V7 850 won't start

[blackbuell]

V7 850 special was purchased new from Cadre in March; has 4,600 miles on odo. The day after returning home from Ohio rally, the bike wouldn't start. Normal light show when ignition key turned on, but no click and starter action. I put battery on charger; when charger indicates full charge, still no start. My guess is battery is shot. There was no prior hint of any electrical issue.

I will get the battery tested. If it is the battery, will it be covered under warranty? What other underlying issue might cause a 6 month old battery to die? Suggestions for a good replacement battery?

Thanks,

Jon

[blu guzz]

I warped a rear brake rotor on my 1400 through very aggressive mountain riding.  I was very pleasantly surprised that it was warrantied since it is usually considered a "wear item".  Also, on my 85, one of the heat shields broke from vibration, they warrantied this too.  So, I am optimistic for a new battery for you under warranty if that is what it is.
Good luck.

[Chethro]

I would just call them and ask. They are very good to deal with. They bent over backwards to get me a new spark plug cap which I broke doing a valve adjustment. They may give you an idea if there is anything else to check for.

[kpmurphy]

Check the battery voltage with a multi meter. Should be >12.5 volts. I had the same symptoms on my v7 850. Could be the start button. Take apart the right handle bar menu/start button switch. Use some very fine sandpaper and clean the start button contacts. Apply a thin film of dielectric grease to the contacts and re-assemble. Sometimes if the bike gets wet the contacts this can happen. My v7 850 is hesitant to turnover after riding home in the rain from the Ohio rally.

[blackbuell]

KP,

We did ride through rain on the way home from the Ohio rally. I decided to look over the battery cables before removing the battery; all looked fine, no evidence of corrosion. I also turned relevant switches on and off a few times, also moved the side stand up and down a few times. Tried to start the bike, and it came to life just fine. Perhaps it has the same issue that your bike had.  I will look over the start button contacts.

Thanks,

Jon

[Vagrant]

Check the battery voltage with a multi meter. Should be >12.5 volts. I had the same symptoms on my v7 850. Could be the start button. Take apart the right handle bar menu/start button switch. Use some very fine sandpaper and clean the start button contacts. Apply a thin film of dielectric grease to the contacts and re-assemble. Sometimes if the bike gets wet the contacts this can happen. My v7 850 is hesitant to turnover after riding home in the rain from the Ohio rally.

THIS!
These switches are a POS! I cured my 2017 with deoxit. I now have a 2016 that works fine most of the time but sometimes it does nothing. It comes apart today.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Until you measure the battery Voltage you are just guessing
My new V7III had a bad alternator right out of the box, I had to prove that to the dealer before they would budge, eventually I got a replacement.
Try charging the battery

[pehayes]

Read your warranty details.  Batteries, tires, windshield wipers, etc. are manufactured by others and covered by their own, separate warranties.  You will likely find that the battery warranty period is much shorter than the moto warranty.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[blackbuell]

Battery is fine. I think the issue is with the starter switch. Will now make sure to always carry tools and other things that I might need to fix the issue on the road.

Thanks for the input.

Jon

[egschade]

I miss kick starters...




download foto instagram hd

[buck]

This happened to my V7 after purchasing last October and riding hundreds of miles in the rain. I took apart the switch, cleaned the contacts and applied dielectric grease. It’s been almost a year and it has never malfunctioned again.

[kingoffleece]

A little after the fact.  I treat every electrical contact, switch, relay, and everything electric twice a year with ACF-50 from new. Helps and prevents these sort of annoyances.

[mechanicsavant]

I had a similar issue with my 21 V7/850 . Occasionally no crank , check side stand , up. Neutral yup . Wait a min. Cycle key on & off , starts ? After a few of these occasions I noticed I was ever so slightly opening the throttle when I reached for the starter button . Since I’ve been sure to hold throttle fully closed . Problem hasn’t reoccured “yet” .that’s all I got .

[Beowulf]

A little after the fact.  I treat every electrical contact, switch, relay, and everything electric twice a year with ACF-50 from new. Helps and prevents these sort of annoyances.

I use acf 50 as well. Works great

[Muzz]

I'm assuming you have checked the sidestand switch and made sure the kill switch is ok?

[DirtFarmer]

There have been several V7 850’s that have had problems with their starter switch.    Moisture has been the most common cause, easy fix. 

[fotoguzzi]

I would not use dialectic grease for that.

