Maxi-fuse holder? Loose, corroded terminals in the holder itself?
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Odd electrical problem on Mama Bear
A couple months ago, I flipped on the ignition and the dash lights came on for 1 second and then nothing. Totally dead. I was home and checked the battery, fine. Pushed my manual starter button on the starter, it cranked over, but there was still no dash lights, no power = no start.
I pulled the fairing and started tracing wires looking for a bad connection. I left the ignition on so the radio would start blaring if I moved something that returned power.
I was no where near the bike and suddenly the radio came on. I tried to get it to go back off. No good. I did find one wire that looked like it might have arced to the radio frame. I wrapped it in electrical tape really well and hoped I had fixed the problem.
Fast forward to last night. The bike has been fine. I walk out to the parking lot, flip on the ignition.... same thing. One second of dash lights and then no power.
Again, I push the manual starter button and I have power down there.
I tried pushing and pulling wires feeding into the right side of the fairing. Nothing.
I'm standing there trying to figure out what to do next. My boss walked up and said said "what do you plan to do". Just then, the radio comes on... nowhere near the bike. I said "I'm fixing to ride home before something else happens."
Got home, no issues. No telltale flicking lights, nothing. Works like a new bike.
I flipped the ignition on and off several dozen times. No problem.
Tried again this morning. Worked fine.
Took Baby Bear, just in case.
Maybe a flaky circuit breaker?
I pulled the fairing and started tracing wires looking for a bad connection. I left the ignition on so the radio would start blaring if I moved something that returned power.
I was no where near the bike and suddenly the radio came on. I tried to get it to go back off. No good. I did find one wire that looked like it might have arced to the radio frame. I wrapped it in electrical tape really well and hoped I had fixed the problem.
Fast forward to last night. The bike has been fine. I walk out to the parking lot, flip on the ignition.... same thing. One second of dash lights and then no power.
Again, I push the manual starter button and I have power down there.
I tried pushing and pulling wires feeding into the right side of the fairing. Nothing.
I'm standing there trying to figure out what to do next. My boss walked up and said said "what do you plan to do". Just then, the radio comes on... nowhere near the bike. I said "I'm fixing to ride home before something else happens."
Got home, no issues. No telltale flicking lights, nothing. Works like a new bike.
I flipped the ignition on and off several dozen times. No problem.
Tried again this morning. Worked fine.
Took Baby Bear, just in case.
Maybe a flaky circuit breaker?
1 - 20 of 59 Posts
It's a '97. I don't think it has a Maxi Fuse. It has a little metal canister (looks like a mini relay) in the battery wired into the positive. I think it is a circuit breaker. I wanted to check for voltage across it, but since I got it home it won't fail. I HATE intermittent electrical problems.
Ya, that sounds like a breaker tripping.
There was a recall back in '97 on those I'm pretty sure. The main breaker just ahead of the battery mounted to a holder on the frame cross member.
Why would you suspect that little guy? It's only 18 years old!
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And she still looks great.Why would you suspect that little guy? It's only 18 years old!
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Remember the wiring on your old bike ? Try swinging the forks back and forth to see if anything electrical happens.
There was a problem with the 40 amp circuit breaker. The MoCo "fixed it" by installing a 50 amp circuit breaker . The real problem lies with the crimped on wire ends , they developed resistance due to corrosion and tripped the breaker .
That's the first thing I checked. I slammed it back and forth several times. The parking lot cameras might be entertaining to go back and watch. I might get sent to anger management for it.Remember the wiring on your old bike ? Try swinging the forks back and forth to see if anything electrical happens.
I fixed 2 breaks in that area about a year ago (thanks to you Schmidtys). Seems to still be holding up. The kicker is when the power came back, I wasn't touching the bike. I just left the ignition on.
On my 99 inside fairing brake side there is a relay/ connection from the main harness to the dash... I have had the power wire come loose there a couple of times twice leaving a stop light. Just another thing to check if your year has that.
It's mounted on the fairing bracket near speaker.
Just a thought.
It's mounted on the fairing bracket near speaker.
Just a thought.
I cleaned that really well and added lightbulb grease to the connections last time.On my 99 inside fairing brake side there is a relay/ connection from the main harness to the dash... I have had the power wire come loose there a couple of times twice leaving a stop light. Just another thing to check if your year has that.
It's mounted on the fairing bracket near speaker.
Just a thought.
Old circuit breaker. Canister was brown like it had been under a lot of heat. That's headlight grease I put on there about 3 years ago.
Time will tell. I had the issue twice about 3 months apart.
It might be my imagination but it seemed to be charging a little higher.
Time will tell. I had the issue twice about 3 months apart.
It might be my imagination but it seemed to be charging a little higher.
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There are people in the electronics business who claim that using some types of dielectric grease will cause problems for relays and some other electrical components. Whether that is true or not, there are products that are better suited to cleaning and protecting electrical connectors than the dielectric grease that you commonly find at auto parts stores.
The DeOxit line of products perform well. Their D5S6 spray cleaner and their D100 brush on cleaner are both highly recommended. It might be worth your time to check the conductors in the fairing for damage and to disconnect, clean and reassemble the electrical connectors.
Pete
The DeOxit line of products perform well. Their D5S6 spray cleaner and their D100 brush on cleaner are both highly recommended. It might be worth your time to check the conductors in the fairing for damage and to disconnect, clean and reassemble the electrical connectors.
Pete
Old circuit breaker. Canister was brown like it had been under a lot of heat. That's headlight grease I put on there about 3 years ago.
Time will tell. I had the issue twice about 3 months apart.
It might be my imagination but it seemed to be charging a little higher.
If those are true circuit breakers, then do they reset when cooled? Is it possible the radio came on when you were no where near the bike because the breaker reset? Maybe the inrush of current tripped it when the ignition switch was turned on and then it cooled after a given time and reset.
If those are true circuit breakers, then do they reset when cooled? Is it possible the radio came on when you were no where near the bike because the breaker reset? Maybe the inrush of current tripped it when the ignition switch was turned on and then it cooled after a given time and reset.
This is the story I'm gonna vote for.
If those are true circuit breakers, then do they reset when cooled? Is it possible the radio came on when you were no where near the bike because the breaker reset? Maybe the inrush of current tripped it when the ignition switch was turned on and then it cooled after a given time and reset.
Second that.
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I'm guessing that was what was going on. We're at the IMS on mama bear. I guess we will see. No issues so far.
Just freaking shoot me already.
Had to work late. Flipped on the key, nothing.
Put my backpack in the tour pack. Put on my jacket and suddenly it's alive.
Stumped, frustrated and tired.
Had to work late. Flipped on the key, nothing.
Put my backpack in the tour pack. Put on my jacket and suddenly it's alive.
Stumped, frustrated and tired.
1 - 20 of 59 Posts
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