Starter woes...

[socaldave11]

Hey all! Total noob here, so I apologize in advance!

I just picked up a '66 CL77 in pretty good condition. When I was checking it out at the guy's house that I got it from, it would kick start on the first or second kick and could sustain a nice smooth idle for a good while. Acceleration was good and it would cruise perfectly at about 45 (didn't take it any faster than that.) Today after work, now that it's back home, I can't get the thing to start for the life of me! I kick and kick and it turns over, but never actually catches. The lights are also no longer working, in any switch position. I'm assuming that means dead battery (picking up a tender tomorrow, and probably a new battery) but could that be ALL that's wrong? I always thought that you could kick start even with a dead battery. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[e3steve]

Hey Dave, welcome to the slightly barmey world of older Hondas.

The dynamo / alternator will output sufficient voltage and current, but if your battery is completely flat and / or with a shorted cell or two due to excess sulphate within, then it won't be able to overcome such a burden upon the system. AND, if you bump-start it and do get it running then you run the risk of damaging the rectifier.

Check the battery voltage with a meter. If it has self-depleted to below 10V then it's shagged, in which case a replacement is called for.

[LOUD MOUSE]

Are ya sure ya didn't turn the engine off with the key in the park position rather than the kill engine possition?. ........lm

Hey all! Total noob here, so I apologize in advance!

I just picked up a '66 CL77 in pretty good condition. When I was checking it out at the guy's house that I got it from, it would kick start on the first or second kick and could sustain a nice smooth idle for a good while. Acceleration was good and it would cruise perfectly at about 45 (didn't take it any faster than that.) Today after work, now that it's back home, I can't get the thing to start for the life of me! I kick and kick and it turns over, but never actually catches. The lights are also no longer working, in any switch position. I'm assuming that means dead battery (picking up a tender tomorrow, and probably a new battery) but could that be ALL that's wrong? I always thought that you could kick start even with a dead battery. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[e3steve]

Good call, LM! Although I'd think that the parking lights should've been apparent enough to be noticed that they were lit.

Dave, I should've added 'try externally charging the battery' to my advice.... NEVER run a 305 (or 247) with a totally flat batt; the originally-fitted selenium rectifier cannot asborb the current that a flat batt will demand of it. Don't run it without a battery, either; that will damage every electrical consumer on the bike, including the ignition system! In excess of 30V could be produced without a battery in circuit to 'cap' the voltage.

[LOUD MOUSE]

Happens all the time with new owners. ................lm

Good call, LM! Although I'd think that the parking lights should've been apparent enough to be noticed that they were lit.

Dave, I should've added 'try externally charging the battery' to my advice.... NEVER run a 305 (or 247) with a totally flat batt; the originally-fitted selenium rectifier cannot asborb the current that a flat batt will demand of it. Don't run it without a battery, either; that will damage every electrical consumer on the bike, including the ignition system! In excess of 30V could be produced without a battery in circuit to 'cap' the voltage.

[deaddog]

Happens all the time with new owners. ................lm

Still happens to me occasionally.