Hot Starting Or Not Tiger Sport

Discussion in 'Technical Help' started by Too hot, Oct 6, 2020.

  1. Too hot

    Too hot Well-Known Member

    Jul 9, 2019
    179
    93
    Costa del Clyde Scotchland
    Here is a question that appears to be known or ongoing issue with 1050 Triumphs.
    A few months ago I bought privately a secondhand 2016 Tiger Sport 1050 with 2300 miles on the clock.
    Now as far as I can tell the bike runs faultlessly. Until the other day. At a set of traffic lights I made a schoolboy error and stalled the bike (this was after an hour of riding so the bike was fully warmed up)
    I immediately tried to restart it and the bike cranked over slowly as if it’s battery was flat it wouldn’t catch.
    I tried a couple more times but it was worse on each time getting to the stage it appeared totally dead.
    I switched it off and waited to try to figure out what to do,after about ten fifteen minutes I tried it again
    and it started.I managed to keep it running and made it home ! Now a few days later and after some research it appears to be a known fault with the 1050 triples. Now the remedy seems to be switch it off and let it cool for ten minutes which is what happened to me. Started after 10 mins cooling off.
    Yesterday I tried to recreate the same conditions at home. Tested the battery ,switched on ,off ,running, battery seems fine and charging normally. So I kept the bike running got it really hot to bring on the fan,then switched it off.Immediately tried to start it again and the battery seemed to drag like it was flat,tried it a couple of times and sure enough appeared dead.However let it sit for ten minutes and hey presto restarts no problem as if the battery was fully charged (which it was) Left the bike overnight went out to shed tried it and started no problem no indication of charging fault.I have owned an 07 plate Tiger1050 never had a problem also had a 1050 Speedy no problems.This I taking the shine off my new steed and makes me wonder if Triumph is an unreliable brand to tour on ? Question is does anyone have a guaranteed "fix" for this problem?
     
  2. Callumity

    Callumity Elite Member

    Feb 25, 2017
    3,358
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    Nr Biggar
    #2 Callumity, Oct 6, 2020
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2020
    Well, touch wood, (taps head :confused:) my 2018 has yet to play up.

    My own researches say that the problem supposedly lies in the design of the standard Denso starter with Speed Triples also affected. Apparently there is no direct earth contact through the -ve brush plate. Most starter motors have their -ve terminal bolted into the starter body or have the brush soldered to earth. On the Denso the brush plate contact is a press fit created when the starter was originally assembled.

    Time and corrosion weaken the electrical contact. The definitive fix (if you don’t fancy periodic disassembly to polish the thing!) is to solder a heavy gauge wire directly to the earth brush via the brush plate and drill an adjacent hole in through the aluminium motor body to route the wire to a ‘meaty’ eyelet on a suitable earthing point.......

    I am about 2 years behind you so let me know how it works out! Remember, supposedly/apparently!!
     
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  3. Too hot

    Too hot Well-Known Member

    Jul 9, 2019
    179
    93
    Costa del Clyde Scotchland
    Thanks for that sounds like a Triumph design flaw!
    Probably means that earlier bikes had different starter motors?
    I’m going to triumph Glasgow tomorrow so I will make enquiries there to see if they have any information or know of a known fault/fix.
     
  4. Callumity

    Callumity Elite Member

    Feb 25, 2017
    3,358
    800
    Nr Biggar
    As far as I am aware the problem is associated with older models rather than the 2016 facelift+ bike. Starting issues can have multiple causes and online it all gets ‘give a dog a bad name’.
    I should have asked if you were on the original battery or you had it load tested to see what amps it still throws out? If it is not new it may well be time expired. Equally, bikes left outside have far more opportunity for rain to attack handlebar switches etc., and you never have the test equipment in your back pocket when trouble strikes to see if the starter is receiving battery voltage, check terminals etc.
     
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  5. Johnjo

    Johnjo Senior Member

    May 29, 2017
    548
    243
    Birmingham
    Have a read of the thread in this section on the subject from 3 days ago.

    It is a known problem with the starter motor. Triumph have since beefed it up at substantial cost.
     
  6. Alatamoc

    Alatamoc Senior Member

    Mar 29, 2019
    493
    113
    Uk
    It was an occasional feature of my last Tiger 955i too. ....though not my current 955i.for some reason.
    Although it's annoying, it's really not a big deal .....unless you're in the Gobi desert being chased by bandits of course, in which case I'd be pretty pissed off about it.
    I've known other bikes with far scarier flaws.
     
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  7. Foxy1

    Foxy1 Crème de la Crème

    Aug 31, 2018
    1,251
    1,000
    Sheffield
    I have exactly t'same problem wi mine. I stalled it last week at a busy traffic light junction, when I thought mi bike was in neutral, whilst perusing an attractive lady int car next to me. Took 35 mins for mi bike to cool down enough to start, it normally takes about 15 mins.. When I put a post on here t'same as yours, everyone seemed to advise changing t'battery. I tested mi battery, and it seems fine. I did a little experiment t'day after. I charged mi battery overneet, then rode to work next day, a 10 mile journey. I stopped mi bike, then turned it off. Turned it back on, pressed t'button, and it fired straight up!! Maybe it is t'battery.
     
  8. Too hot

    Too hot Well-Known Member

    Jul 9, 2019
    179
    93
    Costa del Clyde Scotchland
    I’m thinking of changing the battery for piece of mind and to take the battery out of the equation. Might try a heavier duty battery just to give it more of a kick.
    As one of the other posters mentioned it’s not the worst fault in the world but it can be annoying when it appears at the most in opportune moment.!
     
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  9. Alatamoc

    Alatamoc Senior Member

    Mar 29, 2019
    493
    113
    Uk
    And naturally it will occur at the worst possible moment.
    Do you have a voltmeter? It would be worth checking how your battery is performing at rest/ overnight/ when hot and under load before buying a new battery.
    Having said that, 9 out of 10 starting problems turn out to be battery issues.
    Fir what it's worth I had a failing starter motor on my last 955i rebuilt in 7 days by my local auto electric shop....cost £70 as opposed to the £500 Triumph wanted for a new one.
    Though if it's the earth that's at fault obviously that wouldn't make the difference in itself.
     
  10. Foxy1

    Foxy1 Crème de la Crème

    Aug 31, 2018
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    Sheffield
    Someone put a post on here about how he'd cured it. I think it was one of our colonial cousins from across t'pond. He'd run an extra earth cable from t'inside ot starter motor to t'frame. I can't find it though. He reckoned it were summat to do wit heat int starter motor.
     
  11. Callumity

    Callumity Elite Member

    Feb 25, 2017
    3,358
    800
    Nr Biggar
    As above. It was about the lack of a dedicated earth strap on the -ve brush terminal and build up of corrosion between the press fit and motor body.
     
  12. Foxy1

    Foxy1 Crème de la Crème

    Aug 31, 2018
    1,251
    1,000
    Sheffield
    Thats the one, mate.
     
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