| Author | Message | ||
     Djkaplan |
For the first time in 8 years and 50k miles, my M2 left me stranded on the side of the road. Symptoms: No electrical power - the engine started intermittently backfiring and I noticed the speedo was cutting out at the same time. It was like someone was turning the key off and on until finally it just cut out with no electrical power at all. I don't think it's the keyswitch itself; I tried hot-wiring it on the side of the road to no avail. Battery and stator are fine and a voltage regulator wouldn't cause this problem. It's almost like a ground went bad or something. The only thing I can think of (so far) is the 30 amp breaker tripping and not resetting. Even if the battery connections were loose, the bike should have stayed running with juice from the stator. I haven't checked anything yet, but any advice on where to start would be appreciated. I guess I'll check for shorted out wires first. I was at least able to call a buddy with who lived nearby to come and get me with a trailer, and I was under an overpass when it started raining... so I guess it could have been worse. And it's a damn good thing it was electrical and not a catastrophic mechanical failure. But it still pissed me off I couldn't fix the bike with my pocketknife and a nail I found on the road. Thank goodness for cellphones... and my buddy Nick. He brought me back in his lawnmower trailer, but didn't have straps - I had to suit up and sit on the bike while he carried me and the bike home. That was the scariest ride I've ever had on a motorcycle and it wasn't even running. I did look cool giving the 'low wave' as we passed by some motorcyclists, though. They all seemed to get a kick out of that. | ||
| Bott |
had a similar problem a while back. It turned out to be a battery post was broken off inside the battery. I assume vibration got to it. found it by accident...my brother in law was tapping the battery while it was on a charger, and it was fluctuating the meter on the charger. $90 quick easy fix.you might want to check there........bott | ||
| Bott |
should have added-- it was intermittent--bike would die completely, then start and run fine at times . | ||
| Cyclonecharlie |
No Clue, if your fuses are good, check the back of the fuse block. I've had problems there, just not this one. | ||
| Mm128 |
Possible side stand switch gone bad??? It happened to my 98 S1 that i used to have... Matt | ||
| Spiderman |
check clutch and kick switches and also your battery connections, including both battery posts, battery to starter and frame ground. Also check the griund strap from swing arm block to frame. Don't just check for tightnes, remove and inspect for corosion... | ||
| Djkaplan |
UPDATE: Still not running. I can get the electrics to at least turn on with the key now, but when I hit the starter, the solenoid clicks and everything goes dead again. Sounds like a corroded ground. I appreciate all the suggestions (keep them coming please!) and will continue to poke and head scratch. To Be Continued... | ||
| Ceejay |
When I had the M2 going, the wires that ran underneath the cam chest and behind the cam cover rubbed enough on the oil pump return line that I kept getting a ground out. What your describing sounds to a tee like the problems I had, thus it sounds like you're on the right track. Good luck... | ||
| Road_thing |
DJ: Have you load-tested your battery? It really sounds like a bad battery... rt | ||
| Djkaplan |
".... the wires that ran underneath the cam chest and behind the cam cover rubbed enough on the oil pump return line that I kept getting a ground out. What your describing sounds to a tee like the problems I had, thus it sounds like you're on the right track. Good luck..." I wiggled the wires under there and... hey... I just realized there is a SS braided hose under there from my Penske shock.... I wonder if the braided hose ate through something? Your suggestion is going on the to-do list, CeeJay! Road_thing: Last night, I taped the leads from my multimeter to the battery and it reads 12.65 volts. When I hit the starter, the electrical power takes a powder and the battery still shows 12.65 volts. But I can't tell you how heartening it is that I'm at least doing stuff that Buell shamans would do... ... except was I supposed to eat okra, or not eat okra to keep this from happening? I should send Bomber some okra. | ||
| Road_thing |
Definitely eat the okra! Don't bother sending any to Bomber--he won't touch it...he's still blaming his alternator failure at Homecoming a couple of years back on the fact that I shamed him into trying some at Appleton. Of course, we shamans know better--okra is good for you! rt ps--How old is your ignition switch? In my experience, they shake themselves to pieces after a few years. | ||
| Spiderman |
He tried to hotwire, not the culprit. I had the same symptoms ended up being a loose positve cable. Also make sure your pos cable didn;t rub through and isn't grounding out on the battery bar. Has that happen once as well, doesn't smell all to pretty  | ||
| Bluzm2 |
DJ, Check the lead coming from the starter to the rest of the bike. It's bolted to the starter along with the big cable coming from the battery. I had the wire break inside of the connector. It was a bitch to find. Same symptoms as you are seeing. Brad | ||
| Djkaplan |
Ahhh, the sweetness of light after dark. I am whole, once again... At peace... At one... http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?tpc=47623&post=1210871#POST1210871 Huzzah! | ||
| Spiderman |
Break out the trench coats, let's dance  | ||
| Djkaplan |
You are so going to get a beer the next time we meet. | ||
| Spiderman |
in a good way or bad way | ||
| Djkaplan |
The only thing that could make it bad is the kind of beer it is! When my buddy Nick dropped me off from picking me up on the side of the road, he had a cold Busch for me. I hate Busch beer, but I loved that particular one. | ||
| Bott |
glad to hear you got it worked out. that can be a tricky diagnosis.congrats... | ||
| Djkaplan |
I was humbled by the battery, a device not usually known for its trickery. It turned out to be a worthy opponent... had me on the ropes for a bit, but in the end, it went down hard. I would have fought to the very end... glad I didn't have to. I left the charged but still semi-dormant battery at the Harley dealer's parts counter where I got a new one (now $112!). I didn't look back... there were still hard feelings. | ||
| Road_thing |
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