Electrical problem

BigD · Post by **BigD** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:51 pm

Nearly had to leave my bike at Tesco petrol station tonight.

I've been having an electrical problem, which is getting worse. This is what happens;

Turn alarm off, insert key and turn, lights(oil,neutral,sidestand) come on. Hit starter button and pop, everything goes dead. After taking out and replacing the 2 large fuses, I eventually get lights back on, hit starter, pop again.

Did this for 30 mins and eventually it started without going 'pop'. So whats happening?

It isn't blowing a fuse as eventually it does start. I've inspected the starter relay and there are slight signs of green corrosion on one of the contacts. Is it this causing the problem? As it is intermittant, I think it sounds like a bad contact. I don't want to assume it is, and get stranded again, as I really thought I was fecked tonight.

Anyone got any ideas and also, if it happens again, what can I do to get it started?

VTRgirl · Post by **VTRgirl** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 3:57 am

Clutching at straws here, but could it be something to do with the rectifier?

RAINMAKER · Post by **RAINMAKER** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 12:00 pm

Same thing happened to mine, thought it was starter motor, but turned out to be reg rectifyer, exact same symptoms, cooked the battery too so had to relpace both, no problems since.
Paul

BigD · Post by **BigD** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 12:27 pm

Thanks guys. I will check it out.

BTW, anyone know the part number for the original Honda reg/rec. Is it SH693-12? Looking on ebay just in case I need one!! I realise the R1/R6 will also fit.

yellafella · Post by **yellafella** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 2:27 pm

http://www.burniemorgan.com/firestorm/reg_heatsink.html
http://www.superhawkforum.com/viewtopic ... +rectifier

http://www.superhawkforum.com/viewtopic ... +rectifier
Just a few. Hope this helps ?

BigD · Post by **BigD** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:05 pm

Ok, update. Checked wires/connections etc and noticed the battery connections were very loose. I'd undone the screws to fit the Optimate a few months ago, and can only presume they have worked loose.

Could this be the cause?

Post by **kevg** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:18 pm

Tighten them up and see

if it goes away i'd say yes.

just getting in b4 soop or peteL starts on ya.

cupasoop · Post by **cupasoop** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:48 pm

kevg wrote:Tighten them up and see
if it goes away i'd say yes.

just getting in b4 soop or peteL starts on ya.

Hey

BigD · Post by **BigD** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:51 pm

Very funny

I have of course tightened them up. What I mean is, can I go out for a ride confident I wont get stranded now I've tightened them up.

No doubt you witty arses will reply constructively

Post by **kevg** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 12:22 am

OK, sorry for that, lol.

you may just have to try it out, the loose battery connections may have given you an intermittent problem,, but judging from other peoples replies it could also be your rectifier. seems to be quite a common problem for it to fry itself.

VTRgirl · Post by **VTRgirl** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:11 am

BigD wrote:...What I mean is, can I go out for a ride confident I wont get stranded now I've tightened them up.

No doubt you witty arses will reply constructively

Simple. Just ride around the block for a few hours.
That way, if she carks it, you won't have to push her far

BigD · Post by **BigD** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 12:26 pm

Just to clarify, bike doesn't stall and doesn't blow a fuse. I take the 2 large fuses out and put the same ones back in (resets?)

Once started I have no problems. In the main it happens when I stop and switch off engine (petrol, brew etc), usually when I try to start it again after 5-10 mins.

Rainmaker, you said you had exactly the same symptoms. To clarify for me, did yours stall/cut-out when riding? As mentioned above, mine is fine once ticking over. Are most of the reg/rectifier symptoms not same as mine?

BigD · Post by **BigD** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 12:46 pm

....also, is there anyway of starting it when it dies, i.e push start/jump leads?

RAINMAKER · Post by **RAINMAKER** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 1:39 pm

once going it worked ok.
Had gone to Plymouth from Hull 333 miles to visit rels, next day wouldn't start..........battery low I thought so stuck on optimate which being a pessimist I had taken with me. Started fine...........once. Seemed to make a difference if bars were turned to the left, so I thought it might be wiring.
Big headed relatives said naw mate its the starter motor (Â£450) but nephew, (21 year old I can do anything mechanic) stripped starter moter cleaned up contacts and said I've fixed it.
Set off back to hull. Very iffy starting, parked on hills when ever i could, but got back to Hull. Proper garage tested regulator which was the fault, battery shagged so wouldn't hold a charge replaced at same time..........no problems for the last year...........so yes once it starts it goes but depends on state of battery...........hope this helps

BigD · Post by **BigD** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 1:58 pm

Rainmaker, when you say wouldn't start, do you mean it tried to turn over, or just went 'pop' like mine and lights went out? Mine's not 'iffy starting' it either does or it doesn't. You can actually hear the 'pop', as though a fuse has blown or something has 'tripped' when you press the start button. I piss about for a few minutes with the fuses (not replacing them, just taking them out and putting them back in again). Hey presto, lights come back on (after a few attempts) Then pop again when I hit the start button. Happens 6-12 times then I hit lucky at it starts.

Only other thing is the alarm/immobiliser. Could a fault with this be the problem?. Its a Meta M351A I think. It arms itself after I stop, and I 'unarm' it before trying to start the bike. Just a thought.

Sorry to labour the point.