Gilera DNA 50 Flashing instrument lights & tick every second

Hi all,

I just got a Gilera DNA 50 in mint condition. Problem is the previous owner (a friend) said that the battery was flat and that was all that was wrong with it. When I got it home, I put in a new battery and when I turn the key to ON the lights on the instrument panel flash to a tick from the rev counter and the needle bounces about 5mm. When I put the battery in I noticed that it looked to have had an after market alarm/immobiliser installed as there is a socket lying there. On further inspection I noticed that a lot of the wiring loom has been wrapped with insulation tape. Some pictures I have taken below of what is looks like when ticking on/off.

The bike turns but just does not start. The ticking continues. When I switch it off, the instrument panel ticks madly for about a second with the boucing needle and stops.

Any ideas? Is this a normal feature of a DNA if there is some problem? Is it the left overs of the alarm/immobiliser doing this? I have no idea when it comes to new scooters.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Tris

 

Re: Gilera DNA 50 Flashing instrument lights & tick every se

Hi Nathan,

I have not yet checked for spark. I will be doing that next. Problem is I was more concerned over why the lights where flashing and the ticking sound at 1 second intervals. So I did not feel comfortable fiddling whilst this is happening. I have spoken to my friend and she has hardly ridden the bike, the bike has under 1000 miles on it. It was bought by her ex just before they broke up and has basically been in the garage since.

I asked her about any remotes ever existing and she said that there has never been any.

The battery is brand new and it is the correct one. I just activated it on Friday and charged it with my Optimate charger that I use for my Yamaha R1 for an entire day/night. The engine turns perfectly when I push the starter button.

My friend does not seem to know/remember much. She simply said it needed a battery as she was riding it before it went into the garage. I asked if she has ridden it knowing that their was the empty plug under the seat and she said yes. This is really confusing as I know that if you simply unplug and alarm/immobiliser the bike does not go.

I thought maybe she had not ridden it since the plug has been left empty, and that her ex in spite removed it before leaving.

Cheers,
Tris

 

Re: Gilera DNA 50 Flashing instrument lights & tick every se

Do you know anything about the flashing lights and ticking sound? As mentioned the module was removed from the bike. The wiring loom has been hand wrapped in insulation tape so I doubt the factory would have done that.

 

Re: Gilera DNA 50 Flashing instrument lights & tick every se

Ok, I finally got a chance to take the panel around the clocks off and no relays at all. Turned the ignition to on whilst I had the clocks in my hand and it is definately the clocks making a tick sound every second, everything on the LCD display showing/lit and the flashing fuel and heat lights still going. If I turn the key to off (and it makes the rapid tick mentioned previously) and then quickly turn it back on before the ticking stops (as it only does it for about two seconds) the ignition comes on normal, with the lcd looking normal, but only for around 10 seconds and then it goes back to before with the ticking, flashing lights, etc.

I checked the spark too. The bike has good spark whilst all this is happening (ignition on of course).

Does anyone know what is going on with my bike?

 

Re: Gilera DNA 50 Flashing instrument lights & tick every se

So some progress. I managed to fire the bike up, seems to run beatifully. The clocks are now even worse, they tick even when the bike is turns off now. There are now two different ticks. When off just petrol lights ignites with a repetitive tick, a second on and a second off. When on, there is the same old tick every second with the petrol and oil lights on. Both are repetitive and do not stop. I have systematically unplugged everything while this tick is going on and nothing stops it unless I unplug the red plug under the fake tank cover, but I guess it only stopped as I disconnected the power to it.

Has any one got any clue what is going on here? Please do not say just replace the clocks!

Thanks,
Tristan

 

Re: Gilera DNA 50 Flashing instrument lights & tick every se

Well, managed to get another set of clocks that have been claimed to be working. Stuck them on, no ticking or lights flashing. But the bike would not rev past 5000 rpm, when it hits 5000 rpm the LCD fuel gauge suddenly shows empty and the light comes on. It just hesitates and then wants to cut out. If I let the throttle go, it manages to stay running, but when I hold it open the bike dies and will not start again for love or for money. When I unplugged the clocks, the bike started and revved perfectly. Plugged the old ticking clocks in and the bike starts and runs perfectly (besides the ticking and flashing lights). Plug the new clocks in again and dead, bike will not start. Does anyone know what the hell is going on here?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Tris

 

Re: Gilera DNA 50 Flashing instrument lights & tick every se

a wild guess from me is a wire is mabye damaged? soz if this is no help but thats all i can think off

 

Long time since original post. I sorted this a while ago, winter is now coming to an end and I zam now thinking about my bikes again. So on my return to Scooter Shack, I thought it would be best to post the answer to my own post.

So after I went through 3 sets of secondhand 50cc clocks and a set of 125 ones, it turned out to actually be the clocks themselves. Boy was I puzzled, all the clocks giving completely different results and in denial that 3 sets of clocks (my original and 2 of the secondhand 50cc clocks tried purchased of eBay) could never be dodgy. Strangely, even though the 125cc clocks started and ran more like normal, the rev counter was permanently midway and revved backwards which eliminated them from possible use.

The third set of 50cc clocks off eBay worked perfectly. Plugged them in and the bike started, ran and restarted. No ticking, flashing, cutouts or engine miss.

Hope this helps someone... Bring on Summer!

Safe Scooting,

Tris