Stranded -- how do I, umm, make the wire hotter?

[last426]

Actually, I use my cbx everyday and it stranded me and is at the Bart station tonight. I turned on the key, hit the starter, and the oil light and headlight went out and all was dead. This is the second time this has happened this week. I wiggled the wires under the side cover and all turned on but as soon as I pressed the starter, all faded out. The first time I removed and lubed up the ignition switch but, obviously, that was not the issue. There has to be a bad connection or fried wire somewhere between the battery and ignition switch. Any ideas where to start? Also, can I just jump from the battery to, where, the fuse block by the ignition switch to limp home? Thanks, Kim.
last426@yahoo.com

[steve murdoch icoa #5322]

I always try the simplest solutions first. Try the battery connectons and battery itself.
The brains of the organization will along shortly.

[Rick Pope]

While we're waiting for the brains, try checking voltage across the battery, then hitting the starter button. I'm betting the voltage will drop to nothing, indicating an internal break in the battery.

But, I could be wrong....

[alimey4u2]

Guessing it is a poor connection somewhere under the sidecover. I doubt if it's a short else it will blow a fuse.... This is a fairly high res pic that will be fairly clear if you resize it larger....

[alimey4u2]

Rick & Steve make very good points....

[alimey4u2]

Also... check the "main fuse" connections under the right sidecover....

[EMS]

I had exactly the same symptoms with a bad cell in the battery.

[last426]

I hope it's not the battery -- I put in one of the expensive gel types about a year ago. I looked at the diagram and my next move it to check the main fuse and that connector -- if those are okay, then the issue is after the ignition switch (but that doesn't make sense to me). Thanks for the help. I will keep you posted. Kim

[Terry]

I always try the simplest solutions first. Try the battery connectons and battery itself.
The brains of the organization will along shortly.

Makes sense. Wiggling wires and all comes back on but when you hit the starter button, all goes off. Sounds loose to me. BTW, you didn't let that X sit in a BART parking lot all night did you?

[EMS]

I hope it's not the battery -- I put in one of the expensive gel types about a year ago. . Kim

Are you sure, it is a Gel or is it an AGM? Actually, Westco had some problems with that particular size AGM. That was my bad one too.
They will replace it.

[last426]

I always try the simplest solutions first. Try the battery connectons and battery itself.
The brains of the organization will along shortly.

Makes sense. Wiggling wires and all comes back on but when you hit the starter button, all goes off. Sounds loose to me. BTW, you didn't let that X sit in a BART parking lot all night did you?

Yep, but it is outside every night, rain and all. I got this bike in 2000 when I lived in San Francisco. Moved to the east bay and use it every day to go to BART. Also a little casual riding but not like I used to. In all the time I have had it, I only have had three people notice that it was something different. I guess bay area folks are too hip for the room (or too detached to notice). So now I am in SF working and my truck and bike are both at BART. That's a pain. Kim

[Terry]

Which station?

[last426]

While we're waiting for the brains, try checking voltage across the battery, then hitting the starter button. I'm betting the voltage will drop to nothing, indicating an internal break in the battery.

But, I could be wrong....

Ding, ding, ding, ding. Finally had a chance to rescue it and it is the million dollar battery -- now if I can find the dumb receipt. Thanks for all the help guys, glad I got the bike home. To see what last426 is, go here http://www.marlia.com/charger/index.html Kim

[alimey4u2]

Good call guys.....

[Rick Pope]

even a blind squirrel finds a nut occasionally.