I was out for a ride today and stopped for a photo-op. I suited back up and hit the starter and nothing. The dash clock was on until I turned the key to the start position and then the clock would go blank and no headlights.

I will post the fix after anyone who wants to offers up a guess at the problem.

__________________
Cheers,
Stephen
Pack Leader
CARAT

Sounds kind of like a sudden battery failure or at least failure to charge.

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Joe S.

Loose terminal at the battery or starter solenoid?

Graeme.

Sound like loose terminal or main fuse blew, perhaps.

Skidpan wins.

A couple of weeks ago, after not riding for a month, I needed a jump start. Everything has been cool since then.
What I found yesterday was that the main fuse was mishapen like it cooked. It metered good; however, there was some corrosion on the lugs.
I had spares with me and was able to pop one in and just like that Vrooooommm!

I'd never needed a jump before, I used a car. Also shortly after that I hooked the bike up to a car battery charger. Do y'all think that either of those episodes caused the fuse to cook?

__________________
Cheers,
Stephen
Pack Leader
CARAT

Last time this happened to me I found some idiot had turned off the engine kill switch. Still, the walk home did me good.

from what i know of bikes - jumping from a car can fry your starter solenoid and possibly your whole electrical system - since it's not the VOLTS that matter, but the amperage.

but - maybe things have changed severly since my 1980 kz650...which is very, very very very likely....

SO - consider yourself lucky if you charge or jump from a car and can ride away.

also considering why they make motorcycle specific chargers and jumpers...otherwise, who would bother?

taken from the website articlebase.com
If the battery won't start or seems dull, you may only need to recharge it. Always check the voltage of your motorcycle battery before recharging and never charge your battery at an amperage more than 1/6 the rated capacity of your battery. For example, it you have a 7 amp-hour battery, you should not charge it at an amperage of more than 1 amps. If you have an 18 amp-hour battery, you can charge it at a maximum of 3 amps. Therefore, most battery tenders offer charging amperage of from 1/2 amp up to 2 amps. NOTE: NEVER USE AN AUTOMOBILE BATTERY CHARGER ON YOUR POWERSPORT SEALED BATTERY. Although recharging seems like a simple process, as a general rule of thumb always wear protective eye wear and refrain from smoking as you are working with explosive gasses.

and I know this is blasphemy...but a nice website for you to consider reading about amperage and...beamers. there i said it. Please don't kick me

http://www.w6rec.com/duane/bmw/electrical.htm

and once again - just so you know - that when you do a jump from a car running - that battery from that car rates anywhere from 35-50 amphour, and when that runs through an alternator, the amperage signal is nearly quadrupled ranging from 140-250.

A motorcycle battery ranges from 10-15 amperage, in which a motorcycle alternator can push it to a max around 30-40 amperage....

You try putting nearly 6 times the amperage power through your system...and you will start smelling burnt copper and tie sleeves everywhere....so yes. you are lucky.


DO NOT JUMP YOUR BIKE FROM A CAR!

DON'T EVEN CHARGE IT WITH A CAR BATTERY!

And for heavens sake, don't boil the battery out of use by using a car charger.

There. i'm done now. Three edits in the making. Huh, looks like things haven't changed that much since my rusty crazy650.


[ This message was edited by: simonsez on 2006-11-20 21:27 ]

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If I die riding, you\'ll know I died happy.

Quote:

On 2006-11-20 14:31, greenman wrote: Last time this happened to me I found some idiot had turned off the engine kill switch. Still, the walk home did me good.

That happened to me when I foolishly let my brother have a short blast (which turned into me waiting for over an hour for him to come back). I wouldn't call him an idiot though - merely thoughtless.

Fortunately I was at home at the time so had only got as far as checking all the fuses before the penny dropping.

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Ian
2004 Tiger 955i
1955 Velocette Viper.

Quote:

On 2006-11-20 21:07, simonsez wrote: DO NOT JUMP YOUR BIKE FROM A CAR! DON'T EVEN CHARGE IT WITH A CAR BATTERY!

I know it's bad, but I had to mention this...
I jumped my '74 Honda 750/4, alla time. From a car. Charged it with a car charger too, usually on the fastest setting, often overnight. Did it for years; nary a glitch, either. Bike had 130,000+ on it, when sold. I think I changed the fork oil once, during the years I owned it. Aside from that, only plugs and oil changes.

Did the same with a 550/4.

Now, I have no illusions that my Tiger is going to be that tough. I just wish it was, is all.

but the 74 honda wizny full of computers !! :razz:

KK

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04 Triumph Tiger in Lucifer Orange !! Purrrrrrfect !!