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Message started by NorCalRider on 02/07/14 at 12:34:50

Title: Dead bike - need help finding short
Post by NorCalRider on 02/07/14 at 12:34:50

I ran into a problem this morning and need some help.

I ride my '99 stock (except the Yamaha petcock) bike every day to the train station. Rode home Wednesday night without any problems. Yesterday morning went to turn it on; heard a (not very loud) click and then all power goes out. No lights, horn or any other signs of life. Checked the fuses with a multimeter and got continuity. Tried again; no luck. Checked battery voltage, got reading over 12V. Left everything as is and went to work.

Came home at night and tried again (thinking some rest might have fixed the problem :) ) with no luck. Checked the battery voltage again; got 12V. Turned the ignition switch to On and the voltage went to zero. Meaning I have a short. Took the seat and fuel tank off and did a visual inspection for shorts; didn't see anything. Previous owner had the bike was on a farm so the wiring has dust caked everywhere.

Put the fuel tank back on (but left the seat off) and not expecting anything turn the key ON and all the lights came on. Tried starting but heard the click again and everything died. Again no signs of life. Took the tank off and looked for marginal or frayed wiring but couldn't find anything. Battery reading still goes to zero when the switch is turned on.

So, first question is: what made the click sound on the two occasions when I got the power, just before everything died?
Second, I guess I have to methodically test for voltage/shorts from point to point but need ideas on where to start checking.

The last time I did any work was back in November and the bike has been running quite well up until yesterday.

Any help will be great.

Sam

Title: Re: Dead bike - need help finding short
Post by verslagen1 on 02/07/14 at 12:49:01

normally you get 2 clicks, 1st is the decomp, next is the starter relay.

Since your fuses aren't blowing, I think you've a different issue.
You've got a bad connection somewhere, that somewhere is common to everything.
check your bat connections.
Check the engine ground.

Take 2 beers and check with us in the morning. 8-)

Title: Re: Dead bike - need help finding short
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 02/07/14 at 13:18:01

Im with Versy on this one,, Im betting its real simple, make sure the battery connections are good, heck, do the engine ground first, its the easiest, down by your right ankle, Of course, knowing the battery is charged is always a great idea. It may have rolled over on ya overnite.. Hows the light lookin? Horn weak? You got a volt/ohm meter? Being able to check resistance is pretty handy.. & Voltage is real handy, too..

Title: Re: Dead bike - need help finding short
Post by Tempted on 02/07/14 at 14:20:50

Yeah sounds like a battery to me. They can read 13v all day long, but as soon as you put a load on them they turn into a potato. I have one in the garage right now doing that. It charges, holds that charge over night, then as soon as a load is applied its deader than Elvis. I get a click, then nothing.

Title: Re: Dead bike - need help finding short
Post by NorCalRider on 02/07/14 at 15:01:50

Thanks for quick responses.

I will check the batt connection and the engine ground.

I put the battery on charge last night so hopefully by the time I get home is will have juice. The lights and horns were bright and loud until it failed to start. At this point nothing comes on.

Battery is one of the sealed kind and is less than nine months old.

Beers are already in the fridge so I should be good to go.

Cheers.

Title: Re: Dead bike - need help finding short
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 02/07/14 at 16:09:12

Check Voltage on the battery. Check fuses. On right side, up behind the edge of the seat.Little white box.

Title: Re: Dead bike - need help finding short
Post by Loud3r on 02/07/14 at 16:34:25

Hope you can get your savage up and running again! I live in Sacramento, and just got my first savage, making the switch from crotch rockets. let's meet up and ride sometime!

Title: Re: Dead bike - need help finding short
Post by Steve H on 02/07/14 at 18:10:33

I'm with everybody else. Check your battery connections and ground. I have cars do that plenty of times and it's usually just the battery connections.

Title: Re: Dead bike - need help finding short
Post by houstonbofh on 02/08/14 at 20:47:34

Sounds exactly like a cracked plate in the battery to me. Pull it and have the auto parts place load test it.

Title: Re: Dead bike - need help finding short
Post by NorCalRider on 02/09/14 at 12:23:13

Thanks everyone for the help. I had the battery checked, checked the system ground: they were all good.

It turned out to be the stuck starter solenoid (relay). Tapped it lightly a few times and it started working. Hopefully it will continue to do so otherwise I may have to relocate it to a convenient place to tap regularly (until I get fed up and change it).

It's raining cats and dogs over here since Friday but the temperature isn't that low so I may go for a test ride.

Thanks again for the help and ideas.

Cheers.

Title: Re: Dead bike - need help finding short
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 02/09/14 at 20:07:14

You dont hafta pay out the schnoz for one, a solenoid is a solenoid,, just get one offa small car.,.

Title: Re: Dead bike - need help finding short
Post by NorCalRider on 02/09/14 at 21:26:40

Thanks, JOG for the tip. I will look for that one.

Title: Re: Dead bike - need help finding short
Post by Steve H on 02/10/14 at 16:46:31

Used to be able to get stand-alone ford or jeep solenoid for about $12-$15 at the auto parts store. It's way overkill for the amount of power it can carry but isn't all that much bigger and will work like the original.

Also a lawn tractor solenoid might be enough to handle the load. Not sure about that one. I know it will be smaller and a stand-alone type unit.