Stumped-Electrical Problem

[FANNING507]

1981 XS1100 LH (Midnight Special)
New to the site; but you helped with the octopus problem!
Bike was running well, but #2 carb overflowing and into air box.
Removed carbs, new seats and valves; adjusted the tang and problem fixed. All floats level.
Put rack of carbs back on, and started up and purred--everything working as before, but no gas leak. Left choke on too long and it died. Starter button wouldn't work. All lights working. Shorted across solenoid to start the bike--did not fire.
Took off starter button, thoroughly cleaned, kill switch thoroughly cleaned. Tested circut with 12v light and circut okay. Plugged back into harness. Still doesn't work. But the ignition switch will not turn on the lights now. No juice anywhere but the battery and solenoid. Fuses are okay. Battery ground to frame okay. I have a replacement solenoid coming, but not sure its at fault. How does a faulty ignition switch act up?
Sitting, not riding. Love a puzzle, but this is getting out of hand!

[XSPastor]

Have you checked the main fuse? It's not in the right side cover where all the rest are. It's in a seperate holder under the left side cover.

[FANNING507]

Yes, I have and their connections. Four in the fuse box and one in the holder on the right side by the battery box. Thanks. Kim

[CarolynS]

How's the battery itself?
If mine dies, it takes a minute to restart. I have to shut it off and wait. The condition of my battery is possibly marginal, and I figure I need a new one.
It doesn't turn over at all, right? You push the button and nothing?

[blue giant]

Kim,

Did you check the fuses with a meter? Some fuses will look perfectly fine and still be open/blown.
I've been caught by this once or twice.

[FANNING507]

Have not checked with meter. If I remove and test with circut tester will that suffice? I mean will a bad fuse still complete a circut? Kim

[FANNING507]

New battery, topped off with trickle charger. Plenty of electricity. Kim

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Kim,

Yes, a circuit tester will suffice vs. an Ohmeter. While you have the fuses out, check the clips with a voltmeter to make sure you are getting the 12 volts across each circuit.

The main key switch can corrode, the wires can come unsoldered, you can take it off and apart....just unscrews to check the contacts and such! Good Luck!
T.C.

[fvincent]

XSPASTOR

I don't think you understood XSPASTEOR. The "Main" fuse is behind the left side cover in a rectangular rubber holder. There is also a spot for an extra fuse.

Floyd
'80G

[Bigleo]

Hi, something similar happend to me once, it turned out that somehow the "kill switch" had been put in the "off" position. I felt pretty dumb after jumping the solenoid, checking fuses, etc, etc.
Leo

[Bigleo]

Don't know about the 1981 XS, but a friend of mine had 1982 Maxim with a similar problem. Turned out to be a bad switch in the clutch lever. The clutch lever in the 1982 Maxim had to be pulled in before it would crank.
Leo

[dbeardslee]

When I first got my standard it had the annoying habit of just dying on me. I tracked it down to a shorted wire behind the fuse block. One wire had about a half inch of insulation gone and every now and then it would make contact with a ground. I found it by jiggling the wires around then hitting the starter. I also found a burned wire in the headlight bucket. Taped 'em both up and haven't had a problem since.

[XSPastor]

I don't think you understood XSPASTOR. The "Main" fuse is behind the left side cover in a rectangular rubber holder. There is also a spot for an extra fuse.

Floyd
'80G

I think Kim understood. Just got the left and right reversed...

Tim

[FANNING507]

Went and picked up a multimeter this morning. The kill switch circut is fine, to the connector under the tank, anyway. So is the starter button. Battery reading 12.8 volts.
The gremlins are a work again! Hooked everything back together but the tank--starter button worked and bike started up on the fuel in the carbs. While running, the headlight came on, instrument lights did not. Back to square one. No instruments lights, starter button doesn't work.
All fuses tested, the four in the panel and the LEFT side. I have a tail light when switch is on.
The tip-over switch has been eliminated by PO. I am researching the previous threads. Should have done this before, but just figured out how to get there to do the search. Sorry to bother. Just a newbie and learning how to navigate this site. I am impressed--lottsa good info.
Beginning to think my 81' Midnite Special has been modified. Ordered a master cylinder kit for the front brake, and what I got was different than what was in there. My cover only has two screws holding the top on, and the diagram from Yamaha shows 4 screws. The push cylinder isn't smooth like in the fiche, the one I have is spiral; and shorter. My $25 plus shipping is down the tube. The snap ring and rubber boot worked though so its not a total loss.

[FANNING507]

The main fuse is on the right side of the battery box (if you are standing on the right side of the bike and bending over) I'm dyslexic on directions. North side wouldn't have made sense. Kim