Divvy questions.

[iooi]

Ok so i'm new to this bike, So please bear with me on these questions.

Bike has 23,000 on the clock and has no engine rattles.
Front brake, the caliper is loose in that it rattles, has around 3-5 m/m of play, but still works OK. I'm guessing that it should not be like this and will have to look c when i get a chance.
Starter, sometimes nothing happens when pressing the starter button, usually pulling the front brake on and off, and it will then start. Anyone had this ?
Clutch bites right at the end of the lever, so i guess this needs adjusting a bit as i ohly have short fingers..

This is the 1st bike of this size i have had, most have been 250/350 size and i'm amazed at how easy it is to move around, get on center stand and how stable the handling is.

All i really need is a new exhaust (old on OK) but would like a 4-1, and a new set of tyres.

[aardy]

Hi iooi

I presume from your message you have a 600. It sounds a bit worrying that you have a rattling front caliper. What way is it rattling - side to side or forward and back?

Never heard of that starting problem - sounds to me like there could be a ghost in there somewhere.

The clutch one is an easy one to fix. Even if you are as incompetent as me you should be able to fix that one

If your exhaust still works OK don't change it you will just have problems you dont need getting the bolts off.

Do get the new tyres. Besides reducing the risk of punctures, slides and impending death it also makes for a more enjoyable ride since you are no longer worrying about the above or points on your licence if you are caught.

I quite agree they are an excellent bike - fast enough, good acceleration, manouverable
easy to work on, reliable, what more do you need.

Enjoy

Stuart

[iooi]

Thanks. Yep 600 it is.
Brake caliper is side to side.
On the starter issue found something on this site which points to the relay being a bit corroded. So something else i need to have a look at.

[adbru]

Hi and welcome ;D

Re the front caliper, check the retaining bolt at the front top of the caliper.
Its used as a slide pin I think....

I had my one snap making for some terrible noises, worse still was that if the pads ahd moved it could have locked the front wheel (doesnt bear thinking about !!)

take care

Adbru

[CD]

Starting problems can be caused by the various cut-out switches. There's one on the clutch lever so it wont start in gear unless clutch is pulled in. There's another on the side stand that stops the engine if in gear and stand is down.

If the bike is getting on a bit its well worth checking every cable connection that could possibly get splashed with salt etc as dodgy connectors can cause all sorts of wierd faults.

[iooi]

Just had a mess around on the starter/relay and tapping the relay when nothing happens causes the starter switch to work. Looks like there is a bad connection or its passed its best. Often just bumping of c/s is enough to get it to start.

Is it std that as soon as you put side stand down, even in netural that the engine cuts out. Usually i have found that most bikes only stop while its in gear.

[welshy]

The bike should only cut out if the side stand is down and it is put into gear. If it's in neutral and the side stand is down the engine should carry on running.

[iooi]

Ah wonder if this is the source of the problem then.
Maybe it needs disconnecting to see if it is.

[Welsh Ade]

before you go disconnecting this and that have you covered a few of the fundamentals e.g. is the tick over right as that can be a source of cut out and much easily rectified

[iooi]

Tick over is fine. Starts well even from cold now i have sussed the choke postiton.
Its just sometimes you press the starter button and there is nothing. No click etc from the relay. So that points to something eletrical. As has been said there are many diffrent bits that affect starter. But the fact the side stand is not working as it should is a good starting point.

[rollingwreck]

iooi said:

Its just sometimes you press the starter button and there is nothing. No click etc from the relay. So that points to something electrical.

Hi,

Maybe this might help. My Divvy also had the occasional non start when the button was pressed. I stripped off the bodywork and checked the wiring loom. From memory there are 3 connector blocks nearish the headstock under the tank (one for each of the handlebar switch gear and one much larger one for the instrumentation and ignition). Upon pulling the connector blocks apart I saw the terminals were badly corroded. Worse still a couple of perished wires snapped completely in my hand.

After a quick clean up and solder jobby the fault was rectified. I'm not saying this is the cause of ya problem but it might offer some help if you are unable the trace the fault elsewhere.

Hope you solve it either way

-RW-

[welshy]

I have a strange quirk on my bike. If it is in gear and I hold the clutch in, nothing happens when I press the start button. This made me think that the switch on the clutch lever is faulty. If I start the bike, hold the clutch in and put it in gear, it never cuts out at all. This makes me think the switch is OK. I'm totally confused by it but as long as I know this little quirk I can live with it. Unless anyone else has any ideas? (The side stand is up in both cases)

[werner1]

Could be the clutch is a bit sticky .
So the starter can't give enough momento to release the plates.

Always better to start in neutral (less friction = less strain on the starter)