Strange but maybe good?

[usdart]

So I ordered a new starter cause it seemed to drag. New battery and tender both on bike.
I noticed my tender red light never came on even after cranking the bike. I put the alligater clips on the Tender and re-connected to the battery and now the bike starts like new.

I am leaning toward maybe one of the tender wires is bad that bolt to the battery?

At the same time my low beam went out. Don't care much right now it's too cold to ride any way, but, are the two some how related? Like maybe the headlight pulling too many amps off the starter circuit too?

Anyway it looks like and easy fix either way

Oh BTW it's a 81 750GS

[tom203]

I am leaning toward maybe one of the tender wires is bad that bolt to the battery?

At the same time my low beam went out. Don't care much right now it's too cold to ride any way, but, are the two some how related? Like maybe the headlight pulling too many amps off the starter circuit too?

Anyway it looks like and easy fix either way

Oh BTW it's a 81 750GS

If your battery was weak (not being charged by tender) and you cranked it with headlight on, the low voltage could cause the starter to drag. Of course, now that headlight is out, no problem! Might be time to check your charging system (at least before you get riding again)- better to find out in your driveway than at the gas station.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Oh BTW it's a 81 750GS

If you put your bike in your signature file you won't forget it.

My bike was having a hard time starting recently, starter cranking slowly. Once started, the headlight was flickering a bit and the blinkers would flash out of rhythm intermittently. Once it even went dead, no lights, no crank, nothing. I didn't want to suspect my charging system as I had just installed a new stator a couple months ago. I started checking and cleaning charging system connections, connections on my coil relay mod, etc. When I put a trickle charger on the battery to see if it was low, I thought I'd go ahead and check the connections there. Sure enough, the negative battery terminal was loose. Oops!

Since I have my r/r grounded directly to my battery, that could have been the reason for my recent headlight failure. I ride with my bright light on all the time (I just angle it down a bit at night) and it had burned the filament.

Anyway, it never hurts to take an hour or two once in a while and just check simple stuff, all over your bike.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[usdart]

Very good advice..thanks. I think I will go through each connection and clean and tighten. Will also Ohm the wires to make sure they have continuity.

I will also check the headlight terminals etc,.

[SqDancerLynn1]

Over the years I have fixed many broken battery charger wires !!!

[argonsagas]

Adding a drop of oil on the battery terminals before fastening the cables onto the terminals will keep corrosion at bay, and make no difference for voltage transmission.

Adding a second ground cable from battery to the frame will also help ensure everything works and, as already mentioned by Basscliff, running the leads from the R/R directly to the battery is a good idea.