Strange Electrical Problem...

...another from the twilight zone.

My bike has developed an intermittent problem. If you jump on the bike after it's been sitting a while, kick up the side-stand, turn on the ignition, pull in the clutch and push the starter every now and again nothing happens. If you do something, like release the clutch, turn the bars slightly and try it again it fires up first push... It doesn't seem to always happen, but it has done it four times this week. It also doesn't happen first thing in the morning when it's bloody cold and the bike has been sitting in the shed all night.

I'm wondering if it's the first sign of the battery going and the first push or two of the starter gets things moving internally within the cells just enough to kick her over...although when it does fire up it sounds fine. I'm pretty sure the battery is the original, so it's been in the bike since '98, I've had her 2 and a half years, done 40,000km, and I haven't touched it. I'm presuming they don't last forever, but what are the symptoms when they start to fail? Bike just won't kick over at all/sluggish kick over???

It could also be dirty contacts within the starter switch, problem in the clutch switch/side stand switch/starter motor, but where do you start?

I'm also presuming I'm not the first time someone has experienced something like this, surely one of you guys/girls has the answer...

Any info welcome.

Thanks

Hi Ratmick

First thing I would check is the earth lead from the battery to the engine. Check the connection at the engine, undo it, give the screw and connection a big spray with wizards piss, and tighten up again. This single point is capable of causing all sorts of dramas with 'lectrics ( especially on GpZ900's - all years.)

Next thing is battery terminal connections - clean them with a solution of bi-carb of soda, and use that old tub of vaseline hiding under the bed, apply to battery terminals before you do up the leads.

Then check the starter solenoid - this generally will 'click' without turning the starter motor over, if it is carboned-up. They can be cleaned easily. Your symptons don't seem to indicate a dud solenoid....but check it anyway.

Once these areas have been done, you are then down to kill switch connections, sidestand cut-out and clutch lock-out. Use a multimeter on these 1 at a time, to identify dodgy switches.

If these all check out, it will be a dodgy connector somewhere in the loom near the steering head ( ie moving the bars ......)

If your battery is a 1998 model and still working you have done pretty well - I bet it is a Yuasa ! Slower and slower starter turnover is the first sign of battery dieing, not a complete cut-out like you have described.

See how you go with this lot. Electrics are my favourite

ciao
RetardedSparkDave

Had exactly the same issue on my ZXR750, the clutch safety switch was the problem. Nothing to do with electrics, the hole for the pivot pin on the clutch leverhad gone oval and wasn't alway triggering the switch. Went mad trying to figure it out, after a while I even ended up getting the neutral light come on. I took the lever off to check the switch and saw the ovaled hole. As soon as I replaced the lever everything was sweet.

My ZZR1100 had a similar problem- it was the sidestand switch, whose plunger came out very slowly- many times I went to take off and the engine would stall- looked like a newby- lubed the switch and was right to go....
Yours sounds more likely to be the clutch switch though...

Thanks guys, much obliged.

The side-stand switch is a sealed unit, all I can do is buzz it out and spray contact cleaner down the plunger slide. I've had the clutch switch apart in the last year, although it did have a different symptom when there was an issue with it. I had to clean the copper contacts they were a bit corroded. I may try that again, it's an easy job. I may also check the manual for the loom routing.

Interestingly I don't lock the bars to one side in the shed, I just pull the key out, otherwise I have to go get the key when I want to roll the bike out of the way. I do lock the bars when parked in public however, which is when I've been having the problem.

The battery is a Yuasa btw.

Had exactly the same issue on my ZXR750, the clutch safety switch was the problem.

bloody clutch lock-outs - I hate 'em. Even my old 1980 Z1000 had one of these. Pretty easy to by-pass, just followed the loom back to under the tank, unplugged the double-lead that runs up to the lock-out switch, and plug the male/female ends of main harness leads back into themselves. This fools the system into thinking that the lock-out is working properly. But, no side-stand switch on these models.........how many times have you ridden off with the s/stand down, only for it to belt into that bitchomine first l/hander ???? good look NOT

It is a Yuasa battery - there you go. These are the only choice. More expen$ive, but worth it. Don't waste your money on a Yacht / Elephant / Goat Spleen brand ( unless you are $elling) - thay are all total pus.

Last edited by Gosling1 on Wed Aug 03, 2005 9:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Had exactly the same issue on my ZXR750, the clutch safety switch was the problem.

I agree. My lil ZZR250 also have that problem.
Look from the underside, pull in the clutch, push the pin in n let it spring out again. Sometimes it's just dirt/crap stuck there and prevent it from springing out.

Mick,
I had the same problem on my ZZR and the side-stand switch connector just needed a clean.
I took the sprocket cover off, unplugged the switch connector, cleaned everything up and it was all good.
ty

mick

its a broken wire either in the iginiton loom or the clutch electrics.

it will get worse as the wire ends move way from each other