V50 Mk 11 1980 starting problems

Technical Small Block V Twins (not new V7s)
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1

Sometimes when I start my guzzi there is no response. I have to rock it in gear and it will start. Any suggestions would be grateful received

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Uh-oh. No-one needs a starting problem ):

Tell us a bit more Genie, so we can better help? The better you can describe what is, and what isnā€™t happening, the better people can home in on your problem, rather than offer ā€˜generalā€™ advice, some of which might not be at all relevant.

So: pressing the starter button results in the starter motor turning happily, just doesnā€™t fire? Orā€¦ something else? I mean, if you were pressing the button and nothing happens, until you ā€œrock the bikeā€, Iā€™d suggest you start by checking that the battery connections (and those to the starter motor) are clean and ā€˜tightā€™. But if the starter is turning strong and healthy, yet not firing until you ā€œrock the bike in gearā€ Iā€™d be looking elsewhere - does the V50II have a sidestand cut-out switch? I donā€™t know, but someone surely will! Good luck!

3

Hi Barry,

Thanks for reply. I have just cleaned the connectors and battery terminals. It is electric start, when I press the button most of the time it turns over quite happily no issues. The odd occasion when I press the button nothing happens at all. I then have to put it in gear and rock it a few times then it will start.

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Hi Genie Do you hear a slight click from the side panel area? It sounds like it is probably the click no crank problem, a well known problem on older Guzziā€™s
The cure is to run a new live feed from the battery to the centre terminal on the starter relay. Iā€™m not familar with the wiring of a V50, mine is a Spada. I used a permanent live from the fuse box (fused side) and ran a new wire to the centre terminal of the starter relay. Pictured here
Relay wiring mod2 by Don West, on Flickr

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Hi Don, I think I have heard a click now you mention before. Not sure if I hear it every time. I had a Newtronic electronic ignition fitted as the old one packed up and I donā€™t know if it is a coincidence but after this was fitted this is when the issue started. I have been googling the problem and as you can imagine lots of thing from starter motor to solenoid. I wondered how you would know which one it is. I will try what you said. I guess it will be trying different things to eliminate and hopefully get to the problem.

Thank youā˜ŗļø

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The problem is generally due to resistance in the various connections in the loom causing a loss of power, maybe something was disturbed when the new unit was fitted.
A simple test of the starter is to run a temporary wire from the spade connector on top of the solenoid to the +ve terminal on the battery, when you touch it on the battery, the starter should spin and engage.

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The connectors were all cleaned today so hopefully this may have sorted it, time will tell I guess. If it happens again I will try the test you suggested to see if it is the starter motor. Thank you Don for the advice and suggestions, much appreciated :+1:

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