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Message started by armchairbiker on 05/25/20 at 05:00:47

Title: Electrical issue
Post by armchairbiker on 05/25/20 at 05:00:47

So two days ago I went to a party in the woods and parked the bike on the side of a narrow gravel road. I was concerned that any passing drivers might not see me in time so I placed the ignition key in P* position where you have parking lights on. I left the light on for about half an hour before we moved away. Bike started fine and I drove home.

Yesterday I tried starting the bike but it would not turn. No sound from starter or solenoid click, nothing. Neutral light was glowing but as I pressed ignition it would slowly fade. Battery was showing 12.65 volts.

So today I disengaged the negative pole on battery and tried to get a reading on a multi meter. There has to be a short circuit somewhere.

I connected negative battery with some part of the frame.

In OFF position I got 0.48 volts. Is that normal?
In ON position same voltage as the battery.

After i checked some connections under the seat I couldn't find any issues. So i reconnected everything and bike started fine. :o

When running battery reads 14 volts. With lights on 13.85 or something similar.

There was some rain the day before the problem. My theory is that some corrosion happened on the battery contacts or somewhere on the wiring but it dried till the next day.

Any tips on where to look to investigate further?

Title: Re: Electrical issue
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/25/20 at 05:38:23

I gather everything is acting normal, its starting and running okay, right now?

IF thats true,, YOure Done fixin it,, until it messes up again..

Title: Re: Electrical issue
Post by armchairbiker on 05/25/20 at 06:57:19

Now it works. But I will try later again.

Title: Re: Electrical issue
Post by Dave on 05/25/20 at 07:03:07

So you were fiddling with wires when you disconnected the battery....and in the process things started working again.

That sounds like a loose wire or connector.

I would check the battery ground down by the oil sight window on the right side of the bike and make sure it is tight, and also make sure that all push connectors are tight.....and that your fuses are good.

Title: Re: Electrical issue
Post by armchairbiker on 05/25/20 at 10:11:52

Battery ground by the oil sight? Don't remember a wire being there but I'll have a look.

Title: Re: Electrical issue
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 05/25/20 at 14:49:38

That is the primary ground connection.

Your issue is not related to using the parking light.

Title: Re: Electrical issue
Post by batman on 05/25/20 at 19:13:12

You should have started by checking the battery voltage across the posts with the key off , that would be slightly over 12 volts if the battery is good. Make sure the screws on the posts are tight ,and the ground bolt at the motor case is clean and tight, this is found about 2" above the oil sight glass and about 2" in on the center case (heavy black wire like the ground post) The bike running and showing 13-14.5 volts( again across the battery posts), tells that your alternator is alive and well. The fact that the bike didn't start could be that some water found it's way into the KILL switch ,if you use that switch to shut off the bike , rather than shifting into neutral and turning off the key, the contacts will stay clean.
The .48Volts you saw I believe is normal , what you saw, is a small draw from the decomp control relay which is always present even with the bike off.

Title: Re: Electrical issue
Post by Yoshi on 05/27/20 at 19:50:20

How'd you turn the light off with the bike running?

Title: Re: Electrical issue
Post by badwolf on 05/27/20 at 21:18:45

''How'd you turn the light off with the bike running? ''

Either with wire cutters, or a hammer.

Title: Re: Electrical issue
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/28/20 at 07:52:06

Its easier to turn back on if ya go with th cutters..
And the only way ya turn it off is
Illegally
I think state law requires a light on bikes,, Maybe your state is different,,

Title: Re: Electrical issue
Post by armchairbiker on 06/02/20 at 02:41:24

I live in Europe. Don't know about regulatory differences but light switch has off position.

Headlights working all the time for motorcycles didn't become mandatory until relatively recently.

Title: Re: Electrical issue
Post by HAPPYDAN on 06/02/20 at 18:13:55

Sounds like it was just a loose connector. I experienced turn signal problems shortly after I brought home my 2012. After much grief, I discovered a loose connector under the seat. Zip-tied the connector together and problem solved. It wasn't completely disconnected, just loose enough to lose contact.

Title: Re: Electrical issue
Post by armchairbiker on 06/04/20 at 03:48:03

I think that might have been it. Because when I removed the seat I cleaned all the contacts and connectors.

Yesterday there was another storm with heavy rain and hail at one point. Bike was caught outside. It was soaked later but started without an issue.
Need to learn to park it under a tree.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions! ;)

Title: Re: Electrical issue
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/04/20 at 08:04:16

They arent too big,, shoult take much to slap some kinda lean to together abd park it next to a building.