| Author | Message | ||
     Draoidh |
It has been a sad sad day for me. This weekend was the 10 annual rally for the motorcycle club I am pledging. Everything was going great ran sweep and blocking for the ride. Then without warning, DA DADadaadDA poof!! Bike died  Had to call our recovery truck to get my XB home. The problem is electrical, first thing that happened was all the electrical died. No lights no dash and no engine. After the bike sat a bit I checked all the fuses and re-seat them. Tried again and got my dash back but nothing else, no starter or fuel pump. Just before this happened I smelled something burning but thought it was one of the scooters that was in front. Checked all wires I can see and battery plus maxi fuse. All look good. Saddest thing was a few other bikers once had Buells and walked up to me and said "welcome to the club" and "its all down hill from here"  Any ideas what might be wrong? --D Edit: DOH!!! PASSED, I ment PASSED!!! edited by draoidh on May 03, 2004 | ||
| Opto |
Have a good sniff and find out where the burnt bits are and go from there... | ||
| Leeaw |
I had a relay for my turn signals blow with the same smell. Hope you solve it. | ||
| Captainplanet |
If everything went dead, look at the main system fuse located under the seat near the battery. | ||
| Jaredkuper |
Check the battery. I haven't had much experience with bike batteries exploding or catching fire, or just plain shorting out, but I've had several car batteries do it. That will explain the 0 electrical even though the fuses are ok. | ||
| Draoidh |
Maybe I should be more clear. When it first happened I had 0 electrical. After letting it sit and re-seat fuses I got my dash back. Still no lights, starter or fuel pump. I have checked All wires I can see, fuses including the main fuse plus battery. All checked OK. The relays are next on my hit list but I need a new multi-meter to do so. Also ignition module needs to be checked but I not sure how one does that. | ||
| Jaredkuper |
Intact fuses indicate an open circuit, not a short. The good news there is that it's probably only one part, and since there are many things inoperative it sounds to me like it's in the wiring or relay, not a component. I haven't looked at the wiring diagram in the repair manual lately, but you should be able to follow the circuit that the lights, starter, and fuel pump are on (and which the dash is NOT on) and find the problem in there somewhere. | ||
| Captainplanet |
The diodes going bad can also make the starter not work. I am not sure if they control the fuel pump or not. | ||
| Draoidh |
Ok, its a short some where with the lights and ignition. I cannot find anything that looks shorted out so I am going to drag it down to the dealer ship  | ||
| Draoidh |
OF ALL THE •••% THINGS! It was the damn battery.!!! Although it had 12.8v and would charge up fine. Once you put a load in it POOF!!! <10v •••%! Oh well, its fixed now. | ||
| Jaredkuper |
That's a very good point. A lot of people don't know that a bad battery can show 12V when there is no load across it. When testing a battery, make sure you test it with a load. Turn the key to "on" and check to make sure you have at least 11.5V. If you try to check it while starting, you will probably see less than 12V even on a good battery, since the starter takes so much current. |
