Grrrrr electrical! Bike dead. Battery dead

[..]

Kill switch is in bike run position.

I had an Eastern Beaver PC 8 fitted by BigBF. It runs extra driving lights, heated handle bar grips, heated jacket, battery tender.

Did a 600 mile run up the BRP and back with no problems 2 weeks ago.

Had the bike out of the garage this morning cleaning wheels. Turned the key to crank 'er up after cleaning to help dry water spray off.

Heard a click and no bike start. The little red oil light on the instrument gauge flickered each time I tried to start the bike.

Battery terminals are tight.

Fuses from the fuse block are good.

I haven't checked the main 30 amp fuse yet. Wanted to get the electrical brains among you cranked up.

Off to check main fuse.

If that has blown what might cause it? Bad ground? Rubbed wiring after rewire of accessories?

[..]

30 amp fuse is good as are the connections next to it. No corrosion.

[..]

55 amp dog bone fuse is good as well.

[..]

10 amp ignition switch fuse is good as well.

[Ricky-D]

Check your battery.

***

[..]

Check your battery.

***

It's right there 

Bought a year ago.

[Gryphon Rider]

First, disconnect, clean, and reconnect battery connections, including negative connection to engine.  If that doesn't work, try boosting from a non-running car.

[..]

First, disconnect, clean, and reconnect battery connections, including negative connection to engine.  If that doesn't work, try boosting from a non-running car.

Where do I find the neg connection to engine.


Please everyone remember I'M AN ELECTRICAL DUNCE!

[John Schmidt]

Try jumping across the poles on the start relay. If that works I'd probably check the handlebar start switch.

[..]

Try jumping across the poles on the start relay. If that works I'd probably check the handlebar start switch.

I'm not doing that because I don't know what that means. It's electricity the work of the devil. 

[mark81]

Hold the start button in while you rock the kill switch back and forth.

[..]

Hold the start button in while you rock the kill switch back and forth.

Did that.

heard some faint clicking like a relay noise and the oil light cam on without flickering.

Sign to clean the starter switch? Has never given me cause for concern up to now.

[hubcapsc]

Try jumping across the poles on the start relay. If that works I'd probably check the handlebar start switch.

I'm not doing that because I don't know what that means. It's electricity the work of the devil. 

Take this thing off, like you're checking to see if it is OK:



Hold onto the handle of a screwdriver and lay the blade across the
connections where the relay was. You starter should start cranking away.
If it doesn't, people here (not me) will have more to go on to help you.

-Mike "I think electricity is the work of the devil too..."

[..]

Try jumping across the poles on the start relay. If that works I'd probably check the handlebar start switch.

I'm not doing that because I don't know what that means. It's electricity the work of the devil. 

Take this thing off, like you're checking to see if it is OK:



Hold onto the handle of a screwdriver and lay the blade across the
connections where the relay was. You starter should start cranking away.
If it doesn't, people here (not me) will have more to go on to help you.

-Mike "I think electricity is the work of the devil too..."

Will it spark like crazy?

Do I use a rubber handle screwdriver?

I got quite a few English 220v slaps when I was younger. Don't like the shock at all!

[hubcapsc]

Try jumping across the poles on the start relay. If that works I'd probably check the handlebar start switch.

I'm not doing that because I don't know what that means. It's electricity the work of the devil. 

Take this thing off, like you're checking to see if it is OK:



Hold onto the handle of a screwdriver and lay the blade across the
connections where the relay was. You starter should start cranking away.
If it doesn't, people here (not me) will have more to go on to help you.

-Mike "I think electricity is the work of the devil too..."

Will it spark like crazy?

Do I use a rubber handle screwdriver?

I got quite a few English 220v slaps when I was younger. Don't like the shock at all!

I've heard people talking about it, and I did it by mistake last time I checked the
relay. No sparks and my bike still works  . It should be as if you are in neutral,
bike off, and you press the starter button. The starter should start cranking away.
I pretty darn sure my key was even off, it by-passes a bunch of circuitry, that's why
it helps knowledgeable people give suggestions about where your problem might
be. You'll either be "good to there", or not. Hopefully some of those knowledgeable
people will chime in here...

-Mike

[longrider]

I'd lay odds on the battery.  Use a set of jumper cables from your vehicle.  This will eliminate a good or bad battery.  Also REMEMBER when you jump the terminals on the starter relay the motor will turn over and the m/c NEEDS to be in neutral or it will move of the stand

[falconbrother]

I would still verify that the battery is good.  I've been riding a long time a seen a few batteries die in a year. 

[..]

Doing the screwdriver thing was a bust. No sparks, no nuttin.

I plugged in the battery tneder and turned the key and this relay? made a whining noise.



I'll leave the battery tender on for a while longer to see if that makes a difference and if the bike then starts I'll whip the battery out and take it to get checked.

Busy looking for battery receipt right now 

[..]

That's why I have a file named Warranties. Find a receipt in minutes. So long as I filed it in the first place 

Battery was bought Nov 4, 2015.

It's a YTX14-BS High Performance Power Sports Battery. Cost $39.00 with free shipping.

Bought from Chromebattery.com

[..]

Turned key on. All the idiot lights came on.

Not enough juice yet to crank.

