Dead Bike

[Bassman]

Hey all, I was on my way to work this morning and the bike up and quit on me. I was at about 45 mph and suddenly, I had no power to the throttle. I put my flashers on and coasted into a driveway and the engine quit. I checked all the fuses: all good. Next, I tried the starter: I can hear the solenoid engaging, but the engine will not turn over. Next, I tried to push start it: it will catch for a second or two, but will not stay started.

Does this sound like a coil problem?

Thanks

[DGXSER]

It does sound electrical. but of course I have to ask the simple thing first....Does it have gas? Are you on Reserve or Prime if the tank is low?

I would start with the Battery, make sure it has a good charge and is holding a charge. These bikes actually run off the battery all the time, the battery is recharged by the alternator and voltage regulator while it is running. So a dead battery will actually kill the engine while it is running. The fact the starter is not turning the engine over would suggest the battery may not be up to snuff.

From there I would check the fuses as you stated you had. But if they are the old style, then perhaps the fuse itself is good but not the connectors. Thos eglass fuses can even look just fine but be broken where you can not see them and not conduct the go juice.

Also look at the alternator connection behind the fuse box. Just recently a member found this connector melted down almost completely.

Not saying it is not a coil, but it is unusual to lose both coils at once, and these bikes will run on two cylinders, just not very well. So the fact it did not start missing badly but just up and died would say it was probably not a coil or pick-up coil or wires issue. Sounds more like alternator, perhaps voltage regulator rectifier, or the TCI itself.

I would also not rule out a bad key switch, or run-stop switch. Depends on if you get lights on the dash or not, or tach lights up.

Just a few of my thoughts on it.

[BA80]

Since it won't turn over with the start button it's probably the kill switch, ignition switch, or a fuse problem.

A bad coil won't stop the starter from working.

[IanDMacDonald]

As my buddy from the GS forums states, and I quote "To measure is to know". Start from the source of power and work out from that. My bet is that battery is depleted. And, since Transistorized ignition is dependent on our batteries (below 11.5 volts, the TCI will not send out signals), that bike will not be starting till you figure out why the battery died. (R/R, stator, or battery).

[Bassman]

It does have gas

One of the first things I did when I got the bike was switch out the fuse box for the blade style, so that shouldn't be the issue.

The lights all come on still, so I am getting some power.

The battery is only about a month old, I bought it brand new from Walmart and trickle charged it at 2 amps on an automatic charger.

At first, when I tried starting it after it died, it sounded like the starter motor was trying to turn over, but maybe didn't have enough juice?

I will check the alternator connection and see what kind of shape it is in.

Thanks guys, I'll keep you updated

[BA80]

It does have gas

One of the first things I did when I got the bike was switch out the fuse box for the blade style, so that shouldn't be the issue.

The lights all come on still, so I am getting some power.

The battery is only about a month old, I bought it brand new from Walmart and trickle charged it at 2 amps on an automatic charger.

At first, when I tried starting it after it died, it sounded like the starter motor was trying to turn over, but maybe didn't have enough juice?

I will check the alternator connection and see what kind of shape it is in.

Thanks guys, I'll keep you updated

Check your battery connections and ground connections from the battery to the frame and from the frame to the engine.

[natemoen]

below 11.5 volts, the TCI will not send out signals

Make that more like 10.5. Everything else I agreed with

[skids]

+1 on the 10.5 volts. Try working the kill switch back and forth and try working the key switch back and forth. Might be some gunk in there. Other things... Ballast resistor shorting out on a ground, dirty terminals or connections. Also try cleaning the frame contact at the volt regulator. That is king of a crummy way that Yamaha provided ground there.

[skids]

PS, some batteries are maintenance free, but the drawback on this is that some of those give up rather suddenly instead of gradually. You need to do a load test on the battery after fully charging it. You can't just test volts across the terminals because there might be a "skin charge" without any real capacity.

[bikerphil]

Sounds to me like a depleated battery that is not being charged enough because of poor corroded/melted alternator connections at the plug behind the fuse panel. JAT

[ViperRon]

First problem you mention is the engine died. This is more likely a bad connection or switch or moisture. The second issue is you had problems starting after it and I would bet the two are connected. A fuel problem will not cause issues with starter turning engine. More than likely you have a bad or intermittant connection from the kill switch or ignition switch a ground or starter relay. These need to be isolated one by one with a meter. Steve has in trouble aids a good troubleshooting writeup I'd use it.



There are a few quick tests to satisfy your mind about other issues the starter not working so since you checked fuses etc the simple things jumper across the starter relay and see if bike turns over. If bike turns over battery is good starter good and engine not locked. If it will not turn over Isolate if battery is bad starter is bad or a mechanical problem. Mechanical you should be able to put bike into neutral and hand turn engine with plugs out. Starter you can wire straight from a car battery and if it doesn not turn its the problem. If a car battery turns it the battery in the bike is bad.

[trbig]

If the battery gets low at all, the flashers don't work. He said he turned the flashers on after it died. Seems to me the battery isn't going to be the problem... but I've been wrong before. lol.

[Bassman]

Okay, so I got it home last night and checked the battery: 10.4. Something must be draining the battery, or not re-charging it sufficiently.

I hooked it up to the trickle charger overnight, went out this morning and it started right up.

My first suspicion is the horn: I replaced the stock horns (didn't come along when I bought the bike) with a set of FIAMMs which have a direct line to the battery (through a relay). The bike also did not come with a horn button. In the mean time, I cut down a bolt that is able to screw into the spot where the horn button should be. This was always a temporary solution, but I got lazy and haven't replaced it yet.

Could this be the culprit that would be slowly draining the battery even when the key is off?

Thanks again for all the help!

[BA80]

If it quit while you were riding it then the charging system isn't working. You should have around 14v @2000 RPM. A drain shouldn't make a difference if the bike is running and the charging system is working.

Is your tach working? First sign of a charging problem is the tach will quit working.

[IanDMacDonald]

If your horn is actuated with a switch, then the NO switch is preventing any amount of voltage use via that switch. So, no, it's not the switch. I also did not read from you any other impedance/voltage testing besides the battery's state of charge. I'll give you some advice: don't assume or guess with anything electrical. These XS bikes actually had very reliable electronics versus the GS's. So, while anything is possible, know that it can be anything from a frayed/broken/melted wire, to a failed electronic component. You REALLY have to bust out your DMM and start measuring. It's the only way you'll know what's going on.