I've got gremlins in my electrics... There are lots of good detailed posts on here related to electrical problems, and I've got some starting points, but I thought I'd write up my problem in case someone had specific pointers. I have 2 basic problems: my new (3 month old) battery isn't being charged (finish a ride, turn bike off, turn on again, won't kick over (just get a clicking sound)). indicators don't work - unless you hold down the "Pass" switch! Things have been degrading for a little while: First, the left low beam stopped working. Some weeks later I did a 300km ride on the high beams. After which I found the low beam to be working again. There was always a very intermittent problem where sometimes switching from High to Low left me with no lights - flicking the switch back and forth again fixed that. Then, last week, I found the battery went flat. At the same time, the indicators started not to work intermittently - this first happened after I used the Flash switch out on that long country ride. Then, the indicators started failing quite regularly - but fiddling with the high/low switch would get them working. Then there was a couple of days where the indicators would only work on High beam, and finally now only with the Pass switch. I suspect things will only get worse... A few weeks back my work moved premises, and now I have no undercover parking. My poor bike has been getting a good solid soaking over the last few weeks, I wonder if this is related? Anyway, based on that info, is there any likely culprit that anyone could suggest? I'm suspecting something is awry in that hi/low/indicator switch area, but I'm a complete electrical noob and before I start tearing things apart I'd be keen for a suggestion <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s --> (and could the indicator problem be somehow related to the non-charging battery?) Cheers
Sounds very much like a faulty HI/LO switch.. Dismantle and repair the best you can, or replace.. Check the charging system. Get a multimeter and measure the battery voltage. At idle you should get around 11.5 to 12.5 volts DC, and at around 4,000 to 5,000 rpm expect 13.5 to 14.5 volts DC. Trying to start the bike, the voltage should not drop below 10 or 11 volts when cranking over ( or pressing the start button )
Thanks for your advice Dave. Had a very weird turn of events last night, and now - everything is working fine. - Couldn't get the bike to run when I tried to head home from work. It bump started, but the first time I came to a halt the engine cut out, and I couldn't bump start again. Spent a little while trying, round and round the IGA carpark. Felt like an electrical problem, the engine just couldn't fire. Eventually in desperation I started checking the cabling I could see under the seat. Nothing seemed amiss; just for the hell of it I unplugged and re-plugged in each fuse, and also the 2 connectors to the CDI. After that it bump started! And stayed running. As I was getting close to home ('bout a half hour ride), I realised the indicators were working normally. And when I got home, I noticed that the dashboard lights were good and strong. So I tried starting her the good old fashioned way (with the run switch) - and she started!! The ride home must have charged the battery. So what the heck can unplugging and re-plugging the CDI box do?!? It sure didn't feel loose when I unplugged it, but I guess that's the obvious answer?
Are you sure it was the ignition module and not the regulator/rectifier that you unplugged?? Hope it keeps going for you <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s -->