What The Heck Is Dielectric Grease? - The Drivehttps://www.thedrive.com › The Garage
dielectric grease from www.thedrive.com
Aug 6, 2021 — Dielectric, sometimes referred to as tune-up grease, is a viscous non-conductive waterproof substance used to protect electrical connections ...

It’s for outside the contact area.

[joe-dean]

I agree with vagrant crappy starter button. I wiggled the harness from the switch then starts I just put up with it

[buck]

I would not use dialectic grease for that.

What The Heck Is Dielectric Grease? - The Drivehttps://www.thedrive.com › The Garage
dielectric grease from www.thedrive.com
Aug 6, 2021 — Dielectric, sometimes referred to as tune-up grease, is a viscous non-conductive waterproof substance used to protect electrical connections ...

It’s for outside the contact area.

Nothing wrong at all with using dielectric grease, and like I said it’s been in my starter switch for nearly a year now. The purpose of the grease is to keep water from corroding the metal contacts again.

[Kiwi_Roy]

This happened to my V7 after purchasing last October and riding hundreds of miles in the rain. I took apart the switch, cleaned the contacts and applied dielectric grease. It’s been almost a year and it has never malfunctioned again.

Please dont use di-electric grease, plain old Vaseline from the baby isle at your local supermarket is the bees knees.for moving contacts.

[Vagrant]

I got mad Sunday night after another fail on my switch. Unfortunately I never thought to take a pic.
The rocker itself is cheap somewhat flexible plastic. Why they couldn't just use a plain button like everybody else is beyond me. Take the top off of the switch, remove one throttle cable, warning do not try to start the bike with it off, remove one tiny screw to get the switch out, there is a contact disc on the bottom then a cone shaped spring sitting on it. The spring has a small metal slug like the screw off top on a spark plug. It has a tiny area on one end that is turned down a few thousands to let it sit into the spring. I think this is the problem, it should be sticking down into the spring 1/8" farther to always make good contact. You might be able to put some epoxy or JB weld into the recess of the rocker to make it go down farther. Turning it down on a lathe would be ideal. If I have to take it apart again, I will try that. You can tell the rocker flexes all around and just doesn't shove the little slug positivly into the lower contact disc. If I had thought to do this I think I would have solved the problem once and forever. As it is I just cleaned up the slug and contact plate and used some vaso

line on them. Hopefully the first guy to try this will take good pics.

[Huzo]

Please dont use di-electric grease, plain old Vaseline from the baby isle at your local supermarket is the bees knees.for moving contacts.

I always hate being seen buying that stuff.
“I’m getting it for a friend” doesn’t go far towards getting you off the hook either…

[buck]

I always hate being seen buying that stuff.
“I’m getting it for a friend” doesn’t go far towards getting you off the hook either…

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but facts are facts. Anything that coats the contacts and keeps them from corroding without inhibiting their ability to still make contact will work fine - you could use wheel bearing grease if you wanted to - which is the reason dielectric grease is just fine as well. I might have a clue of what I’m talking about, as I’ve held master technician certification since 1993. Among other things, electrical and electronic work was a specialty of mine.

[Kev m]

I always hate being seen buying that stuff.
“I’m getting it for a friend” doesn’t go far towards getting you off the hook either…

My BIL was a checkout guy at a local grocery when he was in high school.

I remember the day he said this creepy looking customer bought a huge jar of Vaseline and a couple of big cans of tuna fish.

He had this strange feeling the purchases were related.

[greer]

blackbuell, have you opened up the switch housing?  I'm wondering if it works the same as Vagrant's '16.  Mine is working fine, so I hesitate to mess with it.  Especially since little springs want to fly off in every direction at a mere glance from me.

Sarah

[blackbuell]

Sarah,

Yes, I have opened up the housing, and it appears to be just as Vagrant has described. In support of his explanation for the problem, I can get the switch to work only if I press the tab so hard that I worry it might break, and even then it doesn't always work.

Jon

[greer]

Dang.  If it's still apart, would you mind posting a picture or two? 

Sarah

[Vagrant]

Dang.  If it's still apart, would you mind posting a picture or two? 

Sarah

Sarah, if yours works don't try to fix it. Just spray some De-oxit in once a year.
I think Blackbuell needs to try my idea.

[blackbuell]

Cadre will replace the switch under warranty,

Jon

[greer]

Good!  I need to look into De-oxit and ACF 50.

Sarah