Electrical Problems

[BIG--T]

I bought my I/S 4 months ago and the owner said he put a new battery in it. Well 2 weeks ago I was told my head lights (low beams) would go off and on but my Hi beams that modulate works great.

The bike had been sitting 2 weeks since that ride. I start to crank it....nothing, not even a click. I jump it off with my car let it run 10 minutes,,,dead, not a click! I't's been on a battery tender for 18 hours now and will find out shortly.

My question is how do I  find a short? Btw the battery read over 12 volts  before I jumped it.

[Regis]

check your battery with a volt meter when you engage the starter , if it drops abruptly to a low reading your battery is toast .If it stays the same but doesn't engage the starter , check your battery ground  (load test). you can use this same simple test anywhere in the circuit to find the problem . works best to follow the circuit schematic and test each part in series . sounds like a supply problem if your headlight is wired with a relay for your hi beam circuit separate from low beam . My guess is battery though . the symptoms may be unrelated 

[BIG--T]

check your battery with a volt meter when you engage the starter , if it drops abruptly to a low reading your battery is toast .If it stays the same but doesn't engage the starter , check your battery ground  (load test). you can use this same simple test anywhere in the circuit to find the problem . works best to follow the circuit schematic and test each part in series . sounds like a supply problem if your headlight is wired with a relay for your hi beam circuit separate from low beam . My guess is battery though . the symptoms may be unrelated 

Thanks Regis, I'll give that a try. It may be in the headlights because the previous owner installed modulating headlights. 

[HayHauler]

It is pretty easy to disable the modulating headlights.   Just unplug the headlights and remove the additional plug that is between the OEM three-prong plug and the prongs on the bulb. 
Then you can see if your low beams work properly. 
If the same symptoms remain, you can put the modulator plugs back in the circuit. 

Hope you get it figured out.

Hay
Jimmyt

[old2soon]

Are the battery terminals and the cable ends to the battery CLEAN?? Check the battery ground to the engine block or the frame. Clean and SNUG?? To your knowledge has the starter switch EVER been serviced?? Going from memory here-which we all KNOW is NOT a good idea-there have been starter relay issues here from time to time. That should keep you busy and productive fer a bit.  RIDE SAFE.

[Patrick]

Clean the terminals and cable ends as mentioned. Then when starting if the battery voltage drops below 10.5v then the battery is bad. If there is still problem, then the switch may need to be serviced. If the starter switch has never been cleaned, then its probably time. The procedure is in shop talk, its kind of a common problem. Also, while cleaning the cable ends, take a good at the solenoid for any sign of heat or burnt wiring.

[gordonv]

That's the way to test the battery.

Then next check if your alternator is charging the battery. Idle I believe above 1200rpm, should be high 12 low 13 V. Then running around 2500 rpm you should have a good output of around 14 V.

You can have both a dead battery (not holding a charge) and a failed/failing alt.

[BIG--T]

Ok after being on a battery tender for 2 days I checked the battery and it read 13.20 volts. When I turned the switch on she dropped to .12 volts with no headlight, instrument lights-0- no juice, nada. When I turned the switch to accessory I heard a click for a split second....whatever that means.

The battery terminals were clean and tight.

Thanks for all the help! 

[BIG--T]

Clean the terminals and cable ends as mentioned. Then when starting if the battery voltage drops below 10.5v then the battery is bad. If there is still problem, then the switch may need to be serviced. If the starter switch has never been cleaned, then its probably time. The procedure is in shop talk, its kind of a common problem. Also, while cleaning the cable ends, take a good at the solenoid for any sign of heat or burnt wiring.

After cleaning the terminals, which were clean, my volt meter read 13.20 and as I turned the switch on it dropped to like .011  or something crazy. Needless to say I couldn't start it- no lights, power whatsoever. Does this mean a bad switch or solenoid? I know very little about electrical.

[Regis]

Bad battery if you were checking the posts on the battery . You said before that it jump started . So yes go buy a battery

[Ricky-D]

Don't let that 13.2 volts mislead you.

Normally, the battery should set for a couple of hours before taking a reading.

This is to let the surface charge dissipate.

A well charged battery should read 12.8 volts.

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