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I think I killed My Motorcycle (Battery Arcing aftermath)

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    #1

    I think I killed My Motorcycle (Battery Arcing aftermath)

    I must start by saying that I am an idiot. I was doing work (Carbs) on the bike for the off-season, and I left my battery in the bike. I initially had it covered in a towel, but took it off to wipe my hands for a different project. Long story short, I never put it back and the Fuel Gauge arm arc'ed off my positive and negative terminals. This caused the fuel gauge wires to fry instantly as well as the ground to the frame that comes off of the same loom. I remember having stator issues and disconnecting this ground as a "check this first" type of thing. I cleaned up the mess as best as I could and cut / the dead wires out and capped off the ends (as I figured I would just go without a gas gauge). Whelp, got the carbs back on yesterday as well as the fuel tank and everything connected. Turn the key, and there is power. I have the oil light and the neutral light. but no headlight. Looking at the head light, it might be burned out as it is a little dark (but I can not really tell, but easy and cheap enough to replace). Things are looking positive at this point, but when I go to hit the electric start, I get nothing. It has been a winter since I have ridden, so I made sure to check the Kill/Run switch, and that it is in the right position, but still nothing. For what I know about electricity and electrical systems, which is next to nothing, is that if you do not know what you are doing, is to not do anything at all and have someone who knows what they are doing help. Can anyone think of something that I am missing? If I should replace the whole harness? Fix what is currently wrong? Push it off a cliff? I just want to kick myself in the ass for not taking the battery out in the first place.

    Thanks every one!!!!
    Tags: None
    #2
    Your punishment is to go to Basscliff's and download/print/study the wiring diagram to figure out what else you smoked. Dust off your multimeter

    http://www.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/images/80GS850GT_wiring_color-new.png
    1981 gs650L

    "We are all born ignorant, but you have to work hard to stay stupid" Ben Franklin

    Comment

      #3
      Check your fuses.

      Comment

        #4
        Just remember you are the first person to screw up.

        The tank on one of my bikes has a nicely rounded dent that matches perfectly with top rail on the side of a uHaul trailer.

        Comment

          #5
          A good place to start is to check your earth wires, try running a wire from the negative terminal to the mounting screw of the starter solenoid, see if it clicks and cranks the motor. Do things like the horn/indicators work, and do the neutral lights dim significantly when you press the switches?
          sigpic

          Don't say can't, as anything is possible with time and effort, but, if you don't have time things get tougher and require more effort.

          Comment

            #6
            @ tom203 - I have no idea how to use a multimeter. When I look at it it looks like Hebrew? Are there tutorials in the interweb that a layman can understand?

            @tatu - unfortunately my turns, horn, hi-beams are not working as of last season. And now the head light isn't working (possibly because of the arc... I don't know yet). The neutral light and fhe oil light have not been effected to the best of my knowledge (will look more closely soon). I'll try the negative to the starter trick though.

            Comment

              #7
              If you were closer I'd offer to come over and help. Unless someone else can step up, you'll just have to study, work through it and come back with questions. (And don't get discouraged, all of us here once knew nothing about motorcycle electrical systems. It's totally learn...able.)

              If you don't have a multimeter, go down to Harbor Freight, buy whatever multimeter they have for $10-$30 and then hit YouTube. Search for "How to use a multimeter" and watch a few videos there. Then follow the test procedures in your factory service manual to help narrow down the problem.

              First thing I would do, however, is make 100% sure all of your electrical connections are clean and tight. Go over the whole harness. I had several issues with my 850 and simply cleaning the connectors fixed all of them at once.
              Charles
              --
              1979 Suzuki GS850G

              Read BassCliff's GSR Greeting and Mega-Welcome!

              Comment

                #8
                Another vote for checking your fuses. Do you have a test light? Do you have a friend that might be able to help?
                Cowboy Up or Quit. - Run Free Lou and Rest in Peace

                1981 GS550T - My First
                1981 GS550L - My Eldest Daughter's - Now Sold
                2007 GSF1250SA Bandit - My touring bike

                Sit tall in the saddle Hold your head up high
                Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky and live like you ain't afraid to die
                and don't be scared, just enjoy your ride - Chris Ledoux, "The Ride"

                Comment

                  #9
                  Don't be so hard on yourself. Prob just a blown fuse or two. Stay on this site and you will learn a lot from these guys. I sure have in the last 6 years.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Most multimeter manuals explain how-to-use decently. Sounds like you had electrical problems last season- unfortunately they didn't go away!
                    1981 gs650L

                    "We are all born ignorant, but you have to work hard to stay stupid" Ben Franklin

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