Battery smoking

[jlandolfi1979]

I have an 81 GS850G. Bike has been sitting for about 2 years. Only problem when parked was the carbs. Went out today and replaced the dead battery. Key on, lights and everything worked fine. Hit the starter button and it clicked once and the battery started to smoke. So far I have checked my connections (they are clean) the terminals (clean and hooked up properly) and the fuses (all good). What would be the next step to try and figure out what is going on? The electrical system may as well be magic to me so I am completely stumped
I tried searching but may be I wasn't specific enough because the results weren't exactly situation appropriate. Thanks in advance

[JEEPRUSTY]

What part fot eh battery was this smoke coming from?

[jlandolfi1979]

Sorry. Should have been more specific. It was smoking right at the connections, where the cable meets the battery. The screw that holds the positive cable in place was hot to the touch in just a few seconds.

[JEEPRUSTY]

Polarity is correct? Connections are truly tight?

If so look for a short or possibly a bad ground.

The electrical gooroos are likely out riding today but will chime in soon enough.

Under no circusmstances continue until you isolate the source fo the problem.

[tom203]

Sorry. Should have been more specific. It was smoking right at the connections, where the cable meets the battery. The screw that holds the positive cable in place was hot to the touch in just a few seconds.

With ignition OFF, put bike on centerstand, in gear, and try to spin rear wheel- might be semi locked from sitting causing starter motor strain. If so,remove spark plugs, add a little oil to help free things.

[Matchless]

If the battery connections are smoking, they are likely corroded. Pull them off and clean the battery poles and the lug surface. Also inspect the crimped part or replace the lug with a new one properly crimped or soldered. Also check the other ends on the starter and the engine casing while you are at it.

Usually the thinner black/white wires tend to overheat and melt the plastic insulation if you have a bad main ground and the starter tries to draw high current through them instead of the heavy ground cable.

You may also have a shorted starter or power cable to casing if the starter is not making any attempt to turn. I would check that first if the connections above turn out OK.

[jlandolfi1979]

I went out this afternoon and looked everything over. Cleaned and tightened the connections at the terminals. Checked the ground wire. Hit the start button and no smoke. Though the smoke wasn't there, the red wire that leads to the fuse box did feel warm. The cable that runs to the starter relay did not. When I hit the start button it just makes a sound like the motor spun a little and then nothing. Not clicks, just nothing. I put the turn signals on and, oddly enough, the back ones lit but did not flash. The front ones didn't even turn on. As the bike has been sitting the front bulbs may have just been burnt out but I had had enough for the day (radiator hose on my jeep blew so I was already pretty aggravated)

So, basically. No smoke, motor tries to spin and then nothing. Wire getting warm leading to the fuse box. I may replace the positive and negative leads (cheap enough and they are pretty old) but what should I be looking for next? Besides a bike that is less than 30 years old

I did put the bike on the center stand and was able to spin the rear tire with the clutch pulled in while in gear. I was not able to budge it while in gear with the clutch lever at rest. Should the wheel have budged?
Also, the battery tested normal but, devils advocate, assume the battery tester was wrong. Could this be the work of a weak/dying battery?

[Matchless]

I went out this afternoon and looked everything over. Cleaned and tightened the connections at the terminals. Checked the ground wire. Hit the start button and no smoke. Though the smoke wasn't there, the red wire that leads to the fuse box did feel warm. The cable that runs to the starter relay did not. When I hit the start button it just makes a sound like the motor spun a little and then nothing. Not clicks, just nothing. I put the turn signals on and, oddly enough, the back ones lit but did not flash. The front ones didn't even turn on. As the bike has been sitting the front bulbs may have just been burnt out but I had had enough for the day (radiator hose on my jeep blew so I was already pretty aggravated)

So, basically. No smoke, motor tries to spin and then nothing. Wire getting warm leading to the fuse box. I may replace the positive and negative leads (cheap enough and they are pretty old) but what should I be looking for next? Besides a bike that is less than 30 years old

I did put the bike on the center stand and was able to spin the rear tire with the clutch pulled in while in gear. I was not able to budge it while in gear with the clutch lever at rest. Should the wheel have budged?
Also, the battery tested normal but, devils advocate, assume the battery tester was wrong. Could this be the work of a weak/dying battery?

The next thing to do is to check if your engine can actually turn over. Remove all four spark plugs, put it in gear on the center stand and try turning the back wheel again.

[jlandolfi1979]

I will pull the plugs and give the wheel another spin tonight. Not really looking forward to the next step if it is indeed not turning over. Would the starter still try and spin if the motor wasn't turning over? I held the button in for a few seconds and it made a sound once and that was it. No clicking, just a "woomph" type noise and then nothing

[Matchless]

I will pull the plugs and give the wheel another spin tonight. Not really looking forward to the next step if it is indeed not turning over. Would the starter still try and spin if the motor wasn't turning over? I held the button in for a few seconds and it made a sound once and that was it. No clicking, just a "woomph" type noise and then nothing

Basically you need to prove whether the starter is unable to do its job due to the engine sticking or due to itself being faulty or not getting enough power to do the job. Lets hope the motor turns, if so, pull the starter and see if it spins when out of the bike.
Good luck!

[jlandolfi1979]

I know this will sound like a dumb question but, at this point, I will wear a sandwich board that says "I"M A GIANT IDIOT" if it helps get this lawn ornament running. While the bike is on the center stand, in gear, am I holding the clutch lever in or no? In gear, lever in, the wheel spins. In gear, lever at rest, the wheel wouldnt budge. I was only able to get the plugs off cylinders one and four as I didn't have time to disconnect the tank and remove the other 2 before I went to my second job.

I realize I am in over my head and will probably be taking it to a shop or selling it if I don't see some glimmer of hope some time soon with it. Thanks for all the suggestions thus far

[JEEPRUSTY]

I know this will sound like a dumb question but, at this point, I will wear a sandwich board that says "I"M A GIANT IDIOT" if it helps get this lawn ornament running. While the bike is on the center stand, in gear, am I holding the clutch lever in or no? In gear, lever in, the wheel spins. In gear, lever at rest, the wheel wouldnt budge. I was only able to get the plugs off cylinders one and four as I didn't have time to disconnect the tank and remove the other 2 before I went to my second job.

I realize I am in over my head and will probably be taking it to a shop or selling it if I don't see some glimmer of hope some time soon with it. Thanks for all the suggestions thus far

Remove the other plugs dude.
Clutch should be engaged lever out.

It may help to have the tranny in second gear when you try to rotate the rear wheel. Alos get a friend to stabilize the bike.

[jlandolfi1979]

Left work on break. All plugs out, took a bit of effort but got the wheel to spin in second. Would the starter be the next item on the list to eliminate?

[Matchless]

Check if your starter will turn the engine now with the plugs out. It should also be able to easily push the bike in first or second gear with the plugs out.
There is also a nut on the right side under the timing cover that will allow you to turn the engine while in neutral. The engine should turn easily an freely using these methods.

If the starter turns the motor now with the plugs out and not when you put the plugs back in you need to focus on the starter. If it does not turn the motor with plugs out, pull the starter and start testing it. It may be siezed up or the brushes may be worn. If the drain hole was blocked under the starter it may have been laying in water etc.

If the starter runs properly when out of the bike, then you may have to look at the starter clutch.

If you suspect your battery, whether its old or new, it may not be not charged, then jump start to a car battery without having the car running and see if it turns.

If you can get these quick checks done, we will be able to home in on the suspect.