SuzukiSavage.com - COMPLETE electrical failure

Bobbert

Serious Thumper

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CHOP IT

Posts: 836
Los Angeles, CA
Gender: male

COMPLETE electrical failure
04/05/08 at 13:20:07

so...I noticed the bike acting jittery electrically...it sometimes would shut off during starting but a quick second later I could fire it up without any coaxing. I pulled the bike in today and noticed that when I revved, the lights flickered a little. I shut it off but the lights stayed strong. I decided to do some diagnostic work while I was on the bike, but I hit the starter, the engine clunked loudly and stopped, and the electrical system just completely cut out.

Fuses are intact. I have a Big Crank and have had it for about 2 months.

Can my battery blow like that or is something else a problem?

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sluggo Serious Thumper ModSquad Offline big singles lead, twins follow the pack Posts: 4744 moses lake washington Gender:	Re: COMPLETE electrical failure Reply #1 - 04/05/08 at 15:32:19 the plug under the tank can be the culprit. check the ground connection at the battery. that's usually the problem.
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Bobbert Serious Thumper Offline CHOP IT Posts: 836 Los Angeles, CA Gender:	Re: COMPLETE electrical failure Reply #2 - 04/05/08 at 16:25:34 I pulled the battery and am charging it. We'll see how that goes What "plug" are you referring to?
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T Mack 1 - FSO Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline sold 2001 LS650 for a 1986 XLH1100 Posts: 2919 Emmaus,Pa Gender:	Re: COMPLETE electrical failure Reply #3 - 04/05/08 at 16:39:59 The one that is for all the stuff on the front of the bike. Includes the starter button. I don't have the wiring Diag in front of me,... I'm not too sure if the bike would die out if it disconnected. Might though.....
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sluggo Serious Thumper ModSquad Offline big singles lead, twins follow the pack Posts: 4744 moses lake washington Gender:	Re: COMPLETE electrical failure Reply #4 - 04/05/08 at 16:42:38 Bobbert wrote on 04/05/08 at 16:25:34: I pulled the battery and am charging it. We'll see how that goes What "plug" are you referring to? there's one under the seat that can come undone, and one under the tank.
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Bobbert Serious Thumper Offline CHOP IT Posts: 836 Los Angeles, CA Gender:	Re: COMPLETE electrical failure Reply #5 - 04/05/08 at 16:43:25 alright, I checked all the connectors and they all seemed fine...lets see what the scoop is with the battery.
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sluggo Serious Thumper ModSquad Offline big singles lead, twins follow the pack Posts: 4744 moses lake washington Gender:	Re: COMPLETE electrical failure Reply #6 - 04/05/08 at 16:45:18 Bobbert wrote on 04/05/08 at 16:43:25: alright, I checked all the connectors and they all seemed fine...lets see what the scoop is with the battery. did ya just eyeball them or actually disconect and reconnect the plugs we are speaking of.
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Bobbert Serious Thumper Offline CHOP IT Posts: 836 Los Angeles, CA Gender:	Re: COMPLETE electrical failure Reply #7 - 04/05/08 at 17:01:56 I pushed them all together, disconnected one or two I never recall seeing
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T Mack 1 - FSO Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline sold 2001 LS650 for a 1986 XLH1100 Posts: 2919 Emmaus,Pa Gender:	Re: COMPLETE electrical failure Reply #8 - 04/05/08 at 17:06:34 Hmmmmm If it is still acting up, check for corroded connectors in the battery circuit. Both positive and negatve sides. Also check the starter relay (solenoid?) to be sure it's tight. We await your response....
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Bobbert

Serious Thumper

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CHOP IT

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Los Angeles, CA
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Re: COMPLETE electrical failure
Reply #9 - 04/07/08 at 14:01:05

Tmack wins the prize

I charged the battery up, went to put it back in and as I was maneuvering the positive terminal into place i saw a white chalk on my hand...I knew it was corrosion so I checked the screw and saw nothing. I pulled up the wiring a little and saw the end of the wire was caked in corrosion. The end of a wrench, the keys, and a pen were enough to get it cranking over like a champ.

I want to avoid tearing the wiring apart, so is there anything I can use to get the corrosion out?

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Yonuh Adisi FSO Serious Thumper Offline Savage Jedi (Knight) Posts: 3622 Pilot Valley NV, aka Tatooine Gender:	Re: COMPLETE electrical failure Reply #10 - 04/07/08 at 14:48:58 Squirt some water baking soda solution on the corrosion. It neutralizes it.
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T Mack 1 - FSO

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Alliance Member

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sold 2001 LS650 for
a 1986 XLH1100

Posts: 2919
Emmaus,Pa
Gender: male

Re: COMPLETE electrical failure
Reply #11 - 04/07/08 at 19:14:43

Also, most auto stores now sell little spray bottles of anti corrosion stuff. Sort of like buying those little red & green felt rings for the cage....

Edit: additonal info.... Reason it did what it did..... corrosion acts as a restriction to current flow (known as resistance). Means you may have 12v to the light and it looks bright, but when you start adding other loads, turn signals, brake lights etc etc it doesn't have enough juice.

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T Mack 1 - FSO Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline sold 2001 LS650 for a 1986 XLH1100 Posts: 2919 Emmaus,Pa Gender:	Re: COMPLETE electrical failure Reply #12 - 04/07/08 at 19:18:47 Oh yea.... send the winning powerball ticket to my address
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