Not good.

[lucky_1_chris]

Installed a new alternator. Turn the key, all lights come on, hit the start button, headlight goes out but engine doesn't turn over. Tried with the clutch pulled, kickstand up and down, I got nothing. Turn the key off. Check every fuse. All good. Turn the key back on, no lights, no nothing. Recheck all fuses, they're all good. The 30A, the 55A, and all the fuses in the box are good. What could cause this?

[Bone]

You did test the battery ?

[lucky_1_chris]

You did test the battery ?

Yes. Battery is good. Should've mentioned that.

[Challenger]

Check connections at the starter relay, since you had to manipulate the wire to remove the alt.

[lucky_1_chris]

Check connections at the starter relay, since you had to manipulate the wire to remove the alt.

Could a bad connection here cause everything to be completely dead i.e. no lights, no nothin? I will check it now.

[lucky_1_chris]

Check connections at the starter relay, since you had to manipulate the wire to remove the alt.

Ok, the connections at the white connector in the rubber boot in front of the battery are solid, as are the connections at the relay.

I'm gonna feel like an idiot if this is the case... would the bank angle sensor not being hooked up cause the symptoms I've been describing??

EDIT: Bank angle sensor makes no difference.

[Valker]

Bank angle sensor can do that as can the kill switch.

[lucky_1_chris]

Bank angle sensor can do that as can the kill switch.

I got nothin...no lights...nothin...

[hubcapsc]

If you took it off the center cover while you were working, my vote is on it
being upside down...

I did that once 

-Mike

[fudgie]

Starter switch?

[lucky_1_chris]

Starter switch?

Would that kill the juice to the rest of the bike?

[kermit]

Sounds like you could have a bad ground somewhere check and clean all ground connection...that sounds like what happen to my son in laws car almost the same thing you describe except it was a car and it turn out to be a bad ground connection he had some where the mechanic took apart and clean all ground connection and been good since....

[custom1]

Did you have the battery cables off? Did you tighten them when you put them back on? Someone else just had that happen. Here is the thread.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,36779.0.html

[lucky_1_chris]

Did you have the battery cables off? Did you tighten them when you put them back on? Someone else just had that happen. Here is the thread.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,36779.0.html

Yes they were tight. The bike is getting no juice. It's completely dead. No lights. Nada. It's gotta be something simple. Works one minute, dead the next. Didn't start the first time cuz I hadn't hooked up the bank angle sensor. Went dead after checking the fuses...

[Bone]

I would test the volts at the battery posts. Then test at the opposite end of the cables. Tight cable ends doesn't mean a good connection.

[Fritz The Cat]

In answer to your question, yes, when you hit the starter switch, it does kill power to the rest of the bike. This is by design, all juice is sent to the starter. One symptom of a bad starter switch is that your headlight doesn't work. happened to me once when the switch didn't pop back out completely after being depressed.

[gordonv]

Sounds like you have a dead battery. Try some jumpers from a known good battery in a vehicle not running.

I'm trying to remember everything I've read about this.
First you have a bike that wouldn't start. Now you have a bike which looks like no power when you turn the ignition on?

Dead battery or loose connections then, or a fuse. The 55A one was the bone fuse? Did you test it or just look at it? Put a meter onto them (all) not just look. I also like to remove them, and reset.

[Ricky-D]

If the bike sensed the tilt angle switch for whatever reason and shut the bike down you have to have the battery connected and turn the bike off for a bit before you turn the key back on.

***

[junior]

did you put the bank angle switch in upside down?

[Disco]

did you put the bank angle switch in upside down?

Flat = Top

[lucky_1_chris]

Sorry I didn't reply sooner. Challenger called it. It was he plug behind the starter relay fuse. Although the connections at the relay were good, I didn't fully seat that plug after checking the fuse... Kinda feel like a jackass. I went over that entire area with a multimeter at least 5 times and had juice everywhere...just never crossed my mind that that plug wasn't seated. Dumb, but I'm glad it was simple.

It didn't fire up initially 'cuz the bank angle sensor wasn't hooked up. I caused my own headache after checking that damn fuse...

Thanks all for the input. Bike is up and running and charging at 14.3 from idle on up.

Ken at MARS is a good guy to deal with. I called him at 9:30 Wednesday morning, and h called back 2 hours later letting me know that the part shipped. Can't beat that. Alternator works perfectly. If he's still in business when this one goes I know where I'll get the replacement.