help with 2013 gg 300

[nibby]

Hi everyone,

had a 2013 300 from new, loving the bike.

A few problems and wonder if any tips.

1. E-Start. I've had problems from day 1 with this. It's hit and miss if it will start or not, seems to be trying to catch but then just spins up.

Now the green starter button has given up. I've stripped and sprayed wd40 etc seems a little better but sometimes it just wont do anything when pressed then sometimes if I press it from a different angle it starts!! I've only had the bike 6 months so shouldn't really need replacing?

I've had the starter off, and greased etc so it's all clean in there.


2. Water. This thing hates deep water. It seems when I enter deep water, no matter if I keep the revs high the bike just dies and bogs a bit. It's then hard to start. I notice the air filter gets very wet and dirty.

Should I be re-routing the breather hoses that are hanging below the bike.

Also anyone know of a wet weather cover to put on top of the air filter? I used to have ktm and they did a powerparts cover for wet weather riding.

I was thinking of taking off the e-start completely after the last 2 rides when it stopped working and I was kicking but would rather have it for those times I'm stuck on a hill or cant get my little legs in a good position to kick

Any help/tips welcome.

cheers

 

[Jakobi]

There's a good thread on the starter getting around. Has the few things needed to get them working well. Much like ktm 2 strokes the starter is an after thought and not very well designed. I have 2 x kick only models, one being a 2013 R, the other a 2010 Euro model. I don't need to button it.

As for the water crossings, I haven't had the 2013 out yet to see how much crap gets in the airbox. I'm a bit worried as the LHS side cover seems to have that big window in it to let water in, and I figure the faster you hit the more it'll push the water in. I've filled the gaps in the bottom of the airbox with some sikaflex and opened up the drain/duckbill some more.

The two tubes on the carb that loop up and over again are the breathers. You'll want to reroute these up to the airbox or it'll be sure to konk out every time they go under water for more than a few seconds.

 

[nibby]

Thanks jakobi. Can't find that starter thread anywhere

Will keep searching. Although when it doesn't get wet it starts pretty easily on the kick so might just take it off and have one less thing to worry about

Yes sensible tips re air box. It does get a bit of dirt in there. My filter always seems covered after a ride.
In the UK so it's always wet and muddy.
I'll get some silicone to block them. Also will get breathers rerouted.
Cheers



Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

 

[rubber Jonny]

I'm in the UK, my 13 is good in water I just duct taped the airbox up inside no probs now. Not sure on the starter as mines a kick only but my mate has a 12 with 300ish hours on no starter probs so they are good not like a shitty KTM!!!!!

 

[Jakobi]

I'm in the tropics. Seems either mud or dust.. The dust makes a much worse mess of the filters than the mud. My 2010 models been solid as with over 10,000kms on her since new now. They take a bit of time setting up (as do most bikes), but will reward you well once dialled in.

 

[nibby]

Great. Will seal up the air box and re-route the hoses before the next outing , that should sort the water issues
will keep Searching For help with the starter and see at the moment the starter Is worse than the KTM and Ive had a Few . Its a good job the bike is better though

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

 

[rosco]

If you go to general forums list and look under the enduro technical forums you will see Electrical & Wiring. About the 12th thread down you will see "Starter only engages 1/3rd of the time". You should find some good info in here.

 

[Boom Boom]

That switch assembly is rubbish.
I use a quality kill switch for my starter button...works perfect.
The starter on mine works 99% of the time since I added a couple more gaskets to the cover to space it out a little. Just a process till you see what makes the starter happy.
I removed the heavy grease and replaced with a lighter waterproof grease, seems happier now.
Can't comment on your air box issues, mine is a 2011 and has worked well.

 

[Adss]

Wish some one told me to take that bit of rubber out of the drain hole on my 2013, had to give my bike CPR twice so ended up taking the rubber out and sealing up the box with that blue gasket maker which is a very easy job to do as its easy to work with, did not seal the drain hole up,at the same time I sealed up around the back fender as if you look you will see a lot of day light. I only give my air filter a very light spray of oil now in the hope the bike can breathe!

 

[nibby]

If you go to general forums list and look under the enduro technical forums you will see Electrical & Wiring. About the 12th thread down you will see "Starter only engages 1/3rd of the time". You should find some good info in here.

Cracking, thanks for that, just had a read and will try a few gaskets for the moment.

cheers

 

[nibby]

That switch assembly is rubbish.
I use a quality kill switch for my starter button...works perfect.
The starter on mine works 99% of the time since I added a couple more gaskets to the cover to space it out a little. Just a process till you see what makes the starter happy.
I removed the heavy grease and replaced with a lighter waterproof grease, seems happier now.
Can't comment on your air box issues, mine is a 2011 and has worked well.

