Electrical problem / question

[jchigbee]

My mechanical down fall is electrical problems so any help at all will be greatly appreciated! My 79 XS11 SF dies when / after turning a corner, just as if you had turned off the ignition or the on off switch, and then will usually fire right back up again, replaced the safety tilt switch years ago due to similar problem then, but I don't believe that is now the problem. This time after pulling in the garage I found I could get the bike to die if I swivel the handlebars back and forth, stop to stop. Has anybody had this problem in the past, any suggestions to where I need to start looking, bad ignition or on off switch, loose wire, or ?

Thanks ahead of time for any and all info. JC

[ratbyk]

Your problem must be in the loom of wires that run from the handle bar controls down under the tank or into the headlight bucket. Any that flex (move) back and forth as you turn the bars. Something must be broken or partial disconnected at a push in connector. Only way is to start tracing. You could possibly start the bike and start wiggling wires. When you hit the culprit the bike will quit. Should be able to source problem from there.
Ken/Sooke

[RUSH]

I had a similar problem. The bike would die for no reason and when I did get it restarted it would die when I sat on it. Pulled all the connectors apart and cleaned the contacts. No more problems.

[Dragonrider]

I had a problem with my Midnight Special where the main power wire had become barely connected inside the ingition switch. Same thing. Bike would just die.

Check that, and as the post above says, the wire loom where it flexes as you turn the wheel.

The kill switch wire also runs from the handlebar into the headlight bucket, one of those wires could be bad also.

Also check inside the headlight bucket for loose or corroded connectors and bad grounds. All can provide the symptoms you are having.

Good luck!

[prometheus578]

Might be helpful

I have a 79F with a plastic headlight bucket, and am not familiar with the SF's, but shall pass this along anyway for other's. Worked on a Triumph, (Metal Bucket), that had the same probs. Where the wires pass through the hole in the back of the bucket, there is a rubber grommet lining the hole. The grommet had slipped, and the wires wore themselves bare against the edge of the hole. (Not something that you'd usually look for)