Starting issue

Have a 2006 VFR having the following issue. It will only start after giving battery a refresh charge, even though battery is showing 13.4 volts on meter.Today was typical of issue, put a battery that had topped up overnight, started right up. Rode for about 10 minutes, stopped, killed engine, restarted no issues. Rode 3 miles, stopped for gas, would not restart but did allow me to bump start it on a convenient hill. Rode 3 miles home, will not start again. Have done the following:

1. Used both recharged old battery and new battery, same issues.
2. Bypass starter relay, 1 loud click, lights go out, maybe a 1/4 to 1/2 turn of engine, then nothing.
3. Hooked up to car battery, bypassing bike battery, started fine.
4. Pulled starter, hooked direct to battery, spins freely.
5. installed starter, hooked battery to terminal and frame, nothing but a few sparks, should start?
6. New issue, pulled starter again, hooked direct to battery, lots of sparks and starter jumps and moves about> Cables are connected positive to terminal on starter, negative is connecting to body of starter, may have screwed up starter somehow?

Any thoughts, ideas appreciated.

Thanks

Dan

 

Correction, had poor connection on starter, spins freely off bike. Getting nothing when re installed on bike, did have to remove a canister (pollution control related?) that has not been bolted back up yet, but don't see how that would impact anything, hoses are still connected, just not bolted down.

Thanks

 

Have you put a load test on the batteries or voltage only? I have seen batteries show good voltage but low on the amps....

 

Have not load tested yet, plan to get them tested Monday when I drop a car off at garage for service. Plan on testing the "new" battery as well as the old, could be a defective battery even if new.
I've never seen the voltage drop that low before

 

So I'd suggest keeping the volt meter on as you start and run the bike. As the bike starts the voltage should not go below 10 vdc. And then monitor the voltage during operation cold and hot at idle and at 5000 rpm or so. If it doesn't maintain 14.0 to 14.5 or so you do some of the normal electrical maintenance that our VFR's all need. Lot's of good info to search out on this forum!

 

Sorry, should have posted Voltages observed:

Key off voltage at batteries has been between 12.9 and 13.4
Key on Lights on, voltage drops to 11.5 on average
Start engaged voltage is dropping all the way to 3.5, don't really understand this reading, should be dropping to mid 10's I believe?
When bike is running, 14.2 -14.4 at battery, engine 4-5k rpm.

 

That extremely low starting voltage is really a load test - and it failed.
With a three year old battery mine does not go below 10. I'd say with little doubt that your battery is bad.
You should check all the connections if you haven't done that yet. And look at the 30 amp fuse holder.
Take care,
Mark