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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> I think I may have a short.
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Message started by zombeh_king on 08/26/16 at 19:23:51

Title: I think I may have a short.
Post by zombeh_king on 08/26/16 at 19:23:51

It rained heavy the last few days and unfortunately I had nowhere to put my bike. I go to start it up and no lights no nothing. I've charged the battery and still zip. I'm new to bikes in general and I have no clue where to look. I can't find any normal style Fuses either.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/26/16 at 19:27:22

Have you done anything to it lately?
The fuses are under the edge of the seat, under the right thigh. Seat can stay on.
If they are okay you need to check the battery voltage.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by zombeh_king on 08/26/16 at 19:35:19

Found the fuse box and they are both not popped. :/

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by zombeh_king on 08/26/16 at 19:36:40

The only thing I've done is take the tank off and the seat to check my wires. Any other fault points I should check?

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by Armen on 08/26/16 at 19:45:37

Loose and or dirty connections on the battery and the starter solenoid.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by zombeh_king on 08/26/16 at 19:46:52

I cleaned thoes up when I took the battery out to charge it. No corrosion.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/26/16 at 19:49:51

The connectors under the tank can Do what you are experiencing.
Take them apart, inspect,
Then check battery voltage
No reason to put the tank on till it's going.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by Armen on 08/27/16 at 04:40:11

A simple 12V test light is your friend.
Start at the battery with a meter. Do you have over 12V?
Test light from + at battery to the engine. Light? Ground lead OK.
Put the alligator clip on the - terminal.
Start working your way downstream with the test light. Go to the start solenoid, to the key switch, 'switched' side of key switch, fuse panel.
Somewhere or other you'll stop seeing the light go on.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by stewmills on 08/27/16 at 05:58:29

While you are pulling connectors apart it is a good time to put some dielectric grease on the connectors to semi waterproof and prevent future corrosion.

Make sure your key switch and handlebar kill switch are dried out and water isn't sitting in there shorting the circuit. Hair dryer on low can help. But don't cook or overheat things.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/27/16 at 07:27:09

If it's just Totally Dead, no lights, no clicks, zip, zero, nada, nuttin,, and the fuses are good, I'd be checking out the connections under the tank and the battery.
If those are good then chasing the power is next.

Half split it as much as you can. Go about halfway to a place where you know power is supposed to be, see if it's even there. If so, move on down, if not, move back.

Once you start Thinking about it right it's not so terrifying.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by batman on 08/27/16 at 16:04:29

Fuses can look good but pull and check with a meter,check the ground wire from the battery to where it bolts to the rear of the engine case ,are they clean and tight? no ground, no show!

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by zombeh_king on 08/27/16 at 16:17:01

Replaced the Fuses and no dice. I ran it over with my multimeter and I'm pulling from 10 to 14v at various locations. I'm thinking it could be my rectifier or my stator but I'm not sure.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/27/16 at 21:42:00

How does the rectifier affect your starter?
The stator?

Just something to say?

Will the horn work?
Got lights?
What's the voltage at the battery?
Does anything happen when you hit the Start button?
What is the battery voltage WHILE the Start button is pushed?

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by zombeh_king on 08/27/16 at 21:56:29

No electronics function but they still have voltage from what I've tested running through the wire harness with a multimeter. The battery only dips if it is in the on or park position.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by zombeh_king on 08/27/16 at 21:58:01

The voltage is 12.7 then drops to 6.8 in the on position and goes back to the original 12.7 in the off position.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/27/16 at 23:24:35

I would pull a fuse, turn it on, test voltage.
If it drops,
Pull the other fuse.
Test
Keep disconnecting stuff till you find out what segment of the harness is loading up the battery.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/27/16 at 23:29:51

Taking the battery to be tested might be worth it.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by gizzo on 08/28/16 at 14:56:04

What jog said. I don't think any part of this bike could make a decent battery drop to 6v if it were working normally. I'd start with the easy things.
: Get the battery tested
: try jump starting the bike
: try a different battery
: Connect a 12 device (light bulb, compressor whatever) direct to the battery and see what happens.

Its possible the rain came with cold weather. Cold is notorious for killing batteries in just the way you describe.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by zombeh_king on 08/28/16 at 16:57:45

STATUS UPDATE

I had a buddy come over and run through the connectors and wires with me. Everything has power and none of the Fuses are blown. I've checked my grounds and they are all tight aswell as my end connectors under the seat and tank. I haven't taken apart the hand controls to check the continuity, but like I said everything that should have power has power. The battery is holding a charge and my voltage between park on and off was resolved on its own with a little wd40. I'm at Witts end with this electrical grimlin and there is no reason why I shouldn't be able to turn it over. Anything at this point would be helpful, I just want to ride again.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by zombeh_king on 08/28/16 at 17:09:10

I had the battery tested at auto zone and charged overnight they said the battery was just fine. I even went against their suggestion and connected the trickle charger directly to the leads and tried to jump it... Nada.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by gizzo on 08/28/16 at 17:14:00

LOL do you imagine a trickle charger will be able to jump start your motorbike? ;D

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by zombeh_king on 08/28/16 at 17:16:12

It jumped off my 4.7L v8

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by gizzo on 08/28/16 at 18:21:41

Well, that kind of indicates a faulty battery, no?

BTW regarding your topic headline, an electrical short is where a power source goes straight to ground, instead of through a power consuming device. Power take a "shortcut" to ground and lets the smoke out. I think what you really meant was "open circuit" where the power can't find anywhere to go so it goes nowhere. That's not a personal attack, just an observation. Seems like a US-centric grammar thing.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/28/16 at 18:33:21

It's what people who don't know about electrical stuff say.
An open isn't part of it.
It's not anyone's fault. It's not something that everyone is exposed to. The USAF spent nine months teaching me.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by Camace on 08/28/16 at 19:12:32

what Year is your bike?, there should be a secondary positive Wire coming off your Battery it is the main for your electrics, check its isn't broken, Also check the fuse holder make sure it is conducting.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by gizzo on 08/28/16 at 19:22:31

You're right, jog, it doesn't matter. But it does no harm to try to teach the "right" way, either. These forums are a powerful learning resource as well as a way for us to shoot the s..t. If no-one corrects anyone, you get stupid stuff like "my piston head's clicking" or "my engine is slipping" (both real examples). WTF does that mean?
Peace.

Title: Re: I think I may have a short.
Post by zombeh_king on 08/28/16 at 19:40:59

Camance, there is a second wore coming off of it via the wiring diagram and I checked it but like I said everything was good. By the way it's a 97