SuzukiSavage.com - Positive Connector Shorted

Arnold

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Positive Connector Shorted
05/14/13 at 15:29:05

Ok, here we go, will try to explain as best I can. Last night, left work, all working fine then suddenly on the highway bike started sputtering, losing power, horrible back firing when giving gas. I had to ride back home at pretty much idle speed, every time I gave it gas it would cut out, sputter and back fire. Idle was fine. At first I figured the main jet was clogged but pilot needle was clean.
Now, earlier today, I get ready to start draining the gas out of the tank, ready to clean all fuel lines and possibly take carb apart.
Suddenly looking around, I come to find out the positive connector on the battery must have come lose or broke while riding, shorted out, touched the battery box and basically melted the connector.

My questions are:

- what did I take down in that incident? Battery or possibly stator? Battery still has juice though.

- what would be the symptoms of the positive connector becoming unhooked while riding?

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Steve H

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Re: Positive Connector Shorted
Reply #1 - 05/14/13 at 15:40:25

If it still runs, probably didn't hurt much. I'm not 100%, but I think the regulator/rectifier would probably go before then stator. You might want to check charging voltage.

Sounds like the battery survived if it still has power. It might be low though.

My opinions are subject to being corrected by those more in the know than I, though.

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verslagen1

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Re: Positive Connector Shorted
Reply #2 - 05/14/13 at 15:41:45

Quote:

- what did I take down in that incident? Battery or possibly stator? Battery still has juice though.

IDK, don't happen every day, start it and hope for the best.

Quote:

- what would be the symptoms of the positive connector becoming unhooked while riding?

sudden sputtering, loss of power, and horrible back firing when giving gas.

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Steve H Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1223 Spartanburg, SC Gender:	Re: Positive Connector Shorted Reply #3 - 05/14/13 at 15:51:47 Does it still sputter and backfire after repairing the connection?
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Arnold

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Re: Positive Connector Shorted
Reply #4 - 05/14/13 at 15:53:52

The way I know the battery has some juice left is I got a pretty good shock trying to figure out how it melted the connector. (I touched + and cable box haha)

Wont start right now though, no power, obviously because + is not hooked up, I need to get a new connector, tighten everything back up and I'll give it a try. Probably will have to wait until this weekend but I'll report.

Live and learn, give plenty of clearance to battery connectors

Thanks guys.

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28886 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Positive Connector Shorted Reply #5 - 05/14/13 at 15:55:55 disconnect - connector 1st.
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Arnold

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Re: Positive Connector Shorted
Reply #6 - 05/14/13 at 15:58:35

Steve H wrote on 05/14/13 at 15:51:47:

Does it still sputter and backfire after repairing the connection?

Not sure yet, the connector melted off, + on battery goes nowhere right now. But since it never happened to me before I was wondering what the symptoms would be.
Hopefully repair the connection, secure this time

then I'll be riding again and didnt do any other damages.

Weird though, all symptoms pointed toward fuel delivery problem. Visual inspection proved otherwise...

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Arnold Serious Thumper Offline The dude abides... Posts: 896 Westchester, NY Gender:	Re: Positive Connector Shorted Reply #7 - 05/14/13 at 16:01:24 verslagen1 wrote on 05/14/13 at 15:55:55: disconnect - connector 1st. Yea, I'll remove the battery all together, test the voltage and redo the connection securely again. Right now only negative is connected, nothing on the positive, will it harm the battery or should I disconnect negative too in the meantime?
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28886 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Positive Connector Shorted Reply #8 - 05/14/13 at 16:04:14 Arnold wrote on 05/14/13 at 16:01:24: Right now only negative is connected, nothing on the positive, will it harm the battery or should I disconnect negative too in the meantime? no, it's ok. that's the way it sits every day of it's life.
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Arnold Serious Thumper Offline The dude abides... Posts: 896 Westchester, NY Gender:	Re: Positive Connector Shorted Reply #9 - 05/14/13 at 17:00:27 Ok, yea basically inert.
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runwyrlph

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Re: Positive Connector Shorted
Reply #10 - 05/15/13 at 05:19:00

Arnold wrote on 05/14/13 at 15:53:52:

The way I know the battery has some juice left is I got a pretty good shock trying to figure out how it melted the connector. (I touched + and cable box haha)

Wont start right now though, no power, obviously because + is not hooked up, I need to get a new connector, tighten everything back up and I'll give it a try. Probably will have to wait until this weekend but I'll report.

Live and learn, give plenty of clearance to battery connectors

Thanks guys.

12 V DC gives you quite a jolt Huh

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2007 s40 -stock -white spacer out -repaired to rideable condition!

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Arnold Serious Thumper Offline The dude abides... Posts: 896 Westchester, NY Gender:	Re: Positive Connector Shorted Reply #11 - 05/15/13 at 05:30:39 Hopefully can find a connector at local autozone. I see ebay has the wire assembly that go from battery to solenoid for like 2 bucks.
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apache snow-FSO Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 509 Gender:	Re: Positive Connector Shorted Reply #12 - 05/15/13 at 06:14:28 yeah I've been fooling with, working on, changing out batteries for over 50 years and have never been shocked by one. Even the 24 volt systems that the Army uses. Can't say the same for spark plugs though.
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Arnold Serious Thumper Offline The dude abides... Posts: 896 Westchester, NY Gender:	Re: Positive Connector Shorted Reply #13 - 05/15/13 at 06:27:08 Man, I remember as a kid on a dirt bike, throttle cable broke in the sleeve, stuck at full throttle. So here I am stuck on a dirt bike going full speed with no way to turn it off, no battery, no key, no kill switch. Had to pull the spark plug wire, man what a shock you get from there...
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Routy Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2280 Winston Oregon Gender:	Re: Positive Connector Shorted Reply #14 - 05/15/13 at 07:06:16 Did you know that these bikes run on battery ignition ? That mite better explain the symptoms caused by an interuption or shorting of the pos cable connection.
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