Valk Quit Running

[JamminJohn1]

I was almost home and the motor stopped making power.
NO mechanical noise.
The lights all work.
No blown fuses.
Good battery.
Now,when I hit the starter the lights dim but there is no relay click.
When I bypass the relay it turns over but doesn't start.
Yes,the kill button is on RUN.
The sidestand light goes on & off when I move it.
Idea's ?
Maybe corroded wiring harness plugs ?

           thanks,
                      John

[saddlesore]

I'm not the expert here but have you checked the starter switch?
The switch has a tendency to gunk up and needs to be cleaned.  The tech board may give you the directions.
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php?action=search2

I had the problem and cleaning the contacts inside the switch cured it. You might want to bend the contacts up a little bit too.

[Patrick]

What do you mean by stopped making power ? Generally such a statement would lead me to say the petcock was failing. But, if you're having a starting issue then maybe it is electrical related. Your statement about the start switch leads me to think you need to clean it. Then I think you need to check the battery and cables/connections as well as the alternator output. I think you're having more than just one problem.

[Pete]

Low battery voltage and amperage can cause any bike to die at idle.
Very low voltage and amperage can cause a bike to stop running going down the highway.

So first things first test the voltage at the battery and have a load test done on the battery.

[Gryphon Rider]

You sat the battery is good. How do you know this?

[Rio Wil]

Sounds to me that your alternator had died, the battery is pretty much rundown to the point it wont run  the electronics module. Try jump starting it and measure battery voltage at say 2000 rpm...should be 13.5-14.5v.......d

[Ricky-D]

Trying to analyze this kind of problem without the proper tools is more than frustrating.

At the very least, you need a volt/ohm meter.

***

[Art708]

 If you are running the stock petcock, check the vacuum line to it.  Mine came off one time and the bike wouldn't crank.

[R J]

If you are running the stock petcock, check the vacuum line to it.  Mine came off one time and the bike wouldn't crank.

Question Art708.  What has a vacuum line got to do with it not cranking?    I'm assuming you are referring to the engine turning over.

[Bradb]

Check your bank angel sensor. It bolts to the backside of the cover that has the lock in it to remove seat.  FYI the rounded part should be facing down towards the ground. Ball inside may be stuck.

[Art708]

If you are running the stock petcock, check the vacuum line to it.  Mine came off one time and the bike wouldn't crank.

Question Art708.  What has a vacuum line got to do with it not cranking?    I'm assuming you are referring to the engine turning over.

 Cranking to me, means starting and running. I could be wrrrrrroo mistaken and cranking means just turning over via the starter. But I guess I didn't pay attention to what the OP said. That's what I get for just skimming over the post......sorry y'all.

[Gryphon Rider]

 Cranking to me, means starting and running. I could be wrrrrrroo mistaken and cranking means just turning over via the starter. But I guess I didn't pay attention to what the OP said. That's what I get for just skimming over the post......sorry y'all.

Most people and all mechanics would say cranking is turning the motor using external means, such as a starter motor, for the purpose of starting it.

[Ricky-D]

Here....just to keep the thread on track.

I was almost home and the motor stopped making power.
NO mechanical noise.
The lights all work.
No blown fuses.
Good battery.
Now,when I hit the starter the lights dim but there is no relay click.
When I bypass the relay it turns over but doesn't start.
Yes,the kill button is on RUN.
The sidestand light goes on & off when I move it.
Idea's ?
Maybe corroded wiring harness plugs ?

           thanks,
                      John

***

[Rio Wil]

Soooooo.....what happened to JJ1?

[saddlesore]

Soooooo.....what happened to JJ1?

Could be he works 2nd shift.  He posted after 1.00 AM

[GotValk]

When my bike did that it was the alternator, same problem you described.

[JamminJohn1]

Hi guys.
Thanks for the replies/ideas ! 
The battery terminals were corroded and could have been tighter.
I cleaned them up & put the charger on.
It stayed on charge mode for longer than I'm used to but eventually came up.
I got the multimeter out and it was 12.7 volts for just the battery.
I cranked the motor (it spins fast & starts right up) to 3k rpm's & got 14.2 volts.
I rode the bike with trailer last night and it got me home.
I hope it's fixed.
Thanks again for the replies.

                              JJ

[MarcusS]

I just learned something new. The battery terminals should be checked at least once a year. They can loosen up if not properly torqued.  No juice and it dies.

[Karen]

When they really loosen up, they spark & eat up the battery terminal a little bit at a time until there's nothing to put the clamp around. Don't ask how I know this...

