Yamaman Posted September 17, 2011 Share #1 Posted September 17, 2011 So I decide to take a little ride tonight to enjoy the cooler weather. Made several stops along the way. No issues at any point. I stop at a little outdoor concert in Kingwood for about 30 minutes. Get back on the bike to head home, turn the key, the dash lights up for just a second then goes black!!! I check the kill switch, try a few more times. A couple more times it lights up for just a second or two. One of the times I quick hit the starter, but no go. I left it there and got a ride home from the wife. Now I'm going to head back with some tools. What should I be looking for? Battery has been on a battery tender off and on all summer. Can I try to jump it from my car??? Help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthandy Posted September 17, 2011 Share #2 Posted September 17, 2011 Hard to tell. Almost sounds like a short of some kind or perhaps the battery is dying. If you decide to boost it with the car be absolutely certain the car's motor is turned off before hooking up to your bike battery. While they are both 12 volts, the car puts out a lot more amps than does you bike's system. You could damage something. If you make a lot of short trips, that could run the battery down. You should put it on the tender every time to make sure you always start with a full charge. And of course, it would be a good idea to have the battery load tested as it may be the problem. Good luck! Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiCarl Posted September 17, 2011 Share #3 Posted September 17, 2011 Sounds like a bad ignition switch or a loose connection. Connections at the battery itself are likely culprits. As Yamaman pointed out, the charging system on the car will put out way more current than the regulator/rectifier on the bike can deal with. Jump without the car running. Check electrical connections at the battery before trying to jump it. If you have a poor connection at the battery and get it running the motorcycle alternator can damage things. The system isn't designed to work without the battery damping the voltage and current. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yamaman Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted September 17, 2011 Well I'm back home. No luck, had to leave the bike there. I don't think its the battery, maybe something with the starter? I hooked up the battery tender and if the light can be believed, it is more than 80% charged. (blinking green light) I looked at the connections at the battery and everything looked clean. I loosened the bolts, moved the connecting rings around, then tightened it back up. After leaving the battery tender hooked up for about 15 minutes, I thought I had it. Turned the key and the dash lit up, and stayed lit. But as soon as I hit the starter, it went black again. I guess I need to try and figure out a way to get it home tomorrow so I can tear into it and figure out what's shorting out. Wiring at the starter or ignition switch??? This sucks. I'm OK at fixing stuff when I know what's wrong, but I'm terrible at diagnosing or finding unknown problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revinger Posted September 17, 2011 Share #5 Posted September 17, 2011 I hS somerhing simikar with my 02 last night. And. Couple of. Sluggish starts and then nada. Being i pulles my seat and found thT prev owner had put the battery tender lugs between main cables and posts were oxidized. Took cables loose, made lead shiny with screwdriver and reattached main cables without tender wires. Snugges bolts good and voila. Prior to emerfency cleaning contact was so poor headlight was not lighting. Starting like new at moment, couldnt find a date code on battery so no idea how old it is. I habe only had my bike since may. Bob Marshall, il Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yammer Dan Posted September 17, 2011 Share #6 Posted September 17, 2011 Starter switch sticking?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Posted September 17, 2011 Share #7 Posted September 17, 2011 (edited) Sounds like Ignition switch..Somewhere on here is a way to bypass it and you will know then. Think this is what you need to try http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=512 Edited September 17, 2011 by Tom Added link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkuhr Posted September 17, 2011 Share #8 Posted September 17, 2011 Sounds like a bad ignition switch or a loose connection. Connections at the battery itself are likely culprits. QUOTE] Still sounds like a loose/corroded connection likely at the battery, but also check the main ground at the engine/frame. As someone said, battery connections need to be taken apart and sanded shiney. Also might check main fuse contacts for corrosion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcarl Posted September 17, 2011 Share #9 Posted September 17, 2011 Well I'm back home. No luck, had to leave the bike there. I don't think its the battery, maybe something with the starter? I hooked up the battery tender and if the light can be believed, it is more than 80% charged. (blinking green light) I looked at the connections at the battery and everything looked clean. I loosened the bolts, moved the connecting rings around, then tightened it back up. After leaving the battery tender hooked up for about 15 minutes, I thought I had it. Turned the key and the dash lit up, and stayed lit. But as soon as I hit the starter, it went black again. I guess I need to try and figure out a way to get it home tomorrow so I can tear into it and figure out what's shorting out. Wiring at the starter or ignition switch??? This sucks. I'm OK at fixing stuff when I know what's wrong, but I'm terrible at diagnosing or finding unknown problems. Check to make sure that the lugs on the ends of the battery cables are tight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Condor Posted September 17, 2011 Share #10 Posted September 17, 2011 If everything is dead...no signs of life... You may have blown the main fuse?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yamaman Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share #11 Posted September 17, 2011 Sounds like Ignition switch..Somewhere on here is a way to bypass it and you will know then. Think this is what you need to try http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=512 Thanks Tom. That looks like a good link, but unfortunately, I'm a complete dodo when it comes to electrical. If that's my problem then I'm sunk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yamaman Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share #12 Posted September 17, 2011 Sounds like a bad ignition switch or a loose connection. Connections at the battery itself are likely culprits. QUOTE] Still sounds like a loose/corroded connection likely at the battery, but also check the main ground at the engine/frame. As someone said, battery connections need to be taken apart and sanded shiney. Also might check main fuse contacts for corrosion. I'm headed up there shortly to try again in the light. I'll take some sandpaper and go over all the connections more closely than I did last night. What about a connection/short at the starter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yamaman Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share #13 Posted September 17, 2011 If everything is dead...no signs of life... You may have blown the main fuse?? I don't think this is the case. Lights on the dash come and go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyinfool Posted September 17, 2011 Share #14 Posted September 17, 2011 For testing try turning the ignition switch real slow to see if you can find a happy spot to at least get it home. From what you are describing, it sure sounds like the ignition switch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyinfool Posted September 17, 2011 Share #15 Posted September 17, 2011 How far from home is the bike? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yamaman Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share #16 Posted September 17, 2011 How far from home is the bike? Around 5-6 miles. So close... and yet, so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyinfool Posted September 17, 2011 Share #17 Posted September 17, 2011 Not quite pushing distance. Did you check the VR assistance list to see if there is someone nearby with a trailer to help you get it home? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yamaman Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share #18 Posted September 17, 2011 Once again, you guys here are AWESOME!!! There was a little (seriously, very little) corrosion on the positive connections. I cleaned everything up nice and shiny and... WALAA! Bike is home and seems to be running fine. So what's my lesson here? How often should I be cleaning these connections? I just put my bad boy horn on the bike this spring and I didn't notice any corrosion then. So if I get out the wire brush and sandpaper and clean everything up once a year, would that probably be enough? Thanks again Venture Riders! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Texan Posted September 17, 2011 Share #19 Posted September 17, 2011 There are various products available at automotive stores which you can apply to the connections after there clean and shiny which help cut back on corrosion. Expensive and can't hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revinger Posted September 17, 2011 Share #20 Posted September 17, 2011 Glad you got it going, bizarre that it happened to two of us so. CLose together timewise. Bob Marshall, il Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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