Tipped my bike while engine running, now it won't start...

[Popeye70]

This morning, after a rather sleepless night (thank you, kids), I jumped on the bike to go to work, completely forgetting the front brake disc lock.

The bike started just fine, I put it in first gear and drove about 30 cm before the bike abruptly stopped and slowly tipped over with the engine running. I cut the engine after a sec or two, raised the bike, unlocked the disc lock and tried to start the bike again after straightening out the gear shifter that was slightly bent from hitting the curb.

Now the bike wont start. When I turn the key, everything sounds normal and the diagnostics show no errors, but when I push engine start i get a continuous clicking sound, click-click-click-click about 6-10 times a sec.

I have browsed through both the Owners Manual and Service Manual, but I can't find any good information regarding what to look for and how to fix it. Googling it doesn't come up with any conclusive answers...

Is there a "tip over" switch I need to reset on the (2004) FZ6, and if so, where is it and how do I reset it?

Or could it be something completely different? Since the bike started wihout problems before I tipped it, I guess the battery has enough current to turn the start engine, or could I be mistaken?

Thanks in advance!

 

[OZXJR]

There is a tip over sensor that is auto reset,it shouldn't take long to reset though.

 

[Popeye70]

There is a tip over sensor that is auto reset,it shouldn't take long to reset though.

That confirms my suspicion. Thank you.

From I tipped the bike to the last time I tried to start it, it could have been maybe 3-4 minutes. If there is something like a 5 minute auto reset delay, I probably didn't wait long enough. I'll see when I get back from work this afternoon.

I will also try to charge the battery tonight, just to rule out a low battery condition.

 

[thieu]

Sounds like a low battery to me, the click click click is your solenoid engaging running out of juice and disengaging.

 

[Motogiro]

Sounds like a low battery to me, the click click click is your solenoid engaging running out of juice and disengaging.

I agree. Lift the tank and check your battery connections. If connections are tight, check voltage.
You can jump start the bike but if you use a car, make sure the engine is off and use just the car battery to start it.....You could have a battry that wasn't healthy and when it tipped contaminants got on the internal plates and fouled the battery..
Gook luck and sorry to hear about the spill...

 

[chaskell27]

It sounds like a lack of battery power to me. Check to see if the battery has a charge. The only other thing I can think of is that one or both of the leads or other connection may have been jarred loose when the bike fell over. Check the connections, then check the charge. Good luck.

 

[Popeye70]

Thank you for all your feedback. After a few hours with a battery charger, the bike starts just fine. That the clickety-click happened right after the tipping over must have been just a coincidence.

The bike had been stationary for five-six weeks before today, and has only been taken for shorter trips (mostly ~15 km) with <6000 rpms this season. The battery must have been slowly draining all year...

 

[oldfast007]

Damn, late on this one as well. I was going to advise to just tip it over on the other side and bam...... all reset.

If you have a Battery Tender, throw it on there whenever it will be idle for 5-7 days or more.

 

[sxty8goats]

Thank you for all your feedback. After a few hours with a battery charger, the bike starts just fine. That the clickety-click happened right after the tipping over must have been just a coincidence.

The bike had been stationary for five-six weeks before today, and has only been taken for shorter trips (mostly ~15 km) with <6000 rpms this season. The battery must have been slowly draining all year...

Sounds like the battery is weak. Last year my bike would sit for a week, I had one chance to start it on the weekend. If I shut her down or stalled it in the first 20 minutes or so, she needed to go on a charger.

So it was sort of coincidence in your case, but also a bit of a weak battery.

 

[Evitzee]

Damn, late on this one as well. I was going to advise to just tip it over on the other side and bam...... all reset.

If you have a Battery Tender, throw it on there whenever it will be idle for 5-7 days or more.

+1. I only get to ride on the weekends due to working away from home and the bike is always on a Battery Tender, so I know it will always be in prime condition when I throw my leg over it on Saturday morning. In my opinion a BT is a must for any bike, it will for itself in battery life extension which will last far longer.

 

[Popeye70]

If you have a Battery Tender, throw it on there whenever it will be idle for 5-7 days or more.

My charger is actually a battery tender, and got the battery up to an acceptable level (for now). :thumbup:

I'll leave it on for longer as soon as I get the chance, but I don't like having the bike parked at the street with the tender on for days. With the weather we're having in Norway these days, there's rain almost every other day, and anyone who want to be an a**hole can do whatever he/she wants with the power cord...

I recently bought the CTEK XS 4003 (MULTI XS 4003 - for complete battery care - CTEK SWEDEN AB) btw, and love it! Apparently, others like it as well: CTEK Takes Top Prize in Auto Express Awards

 

[Kriswithak]

Good to hear its all sorted, my battery tender is me, riding the bike every few days

 

[Capo79]

I had this happening to me too a while ago:spank:

Engine was running fine before the tip over. It shut itself down as the tip over sensor was engaged. When I tried to start it again, it just clicked like you're describing.

What I did, was to try a rolling start, which went well. After a few miles, I tried to start it normally and everything was fine. Don't know why this happens, but maybe there's a sudden drainage of the battery when the bike tips over?? To me, that is the only reasonable explanation as the battery WAS full.

 

[Popeye70]

... Don't know why this happens, but maybe there's a sudden drainage of the battery when the bike tips over?? To me, that is the only reasonable explanation as the battery WAS full.

I knew my battery was low, but not that low. The battery tender's quick connect cable has an indicator that told me it was time to start charging (and had told me so for about a week), but since the engine had started without problems just 30 secs earlier, I didn't really think the battery was this close to not having enough juice for a second start.

Of course, you could be correct about the temporary drainage after tipping the bike over, but I can't really see how this could happen.

 

[Popeye70]

Turns out that my battery probably is ready for replacement. 10 days after I charged it there is almost no charge left. I haven't used it more than maybe 20 kms since then, and I have no extra equipment that draws power. From what I can see and know, the battery is the original from 2004, and 6 years and 22000 kms isn't all that bad after all.

 

[tomari]

think about it, you tip your bike and engine stops, lights are on! you are in a mini shock and dont think clear, 10 mins of lights until you get your bike up, inspect your self and the bike are enough for an old battery...