Seems like the battery is has shuffled off it mortal coil.

[..]

Check your battery.

***

You could be !00% correct.

[old2soon]

Jump M/C battery from yer cage. Paul-you're not on an I/S-are you? RIDE SAFE.

[pancho]

That's why I have a file named Warranties. Find a receipt in minutes. So long as I filed it in the first place 

Battery was bought Nov 4, 2015.

It's a YTX14-BS High Performance Power Sports Battery. Cost $39.00 with free shipping.

Bought from Chromebattery.com

Wow... a $40 motorcycle battery with free shipping....  well, got you a year and a half Britman.  Sounds like my kind of shopping, glad you got the problem solved.

[..]

That's why I have a file named Warranties. Find a receipt in minutes. So long as I filed it in the first place 

Battery was bought Nov 4, 2015.

It's a YTX14-BS High Performance Power Sports Battery. Cost $39.00 with free shipping.

Bought from Chromebattery.com

Wow... a $40 motorcycle battery with free shipping....  well, got you a year and a half Britman.  Sounds like my kind of shopping, glad you got the problem solved.

Check yer math Pancho 

[The emperor has no clothes]

That's why I have a file named Warranties. Find a receipt in minutes. So long as I filed it in the first place 

Battery was bought Nov 4, 2015.

It's a YTX14-BS High Performance Power Sports Battery. Cost $39.00 with free shipping.

Bought from Chromebattery.com

Wow... a $40 motorcycle battery with free shipping....  well, got you a year and a half Britman.  Sounds like my kind of shopping, glad you got the problem solved.

Check yer math Pancho 

For me batteries seem to be a crap shoot. Expensive ones can crap out soon and cheap ones can last for 8 years.

[Chrisj CMA]

Check alternator output too.  That battery should have lasted longer but if its not being charged, well you know.....dead

[Gryphon Rider]

Britman, my suggestion is to find someone local to you who knows his way around motorcycle electrics and have him help you diagnose your problem.  He doesn't have to know Valkyries in particular, as your problem is likely not Valkyrie specific.  Show him the schematics on the Rattlebars web site (below), and he should find the source of your troubles without too much trouble.

http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/schematics/

[pancho]

That's why I have a file named Warranties. Find a receipt in minutes. So long as I filed it in the first place 

Battery was bought Nov 4, 2015.

It's a YTX14-BS High Performance Power Sports Battery. Cost $39.00 with free shipping.

Bought from Chromebattery.com

Wow... a $40 motorcycle battery with free shipping....  well, got you a year and a half Britman.  Sounds like my kind of shopping, glad you got the problem solved.

Check yer math Pancho 

Not sure where my head was at.......  Like Chris said,,, make sure the alternator is working and keeping the battery charged up.

[..]

Having been on the battery tender for a few hours there's not much life when turning on key and hitting the start button.

I'll remove the battery tomorrow and take it for a check up.

[..]

The battery tender function lights show the battery is fully charged.

So if the battery is OK when tested tomorrow I'll strip the starter button and take a look inside.

[big poppa pump]

Just because the battery tender shows it's fully charged doesn't necessarily mean that the battery's good. I'm probably guessing that a couple of cells are out in the battery. A load test on the battery should reveal that.

[Jess from VA]

At least with my Battery Tender Jr, if the battery is dead or unchargable, the tender quits trying to charge (red led) almost immediately, and the green led (showing fully charged) was on.  This only happened once; I only had one dead battery since I started using them full time.

[Six Guns]

Britman, get a new battery. 

[Gryphon Rider]

Britman, get a new battery. 

Waste of money until you know the battery is the issue.

[..]

Insert the word battery as needed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vuW6tQ0218

Pep Boys tested it for me.

[Paladin528]

Stop using water to clean your bike.  REgular water is a conductor and can (and will) cause shorts as well as corrosion.

[Grumpy]

Check the ground connection to the motor, it is on the left side of the clutch cover behind the alternator. I had that one get loose on my Interstate and created about the same problem.

[..]

Check the ground connection to the motor, it is on the left side of the clutch cover behind the alternator. I had that one get loose on my Interstate and created about the same problem.

I'll check that but pep Boys said it's dead. They gave me a computer readout.

[Chrisj CMA]

Check the ground connection to the motor, it is on the left side of the clutch cover behind the alternator. I had that one get loose on my Interstate and created about the same problem.

I'll check that but pep Boys said it's dead. They gave me a computer readout.

Something to ponder...............Pep Boys says DEAD and it no workie, so its probably dead...........battery tender said  "fully charged"  So when ruling out the battery as the cause for no start, the reading on a battery tender is not enough to rule out a dead battery,  That's the main reason its always good to use a known good battery to jump and see if it starts.

[..]

Check the ground connection to the motor, it is on the left side of the clutch cover behind the alternator. I had that one get loose on my Interstate and created about the same problem.

I'll check that but pep Boys said it's dead. They gave me a computer readout.

Something to ponder...............Pep Boys says DEAD and it no workie, so its probably dead...........battery tender said  "fully charged"  So when ruling out the battery as the cause for no start, the reading on a battery tender is not enough to rule out a dead battery,  That's the main reason its always good to use a known good battery to jump and see if it starts.

To late already shipped back to seller.