Lazy and clicky

[pen15]

Hi all, just bought a Monster S4. When you try to start it it turns over very slowly and sometimes clunks like the starter is missing some teeth. When it is warm it turns over a little better but still this clunking noise. Its also a bit like it has started to fire and the starter has disengaged for a second. What should i check first?. Is it a simple battery problem or sterter gears, any known problems in this area. The starter solenoid is not original and has been replaced with a car one, also the rubber covers on the live side have melted and signs of arcing on the nuts, have i bought a pup, your help will be appreciated regards

[Kato]

Sounds very much like a dodgy earth somewere, indicated by the melted rubber shroud causing, I'd attemt to find it PDQ before the plastic coating on the cable to the starter melts and starts arcing across wherever it touches.

[gary tompkins]

Firstly I'd replace the starter solenoid with a new Ducati one. Then check the battery is 100%, has a good charge and the motor's in a good state of tune -spark plugs etc... S4's need a good battery to start reliably (i think the ignition shuts down if voltage drops too low) and immobiliser/alarm eats batteries if not kept on an optimate.

As Kato said it's worth checking out the loom for other damage and bad earths. If the battery is A1 and the motor still sounds like a bag of nails it could be a knackered starter clutch?

[pen15]

How much will a new solenoid?£££ and whats involved in a new starter clutch and how much!!! thanks

[gary tompkins]

No idea - ring around dealers or suppliers in your area?

Find out what problem is before you start chucking money at it. The solenoid still needs swapping if it's non-standard & damaged, and won't cost that much anyway TBH.

[Petorius]

My S4 turns over very slow too, just fitted a new battery at the weekend as i was concerned about getting stuck somewhere and did not seem to make much difference. I suspect i may not have been fully charged though despite being told by the dealer that it was was. Took it for a long ride on Sunday which will hopefully have charged it up. I will have check if it has made a difference. I hold the clutch in on mine when i hit the starter which seems to help and it does always seem to start. The earth seems fine on mine.

[pen15]

Gave the bike a bl--dy good charge and seems to be ok, told by my local Italian specialist that it is an Italian bike and they are a bit quirky and not to expect it to behave like a sanitised jap bike thanks for your replies