Thanks, good idea re quality kill switch will give that a go and have a play with the gasket covers, interesting re grease.
I've read about people replacing the grease with light gearbox oil, not sure but might be worth a try.

It would be better if they sorted the bloody thing from the start though. If they are charging extra for the e-start which they do then they should make sure it bloody works

As I said above it's a good job the bike is so bloody good

 

[Darrendeep6]

I've got 13' 300 and I had starter issues when it was new. I swapped the OEM battery for a Shorai and the symptoms disappeared. Also, I had an issue with the ignition. It would crank and crank, but wouldn't start. I pulled the plug to check spark and it was fine so I thought. It was what I think, a weak spark, enough to arc but not enough to detonate air/fuel. As soon as I removed the ignition all my starting issues have stopped. I know these things are tedious, but once you get them sorted it's a great bike. Also, my dealer cut all my breather hoses at a 45 degree angle. This might help with the water crossing stalls. I've been through some water in a couple enduros and it scooted fine. Good luck!

 

[nibby]

quick update,

I cleaned out the starter and removed lots of grease that was in there. I also cleaned out the starter switch and give it a good spray with wd40.

So far so good, went out and it started on the button all day

I'm probably going to replace the grease in the starter with some light gearbox oil and see how that does and keep cleaning out the switch.

Also re-routed the breathers to the airbox, never really got a good test in big water but that will come soon.

Thanks for all replies and suggestions, great help.

Awesome bike, not changed a thing apart from tyres and it rides perfect.

Stock suspension is better out of the box than the ktm wp stuff, always had to mess around with the KTM to get it right.

Very pleased I made the change

 

[Jakobi]

I put the first ride on mine yesterday. No issues in the water crossings. I put mine through here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bdWxwPJnUQ) with no worries at all. Haven't checked the airbox to see the state of it yet though.

Agree stock suspension isn't bad at all. I imagine with a respring it'll get better again, and then with a few tweaks it'll be great.

 

[nibby]

Nice video.

Good crossing but I live near Wales and that looks like a puddle compared to the ones around here

I think your advice about re-routing the hoses will have sorted it though.

Taped up the airbox from underneath before the ride and went through some pretty good muddy bogs, checked before I washed it yesterday and the filter is 10x cleaner than it was before I taped.

I also put in a piece of foam inside the airbox at the bottom which helped.

I've always messed around with my stock KTM suspension in the past, new springs, revalve's etc but with the GG I've left it completely stock, well apart from a few clicks here and there and it's pretty good for me.

I love the way it finds grip in the slow technical stuff, GREAT ENGINE.

 

[Jakobi]

We're in the middle of the dry season Things will get worse from here in out, but nothing else around to throw the bike through at this particular time. In saying that, after a good days rain that creek will rise and I actually drowned my 2010 in it not that long ago. Water over the seat and well.. One filled cylinder. Had water running out of the PV drain tube.

This is more typical of a wet season (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMNDeknHhvk)

 

[nibby]

I think your wet season is like our summer

This is the sort of thing I was thinking, not us on the video, but we did this a few months back and nearly lost a husky down stream. It went under for 5 mins and we all dived in trying to rescue it only for a couple of us to nearly lose it with the strength of the current. Wish I would have had it on video, it was one of the scariest and funniest things I've seen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=kWgvFAq0OpE

 

[Jakobi]

Hahah! Some good moments in that video. Those underwater currents can be a challenge, as can the ninja logs and rocks hiding below the murky waters. My fav ime of the year when its wet. Maybe I should move over there. Haha! Either way, with the airbox setup and the breathers routed up I think you'll get across most things that are do-able. Even with the best setup we have some creeks that rise beyond whats achievable and either need a branch through the wheels and a few blokes each side, or a tinny to cross. Most the time anything up to the fenders doesn't cause too much issue.

 

[nibby]

I've got a good feeling about those breathers and taping the airbox, my last outing was the cleanest the filter has been after a ride (I change filters after each ride) so it's looking good.

Not sure why I never thought of this before as I've had the same issues on previous bikes (all Ktm)

I think I got carried away by how good the bike is

 

[rubber Jonny]

Strata killed my KTM every time gasser with taped airbox no probs. Gassers can handle our shit weather better than my 09 300exc ever did, my closest lane floods all summer and is a river in winter, gasser goes through no probs could even use it in winter on KTM.

KTM used to be majority of the bikes round here now they are not!!!!!