[JamminJohn1]

Oh well.That wasn't it.
She quits runnin' when she warms up.
If I press the starter the lights dim like always.
If I short out the starter solenoid she spins but no spark !
Seems like power to the electronics cuts out.
The bike runs great when it runs.
Is it likely that the wiring harness plugs are corroded ?
Less likely that there is a broken wire somewhere ?
Bad ground somewhere ?
Thanks for lookin' & helping.

               JJ

[R J]

Find this guy under the right side cover and see if it looks like this, if so, ya need to replace the melted connections.



With this part # from Honda.



Move the big red wire to the empty slot then splice solder and heat shrink every thing.

[Farther]

I am not mechanic but you may have two problems.  A poor battery and an intermittent ground.

[JamminJohn1]

I am not mechanic but you may have two problems.  A poor battery and an intermittent ground.

I borrowed a known new battery.
The ground somewhere or wiring harness plugs may be the culprits.
thanks,
           JJ

[Ricky-D]

Trying to analyze this kind of problem without the proper tools is more than frustrating.

At the very least, you need a volt/ohm meter.

***

Spend a little money

At the very least, you need a volt/ohm meter.

***

[JamminJohn1]

Find this guy under the right side cover and see if it looks like this, if so, ya need to replace the melted connections.



With this part # from Honda.



Move the big red wire to the empty slot then splice solder and heat shrink every thing.

I will peek at it BUT I changed the solonoid about a month ago & didn't notice anything like that.

                                      JJ

[JamminJohn1]

Trying to analyze this kind of problem without the proper tools is more than frustrating.

At the very least, you need a volt/ohm meter.

***

Spend a little money

At the very least, you need a volt/ohm meter.



***

I have one.

               JJ

[HayHauler]

Trying to analyze this kind of problem without the proper tools is more than frustrating.

At the very least, you need a volt/ohm meter.

***

Spend a little money

At the very least, you need a volt/ohm meter.

***

See reply #16 Ricky.  "Multimeter" usually means volt/ohm meter.  Now try and go back to trying to helping this guy and read carefully what he has done. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[Rio Wil]

When you are cranking the engine (and it is not starting) , what is the battery voltage then?

[Ricky-D]

Trying to analyze this kind of problem without the proper tools is more than frustrating.

At the very least, you need a volt/ohm meter.

***

Spend a little money

At the very least, you need a volt/ohm meter.

***

See reply #16 Ricky.  "Multimeter" usually means volt/ohm meter.  Now try and go back to trying to helping this guy and read carefully what he has done. 

Hay
Jimmyt

And your only contribution to this thread is to come on and post a criticism of me.

Slink away creep.

***

[Farther]

Slink away creep.

I agree with HayHauler on this one!!

[Rio Wil]

Slink away creep.

I agree with HayHauler on this one!!

I agree with Ricky-D on this one....its OK to bash a guys post, but there is a prerequisite that you must make a contribution to the diagnosis effort first

Plus JJ1 had already responded to R-D that he had one......so the HH post was redundant....

Kinda like buying a fishing license......before ya fish....

And I have no idea why I am even getting mixed up in this.....

[JamminJohn1]

Haven't measured the voltage whilst spinning the no spark motor yet.
I broke the terminal on the perfectly good battery. 
I have to connect it somehow.
Thanks for the helpful replies.
I dismantled the bike some more by removing the sidecovers,front cover,antifreeze tank,& all the fasteners for the battery box.

                JJ

[olddog1946]

This may or may not be your problem but yesterday I rode my bike up to a local auto repair shop to use their commercial air compressor to remove the frozen pistons in one of my spare calipers..Got six blocks from sis's house and the bike quit..just started spittin and sputtering.. got off on a side street, pulled a plug checked for spark, had it, bike would crank fine but not run at all..smelled the plug.............NO FUEL.... I had replaced the petcock with a new one not 20 miles after leaving LaCrosse headed to my sis's, vent hose was not plugged, glass fuel filter had almost no fuel in it. Had to lift the tank to find a kink in the fuel line (once warm the hose softened up and kinked).  Got that squared away, got my fuel back to the carbs and back on the road. I now have some extra fuel line in my goody bag.

So, I you get your new battery and still won't start, make sure you're gettin fuel.

[JamminJohn1]

No sputtering.
The engine stops running electricly.
Power is gone right away.
It's an open connection to the ECU.

                              JJ

[Bagger John - #3785]

No sputtering.
The engine stops running electricly.
Power is gone right away.
It's an open connection to the ECU.

                              JJ

If so, what's the commonality? My SWAG would be the crank triggers...possibly the connector block that ties them into the rest of the harness. After that, look at the voltage feed to the ECU.

This bike only exhibits the symptoms when warmed up, correct?

[JamminJohn1]

Yes.
Everything stops working but the lights.
She's been a great bike.

               JJ