Wouldn't start this morning!

[Odinist]

I've had a problem getting her to start once before.

This morning, I went outside to start her, and she wasn't wanting to start. After a few tries, it got really weird. I would turn on the key, turn on the run switch, but then when I'd hit the start button, I'd get nothing, and the lights on the gauge panel would go dead. Turn off the key, wait a second, turn it back on, then sometimes the lights would die just turning the kill switch to "Run."

GRR!

So, I hooked up jumper cables to my roommate's car, and tried, same results. GRRRR!!!

Oh a whim, I moved the negative battery a bit, and she started acting better. So, I ran inside, grabbed a screwdriver, tightened down both the negative and positive cables, and she fired right up.

D'oh! I felt like such a bumbaclot. But, it just goes to show that most of the time, fixes are simple. I've found that to be true soooo many times, on cars and bikes. Don't over think your problems!

[Matt Vann]

Great post! I've been told that before, but after owning 2 GS's I found myself starting complex and expensive before troubleshooting the small stuff!

[chef1366]

I put lock washers on the batery post bolts. I also greased the cable ends with dielectric grease.

[Steve]

Hopefully, when you connected the jumper cables, the car was not running.

Our bikes can not handle trying to regulate the output of most cars, and will die trying. 8-[


.

[Odinist]

Hopefully, when you connected the jumper cables, the car was not running.

Our bikes can not handle trying to regulate the output of most cars, and will die trying. 8-[


.

Noooooo, it wasn't running! =) And it's not just our bikes; pretty much any bike would freak out if you tried to jump it from a running car.

[spyug]

A large percentage of electrical problems in bikes are as a result of bad grounds and or dirty connections. With many of these old bikes the wiring has also been hacked about and many times they have neglected and allowed to rust out in an old shed or even worse outside.

I have done a couple of restores now and this GS I have is now number three. The first thing I do is get down to a bare frame with engine in and controls in place for cleaning ( solvents, WD40, brushes and paper towels) Once I clean off the crud, I trace all the electrical lines looking for worn insulation, bad connections and grounds. Clean and repair and or replace everything that looks suspect. Next I drop in a fully charged battery and test all all the electrical functions including ignition, charging, guages and lights. One area I often find suspect is the fuse block. Rusted or broken connectors are common. A change out is usually called for and easy enough to do.

If you follow this sort of ritual, you'll develop a sense of confidence in yourself and the bikes reliability....but just to be safe carry spare fuses. electrical tape and a voltage probe:-D

Cheers,
Spyug.

[SqDancerLynn1]

I have found you need to tighten the battery bolts with a 10mm socket, not the philips screwdriver