Warm start issue

[priapismic]

Not sure if something is starting to develop here or not, so I'd thought I'd put it out here for discussion.

The bike: '04 R twin spark, original owner, bought new in March of '03, now showing 62,000 miles. Only problems to date have been broken/leaky fuel QD's, a minor bit of FD seepage around the boot (seal was replaced), and failed coils (replaced both). Here's what's happening:

Sometimes - not all the time - while trying a warm start, I'll hit the starter button, and .... nothing. Or at least, not much. There may be a little bit of weak cranking going on, it's hard to tell with ear plugs and helmet, but this may repeat itself once or twice, until ...Voila! the starter gets some serious juice, cranks normally, and she starts easily. I never have any cold start problems, BTW.

After the first time this happened I had the battery replaced with a new BMW gel battery. I thought that might solve it, but it's come back since. Now this sure sounds like a weak battery to me, but since I have an alledgedly new battery, that should eliminate that possibility. So, did I get a bad battery? Did the dealer rip me off and not install a "new" battery after all, or do I have the beginnings of a failed starter motor and/or switch?

[mcollect]

I'm no expert but I suspect if it only happens when warm it is a wiring problem. My Guzzi did this and it was the wires to the starter that had corroded, cleaned and still does not happen. That was three years ago.

[Beemeridian]

22

[Arbee]

Have a look at the hand operated clutch lever neutral micro switch and the foot operated
neutral light switch sensor.

[towerworker]

You might consider cleaning the starter solenoid. Sounds like dirty contacts within the solenoid itself.

Wayne