Triumphrat

pabonne · 10-13-2008, 01:08 PM

Cruising in to work this morning the Bonne was running smooth as usual but then suddenly died. I was downshifting for a schoolbus and she did a LOUD backfire (not the normal decel popping) then completely died. I still had momentum so I tried kick starting but nothing. Pulled off to the side of the road and dead as a doorknob. I had lights for a minute or two but the starter was completely dead. Never once even hinted at turning over.

She's due for a new battery so I will pick one up but I can't see that being the reason for dying on me mid-ride. I'm guessing solenoid or starter relay??? I'd love to hear thoughts/suggestions. My Bonne is a daily driver.

ohiorider · 10-13-2008, 01:15 PM

I've only had this experience on my old R100GS, and it was a dead battery. However, the cause of the dead battery was the fact that the alternator rotor had gone into an "open" condition, and wasn't charging the battery. So, dead battery plus no juice from the alternator = coming to a dead stop. I'm not suggesting your alternator is bad, just relating what caused my BMW to do a similar thing.

Bob

pabonne · 10-13-2008, 01:54 PM

Quote:

the alternator rotor had gone into an "open" condition, and wasn't charging the battery. So, dead battery plus no juice from the alternator = coming to a dead stop.

makes sense. I was about 18 miles into my 20 mi commute so that supports the gradual death, I may have been running on the battery for a while. Is there a DIY test for the alternator?

357Bob · 10-13-2008, 03:28 PM

There have been alot of battery cables coming loose. Remove the seat & tighten them. If not that then charge the battery (You do have a charger don't you?) & start it. With your DVOM (You do have a DVOM right?) check the voltage at the battery while running. It should be above battery voltage. 13-14 volts. If so your alternator is charging. If not then alternator? Regulator? Wiring? Tornado? I am thinking about replacing my battery just because. It have 19,800 miles & it is 2 years old. Cheap insurance. It is your cables I betcha. Bob.

pabonne · 10-20-2008, 01:53 PM

Quote:

It is your cables I betcha.

yep, the neg cable was loose. Quetion though, can't you disconnect the battery when the bike is running? I always assumed you could and the bike would run off the alternator current. No?

Upside from this whole thing is that I discovered 4 bolts and 2 minutes and the rear fender comes right off. This after having spent hours on my back trying to wire my lucas lights this spring in the freezing cold. Can't wait to do some bobbing.

357Bob · 10-20-2008, 07:52 PM

Yeah the seat comes off easily. Fender too. The seat bolts have been known to loosen & fall out. Have you seen the seat bolts that are longer?

I think since the battery lugs are lead, it is a good idea to check them every now & then. Mine have got some loose but I probably caught them before it died on me. Thanks to someone else on this forum for telling us about that. I'm not that smart. I just remember reading about that numerous times. This forum has it's good moments. Like lots. Bob.

markbvt · 10-21-2008, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pabonne

yep, the neg cable was loose. Quetion though, can't you disconnect the battery when the bike is running? I always assumed you could and the bike would run off the alternator current. No?

No. The battery forms part of the circuit. Disconnect it and you have an incomplete circuit.

--mark

Sofiaspin · 10-21-2008, 05:45 PM

Happened to me 18 months ago. 06 bonnie, end of a hard 50 mile ride, stopped dead on approach to traffic lights. Pushed it on to the pavement. Kept pressing the start button, plenty of battery power but nothing else. Annoyingly lots of Jap bikes going by. Recovery vehicle drive offered a silver lining on a bad day when he said that it was very rare to pick up Triumphs, but BMWs were ten a penny. Transpired it was the engine management system - chip replaced two weeks later, problem solved. And that is the problem - anything chip like that fails and you have had it. Stop struggling, call the AA or RAC or whatever, and go for a beer or five. Memo to self - ensure you have road recovery whatever the cost because these bikes can fail, and if they do, there is little prospect of a roadside self-administered fix.

ohiorider · 10-21-2008, 07:57 PM

PA, glad to hear the solution wasn't difficult or expensive!

Here was my 2005 solution .... not pretty, but it got me the rest of the way home (300 miles). After 4100 miles and 13 days on the road, the alternator rotor went open (confirmed by running a few tests with my hometown BMW shop mechanic on the phone). My local benefactor, a fellow member of BMWMOA, drove me to Walmart's, where we picked up a honkin' huge 12V trolling motor battery. Took it back to his house, strapped it to the rear of the saddle, wired into the existing battery terminals, disconnected the headlamp, and off I went. Admittedly, the already tall GS did feel a whole lot topheavy getting off and on!

http://s115.photobucket.com/albums/n...nt=Slide26.jpg

When there's a will ............................

Bob