Leaderboard

No, the starter load is not carried through the ignition switch, just the solenoid load is. the starter motor itself will draw 150 - 170 Amps I don't believe the switch is rated at any more than about 10 Amps, I cannot find the specs. The solenoid has a massive job to do, it has to slide the gear all the way across to engage with the ring gear, I think it takes something like 30 Amps minimum to do that, but the solenoid is designed to pull 50 Amps so why not use all that power. Power = Current squared x resistance, the heavy current coil is 0.25 ohms At 30 Amps the power draw is 30 x 30 x 0.25 = 225 Watts At 50 Amps the power draw is 50 x 50 x 0.25 = 625 Watts Which do you think might work better? This high current to the solenoid only flows for a fraction of a second, as soon as it starts to crank the heavy coil is effectively switched out and the light coil just draws ~ 10 Amps I often see an owner say the bike cranks ok in warm weather but plays up when its cold, there's a very simple explanation for that. The ignition switch has sliding contacts and sliding contacts need to be lubricates or they will quickly wear away. When it is cold the lube becomes much stiffer than normal so it tends to take tension off the contact point therefore the resistance increases to a point that there is insufficient current flowing to get the solenoid moving 1/2 an Ohm is too much. Petroleum jelly aka Vaseline has been used for over 100 years to lubricate sliding contacts. As it ages the jelly loses some of the more volatile components this also makes it stiffer. I think if you were to clean and replace the lube in the switch every 4 or 5 years it would probably keep working ok but I recommend bypassing the switch altogether and give the solenoid the current it was designed to operate on i.e. 50 Amps. The easiest way to do this IMHO is to add another relay next to the solenoid using the original trigger wire to feed the new relays coil If you look at the schematic for a 1999 VII Sport you can see that the start relay on that model doesn't get its power through the ignition switch, instead it gets it from the battery through a fuse the one I had never hesitated to crank all the time I owned it. Another bike that got it right was the early CARC bikes, they also have a direct feed where later ones hav extra relays and still suffer.

Yesterday, October 6th 2021, the starter motor did not crank immediately upon pushing the switch. The Neutral and low oil pressure lights dimmed, so the current was drawn, but the starter only kicked in after about one second. This morning, the same situation happened, but it blew the 15 amps mains fuse. The battery is fine. I changed the fuse, and started the bike. Same issue without blowing the fuse. The starter motor did not crank right at the button push. The light intensity showed the current was drawn but the motor did not turn run away. It took about one second. Could be a sticky starter motor, or a going bad relay. Unfortunately, the OMRON G8HE-1C7T-R-DC12 DC12V does not seem to be available from a trusted seller. I found some on Amazon or eBay, but the sellers have warnings from "fakeguard". Anybody has any available for purchase? LMK Please excuse me if someone covered this already in the 7 pages I didn't read closely p6x, reading your original post it sounds like classic Startus Interruptus, not enough current getting to the starter solenoid. Possibly as the result of a dirty ignition switch, it could also be a relay or relay base resistance but my monies on the ignition switch. Pull it apart and wipe out the old grease replace with fresh Vaseline. The solenoid needs an inrush of about 30 Amps to goad it into motion so just a tiny amount of resistance and it falls in the 20 - 25 Amp range where it will cause the 15 Amp fuse to blow. The starter solenoid is designed to draw 50 Amps, its amazing how well it works when it's wired accordingly.

Thanks for the reply and link, chamberlain! Cheers, Frey

This is Loeb's 2013 effort. Just crazy to go along for the (wild) ride!

After a year on this very informative site, I finally figured how to load a photo. It's a 2000 V 11 Sport. It has 41500 on it and is solid. Bought January 2021. Someone asked why I bought it? Reply; It's sex on toast! LOL I am the third owner. Second owner is a friend. He bought it with 850 miles. He had it shipped to Oregon 20 years ago. He moved North and asked if I would mind riding it to its new home. Really twisted my arm. So, when he decided to sell, I said I'll take it. I have been riding BMW/Suzuki Dual sports since 1995. Clunky dual sport boots don't work very well on the V11. Found a pair of road boots and have enjoyed riding this machine. Added a pair of risers [some shop out of Houston] and longer brake/clutch lines. It's a kit. Really helped with comfort. Bike has several custom features: carbon fibre front fender, bikini fairing, cowl, titanium exhaust, headers and silencers, plus all stock parts and records from new. The seat isn't that bad! I love how the engine revs up to 7000 rpm and just pulls. Might be the sound... LOL

With as many V11 as you have @Guzzimax, it's more like an orgy on a loaf of crusty bread . . .

I’ve never heard a V11 described as sex on toast. I’m trying to imagine what sex on toast is like

"210" Plastic Cleaner and Polish is amazing for shiny plastic surfaces, but for that matte surface I would try to restore them with Shin-Etsu grease. Let it soak soak in then buff with a soft brush. As always, "Test in a small obscured area first" . . .

@doccis it you playing the Bass?

For those of you unfamiliar with what the Monte Carlo means, watch this!!! no boring narrative, just the facts, and a back flip at the end....

As this thread evolved to contribute to our relay sourcing, I propose the "answer" to @p6x's starting issue be posted in his "jump start" thread:

I protest about the nick name "Porkchops". How about Texas T-bone?

@Kiwi_Roy Once I get the problem's root cause identified beyond doubt, and I want to thank all those who contributed opinions, I will update the original post with all the information. Thus, if anyone else faces a similar problem, they will be able to get all the information by reading a single post.

@docc By winning the 2022 Monte Carlo Rally, Sebastien Loeb set a new record; oldest driver ever to win a WRC rally. He won 9 times the WRC world championship. Incidentally, Sebastien Ogier won 8 times so far, still in the race to get to nine this year, arrived 2nd at the 2022 Monte Carlo after leading, but had a puncture to give Loeb the win. It seems like when you are born, if they name you Sebastien, you are bound to become a talented rally driver? When you think about it, (Finland, Sweden, Norway) always were the countries producing the best rally drivers.

Good to hear from you sir................. I ran across your Utube vid on the V-11 Sport the other day and was wondering what you've been up to. Ciao

https://www.autozone.com/paint-and-body/specialty-paint/p/dupli-color-red-metalcast-paint-11oz/353489_0_0

How great to see your post! +1 on Eastwood Diamond Clear to "seal the deal."

Haha got the original notification docc! I'm still subscribed! As you know I never rode the bike, and sadly sold it many years ago. I never used the paint technique above on my porkchops but I did use it on some computer parts and a set of headphones! Wore them today coincidentally, and it holds up just fine! I think on a motorcycle though, I'd use Eastwood diamond clear or something similar, on top of the faux anodizing paint.

This tee came up in the rotation.....

"Ain't this XERB, Baby!?!"

There just are not any "classified ads" like this, anywhere . . . Page one: member @Randy (South'nSpineRaider) posts a random CL ad. (Comment and concern follow). Page two: We discover the passing of our longtime member : twhitaker Page three: This V11LeMans finds a new home and our honorable @witttom respects us with the outcome . . . [edit: same page @FreyZI chimes in and invites us to join his new venture!]

Truly, it appears no one has seen anything more than the two exhibition models. The V11 sport (black!) was exhibited at EICMA 1997. It was August 2000 before I could buy mine in the USA (V11 early adopter!). Not quite three years, but also not uncommon for Moto Guzzi lead time from exhibition to production/ availability . . .

...should be handy for those short-arsed early adopters deciding ...er, among us 🤭

2014 is pretty old post/thread to ask after. Yet, our good man chamberlin checked in less than a year ago. Let's see if he gets a notification this way: How 'bout it, @chamberlin ?