Hi, maybe someone can help me with this.

This has happened four times over the last two weeks.  After riding for about an hour, I stop for gas or whatever.  I get back on the bike, and there is no "click" from the start button.  The lights still dim slightly when I press it, so electricity is getting through - but no click.

I turn the handlebars back and forth, roll the bike forward and backward, take the key in and out, pull on all the levers, and say prayers.  I can't say that any one thing makes a difference, but after awhile (5 minutes or so), the click is back and all is well.

I took Thump to the shop last week and they could not recreate the problem, so they were not sure what the issue was.  They changed the oil, put in a new air filter and spark plug, and adjusted the microswitch in the clutch.  But this happened again this morning, so none of those things was the problem.

A few other points:
- This has never happened upon first start in the morning, no matter how cold the temp - only after the bike has been running for an extended time and then shut off.

- Every time this has happened, it has been colder out (below 50) and I have been riding for about an hour.

- Every time this has happened, I had been using my neon underlights during the ride (draw 1 amp) because it's been dark.  I turn the lights off whenever I stop the bike - they are on a separate switch..

- Three of the four times, I have just put in gasoline.  The other time, I had run into Walgreen's to get gloves.

Any ideas?  It's a bit frustrating.  Maybe Thump is just testing my love for him, which is considerable.  

Many thanks for any help.
Ride safe,
Amy

check the wires round the battery first.  Being very careful...give the right side (the positive) wire a jiggle.

Then you might want to check the relay that is under the back of the tank in a rubber sleeve.  Otherwise push together every connector and make sure you dont have any wires that got chewed up.

Ahh you added something... but I don't think that's it.

No click? But dimming lights.

How old is thump?

Is you decomp solenoid working?

Perhaps it's out of adjustment and the starter is stalling against full compression.

  Is your battery ok does it need water

Question,  if you ride in the same conditons (Cool ride for an hour) without the neon lights, does it do it???

Thought pattern here is two fold.   First, maybe the 1 amp isn't 1 amp.  Second, maybe something in the charging circuit has a loose connection or is dirty and not fully re-charging the battery, and the lights put it over the edge.  

Where are you getting thepower for the neon lights?  Did you have to move things around when you wired the lights???

firetruckredbike wrote on 11/06/08 at 08:41:54:


what do they say...   "Ignorance is bliss "   

Learning is a good thing, keeps the mind sharp and a sharp mind is more alert when riding....  

That's an interesting possibility, because I always have put the side stand down when this has happened...and put it up, and back down, and up, and back down....

Kind of fun picking through the mystery.

T Mack - thanks, ignorance is bliss I guess, so I'm trying to be less blissful.  

Ride safe,
Amy