Husker
stranger
Reged: 29/04/2009
Posts: 4
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Can anyone shed any light on problem I'm having with the Firestorm...
battery died, replaced battery, bike starts then next time drains battery and resets the clocks...
recharge and restart and battery drains completely again...
starter motor has been taken apart and seems fine, but bike still keeps draining battery when trying to start...
Any info/advice much appreciated!!
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chappers
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 31/12/2006
Posts: 6701
Loc: Mind your own business
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Got an alarm on it? If so rip the fucking thing out they can be a PITA.
An easy way to get your head around electrics is to liken the wiring loom to a plumbing system.
Whatever is causing it you have an open circuit(short) somewhere or in Plumbers terms a leak, tracing that leak is where the problem lies but only because you have so many wires to check some where there could be either a knackers component or earthed wire (leaky pipe draining into the frame).
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Say what you think and think what you say.
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thetony
member
Reged: 12/02/2009
Posts: 164
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I assume when it starts you then use the bike for a bit? Has it died on you while riding it yet? Have you got a multimeter to check battery output? I verymuch suspect your rectifier/regulator, they commonly fail on hondas from that era. If not that (which is not a big deal) it might be your generator (which is a bigger deal cashwise/ease of workwise) Let us know a bit more. I think your original battery is probably fine, but your bikes charging system -the generator and rectifier- is a bit fucked. I've had the same problem on a couple of blades, mates various cbrs etc. Honda put pretty shit quality rect'/regu's on their bikes (and camchain tensioners...)for a good while and I'd betcha this is all that's up. If you dunno what part I mean, say so and we'll tell you where to find it (it won't physically look damaged). The checks with a multimeter will diagnose the fault - would you know where to 'poke' one accordingly? What noises is it making during the whole failed start proccess? Also check you (again physically)have a good earth, big vibey twins like to loosen up these sort of things. Charge up both your batteries so you can do all yer checks with a multimeter (now you know how quickly a few failed starts flatten the buggers). Don't buy a rectifier/regulator from a breakers without a proof of working cert' and some sort of comeback, I still have a dud one some prick sold me on ebay - karma will take care of that bastard if I don't...
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Husker
stranger
Reged: 29/04/2009
Posts: 4
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Thanks for the quick replies guys...
Bike had been fine over winter, till one day bike turned, then wouldn't turn and started clicking on starting...
Cue new battery, which worked once, then repeated the dieing a death routine; again accompanied by whirring and clicking; took battery to be tested, got a replacement and lo!!
Yet again initially bike started, then on switch off to take out shed wouldn't restart, turns over couple of times, then back to the now all too familiar whirring and clicking...
When this happens the clocks reset to 00.00 before commencing to run as normal...alarm (H.I.S.S) light will still flash after failure to start...
Bikes been taken to garage and reg/rect have been detatched but still problem persists...
Bike can be left, battery charged/charging but still seems to be an almost immediate and complete drain on battery if it doesn't start.
I've had flat/fading batteries on bikes before but never have known a battery to loose the ability to even turn an engine so quickly...it could be that I'm buying/being sold shite batteries!!
Better halfs got a VFR400 which had flat bettery, charged it and it fired up no prob!!
Any more info or guidance very much appreciated 
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thetony
member
Reged: 12/02/2009
Posts: 164
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I think you must bee looking at the generator then. I went through near identical symptoms on the old blade; Assuming the fully charged battery is sitting at over 13volts, yer reg/rec adjusts that to the 12.5ish needed, my old 929 only had enough juice in the battery to start a couple of times (the fucked generator was the short/earth like chappers mentioned) and we know how much energy it takes to turn over a litre capacity V twin (or you'll know if you ever tried to bump start one!) even just a ball-hair under it's needed 12v is enough for a failed start & dash board poltergiest so it still makes sense we're talking about you genny. Yer starter solenoid spazzing out like you describe is fine, just due to the lack of power. If you get it running again get the multimeter through the battery (you can also test the reg/rec and generator at their relevant contact points) and rev the engine slowly to see, hopefully, the volts go up and therefore charging successfully...I doubt you will DUE TO YOUR FUCKED GENERATOR. Thankfully there is a great service involving reconditioned gen's, your shagged one goes in exchange for a lovely rewound one for around £120 and you get a years warranty - you don't get a warranty on a brand new honda one, so it is a good service/deal all in. I gave the reciept away with my blade when I sold it so don't have the contact details to hand but a good independant bike shop should know who i'm talking about, If you really struggle to find them give me a shout and i'll ask my local guy who sent mine away and fitted it for me (you need a tool to pull/fit one easily from memory). Other than checking all your connections/fuses for tightness/condition/corrosion i think you need the generator correctly dignosed as fucked and sent away. I don't think yer HISS system is at fault here, It will always freak out a bit when the battery is at it/been disconnected, the number of flashes it does when it won't start is the diagnostic code for some honda tech' to look up and charge you a fortune to tell you - they must be on the net somewhere . Again get someone savvy with a multimeter and charging system to be absolute juge over it's fuckedness before you order any parts.
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Husker
stranger
Reged: 29/04/2009
Posts: 4
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Many thanks...back to the workshop!! 
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Husker
stranger
Reged: 29/04/2009
Posts: 4
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An update on the Firestorm...
Problem solved by...using a Yuasa battery...battery sold by local bike shop inadequate for the job...
Mucho gratitude due to the gent at RPM motorcycles for his time and patience.. .
Also, thanks for the answers/time on here, much appreciated
Edited by Husker (07/06/2009 20:42)
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