Need some opinions

[trbig]

OK... electrical problem.
Turns out that a buddy I work with has an 80 model XS, that he says is an irritable wench. He says he can just be riding along.. not a problem in the world, and then his bike dies!! Loses EVERYTHING... no headlight, brakelight, anything... just like you turned off the key. If he lets it sit a while... most of the time it will start back, but says that the headlight is dimmer afterwards. Sometimes it won't start for days. He loves the bike, but can't trust it to ride it. Suggestions?


Tod

[skids]

Re: Need some opinions

Main fuse (30 amp) or keyed ignition?

Originally posted by trbig
He loves the bike, but can't trust it to ride it. Suggestions?


Tod

[Dragonrider]

Yah, main fuse...in the rubber thingy (not in the fusebox) under the left sidecover, or under the seat (left side).

[desert1]

fuses

Fuses sometimes at least its happened to me twice that make a poor contact inside the fuse where the element meets the soldered end of the fuse, clean the brackets thorougly and buy new fuses.....these old bikes are prone to poor conections, check a few to see if corrosion may be a problem in some of the pin connectors....if you find corrosion or green scaling anywhere than suspect it can be in a lot of the connectors....my 2 cents...
Bruce

[chevy45412001]

wires to fuse block

check also the wires that feed the fuse block. had that happen to me late this riding season,turn out being a wire that went to the fuse block gave me one warning then went out. bumped the wire not knowing it started and ran fine hit a lil bump in road bike quit .

[2bhappy]

The popular thing to do (in the Triples community) is to replace te fuse box with a blade type fuse box. Only costs a few bucks but sure solves a lot of problems.

Marc

[mro]

Bad connection?

Corroded battery connection can do what you describe also


mro

[portero72]

Had the same problem myself, except it happened to me in central mexico(after the fuse block rebuild). 80 miles from nowhere(not even a bus), and yes, I about soiled myself. I cleaned the connectors feeding the fuse block, paying attn to the main fuse, and it never happened again. Corrosion is a bitch. Good luck

[trbig]

Thanks guys. I told him about this site. If he doesn't read these I will copy them and give them to him. I'll get back with you and let you know if he fixed it. Something like that.. it's hard to tell when it would start and run for a while anyway. Just sounds like an excuse for a road trip to me!! (With a backup plan involving a trailer of course!) lol.

Tod

[Czekus21]

Miyami did that a few times when I first got her,, Found it was a wire to the switch..

[webbcraft2150]

As mentioned before, check the main fuse under the left side cover. They often will look fine but will fail the continunity test (as mine did). I also suggest replacing the old glass style with the "new" spade type. The is a tip in the maintenace section on replacing the whole fuse block also.

[scalded dog]

I had a wire to the switch that would make my 79 standard do that. Later 'Dog

[trbig]

He has a switch on order... will let you know how it turns out.

Tod

[trbig]

OK... Bringing this post back. I bought my buddy a new switch and keys. He rode the bike for a few weeks with no problems... seemed like it was fine. Now it has started acting up again doing the same sort of thing. He says he can go out, start it up and it runs fine for a bit, but if it dies or if he kills it, it will not start again. If he leaves it alone for a while... like maybe next day, he can go out and start it again, but same thing. His battery is good and hot. Could something be frying his ignition switches? Did he maybe just get a bad one this last time? Suggestions?

Tod

[xj11john]

He needs to follow all wires cleaning the connectors of corrosion, that will probably fix his problem.

Corrosion on the connectors can make it only start intermittently.

tell him to use dielectric grease on the connectors it is for electronics, keep the connections water proof and clean.