electrical gibberish...

[Readmarx]

hi fellas

bought this last year as salvage and got it road worthy a few weeks back. the list of servicing/maintenance horrors I discovered is for another thread!

got it running and took it out for a buzz. I've wanted one of these for years and I love the chunky styling and poise. I've fallen in love with the induction and exhaust roar. fanastic!

anyway. it's got a weird electrical issue:

battery is fully charged.
turn on iginition - all lights/warning lights/horn, etc works fine.
start bike - runs fine.
ride bike - enjoy
stop bike.
turn ignition back on - no neutral light, but oil pressure light.
try to start bike - turns over, but no start.
leave bike overnight - start bike in morning no problem.

any thoughts?

ta

Mark

[tealetm]

Neutral sensor- try starting with the clutch in?

[Readmarx]

yup, that's how I start in anyway - it's like most suzukis?

with the clutch in. it'll turn over freely and fuels getting to the slugs 'cos you can smell it in the pipes. But no spark to the plugs...

where the neutral sensor? maybe that's getting hot or stuck after a ride? can it be cleaned?

[trypcil]

This'll be a good one! Where are the wiring botches? Check for anything frayed, abraded, or cut. Look around the headlight where the loom enters there, the fuse box, under the tank, infront of the battery box - all over, for anomalies. Or maybe the clutch 'switch' is actually failing - if so after metering take it off, pop down yer local Yamaha dealer and show 'em yours! I've lost the Yamaha corresponding p/# - sorry, but it was about $7.50 in 2004. Check also the neutral/oil switch harness. Go for the obvious first, you know the old process of elimination before you start thinking of the drastic, it could be something simple. The side stand switch, loose connection to battery - dirty terminals, solenoid maybe. The instrument cluster might have a short, spiders perhaps! Good luck and keep us posted!

Just read that last post - no ignition but she turns?!? Coils, then clean the old L/T spades and that they fit good and firm - doesn't explain the
odd idiot lamps though!

[Trophymick]

Also check the side stand switch, these have been known to go bad. You can hard-wire/bypass it.


Trophymick

[Readmarx]

thanks fellas.

first off, it must be the neutral switch. It only occured to me over the weekend when I was riding another bike and relaxed so my mind was happy and not struggling to work out the problem on the triumph when it was happening... if you know what I mean?

I was tyring to start the bike when it was in neutral, with the side stand down. as the neutral switch was getting stuck the ignition thinks the bike is in gear and the sidestand is down so no start.

like you say, on my yam, I've disconnected clutch, sidestand and neutral switches for peace of mind.

I took the neutral switch out of the side of the motor... bugger of a job that - naff all clearance around the switch hex head and the side of the motor casing. the switch operated fine in my hand, but it could be the contact within the body of the switch which is failing.

but at least I can start the bike by putting UP the sidestand now... duh!

I'll have to strip, clean and check all connections through though. the idiot lights - especially neutral, oil pressure - work when they want to. but otherwise I just want to get the bike MOT'd, taxed and get out on it. I've already missed one of the four dry days we get here in the UK..!

[trypcil]

What is that blemish there on the tank, is that bare metal and rust? Looks like some poor sod chucked her down the road some! But she's got a good stance, the suspenders how are they?

[Roden]

Ah Readmarx, you conjure up memories.

You mentioned missing one of the four available dry days, well, I remember the summer of '69.

It was a Wednesday if I recall correctly........

[Readmarx]

the bike's been down the road at least once on the left and at least twice on the right. It's a dent that's been filled as you correctly see. It’s been filled and given a reasonable paint job – grey flanks with a black stripe down the centre of the tank. I have a spare tank and will get the bike re-sprayed when funds allow in a couple of months.

The couple of brief rides I’ve had feel a bit odd. I’ve put the bike’s settings back to standard “firm” in the Haynes manual. When I got the bike I sent the forks off for straightening. Steering head bearings were notched so they’re new. The front preload adjuster wasn’t connected within the fork body. Oil was low and degraded. with the settings adjusted the bike tracks better but I think it's too vague in corners. It feels like it's running wide. though to be honest I've only done about 40 miles on it and i's been damp so I haven't pushed the machine as I'm still running in fresh tyres. part of the handling must also be the (rebound?) adjusters at the base of the forks. the screws are stuck solid into the legs. it's a job I'll have to tackle soon but for now I have no idea what they're set on but I'd suspect something soft - everything else was. initially when I bought the bike I'd intended to get maxton to do the forks and replace the shock. they've done this on my yam & aprilia and the work and ride is sublime. I can't afford to go down that route at the moment and I understand the kayaba shocks can't be rebuilt? but it does feel front end to me... but we'll see as I ride it more and understand it better.

nice sunny day here today. and I'm at work. only two more sunny days to go..

[MotT3]

Have you dropped the forks a little...could help a bit..it's the compression adjusters at the bottom of the fork leg...mine have seized solid too ! I've just found the money to send them off to Ktech and have 20ssk kit fitted plus springs etc etc...Maxton did send me a tech sheet for the upgrade the do on the stock forks but I tossed a coin and Ktech won..I hope it was the right decision..ah well soon find out.

I've found Conti Road attacks roll very nicely into a corner on the S3 and the front can be quite sensitive to pressure..a few pounds down fron 36PSI will have a noticable affect.

all the best with your project