 08:13 PM

I like maintenance free, absorbed glass mat batteries. They don't leak acid on the frame or electronics and you don't have to worry about adding fluid to them.

**Yeager** · 08-12-2010, 09:51 PM

so I went and bought a new battery after I had the last one tested that was toast couldn't hold a load.

Thanks for the quick help guys.

**btolle** · 08-18-2010, 04:16 PM

What are the odds that the battery will die the day you decide to wash the bike? Must be the third corollary to Murphy's second law of unintended consequences.

**Buickguy** · 08-19-2010, 01:49 AM

Get some alkaline soap in the battery and I'd say the odds go up considerably.

**Rainman** · 08-19-2010, 03:04 PM

I don't think you are out of the woods yet!...... I had this same thing happen on 2 different bikes. Getting a new battery would always help, but it wasn't the source of the problem. The first time this happened I discovered that my ignition switch (the button not the key) was corroded just enough that when your battery gets weak it doesn't make a good enough contact. It's an easy fix; just take it apart and clean it up with some emory cloth and whalla! The next time it happened, it again went away temperarily with a new battery but it was my solenoid had been getting weak and is a very common thing I guess to happen I was told? Any ways it is another cheap and easy fix. I just found a solenoid from one of the cars kicking around the yard (they are pretty universal I guess) and ever since then it has never been an issue again. If you here a click when pushing the starter button, its the solenoid. If you here nothing at all when pushing the start button it is the corroded switch. I hope this helps anyone with the same type if problem.

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