electric dies when clutch is pulled?

[Guest]

I put the bike back together tonight after a long winter. re-installed carbs, etc. Battery has been on a charger all winter. Once everything is together I turn her on. Lights go on. I then flick the switch to on, pull clutch and and hit start button. THE BIKE (power) IMMEDIATLEY SHUTS OFF! No more headlights or guage lights. I have to dis-connect the battery and then re-connect it, to regain power. the process then repeats,

What he heck is going on here? Took me 2 hours to shove those carbs back in just to not even get power.

FYI- Battery is dated 06.

thanks for any help!

[marvinsc]

Sounds like a problem with the Clutch safety switch, start there.

[maro]

I'll bypass the clutch safety switch. However, could there be any other cause?

thanks

Sounds like a problem with the Clutch safety switch, start there.

[saddlewarmer]

sounds like a bad connection somewhere.check ground at battery and battery connections to all points.

[chef1366]

The clutch safety switch just brakes the circuit from the starter button to the starter solenoid. The starter button is broke with the kill switch. I would check those connections and the connection under your tank that all these connect into the wiring loom.

[maro]

I'll check the wires

I'll check those wires, thanks for the suggestions. I'll let you know what I find

[maro]

I Just snuck outta work and looked at my bike. Battery is grounded. Wires look like they are going to all the appropriate places.

any further suggestions?

Also, any chance someone can walk me through the getting the clutch safety wire out of the headlight console.

thanks

[jknappsax]

Hey Maro, where in Philly are you? I live in Wissahickon.

[maro]

Hey man,

I live in Mt. Airy, but my garage is dowtown. Do you know how to synch carbs, cause once I get this sorted out, I'm gonna need help. Instant Message me where exactly you live in wissiahickon.

[jknappsax]

I'm setting valve clearances now, then I'll dig into the carbs; rejetting, setting float heights, setting the needle valves, doing a bench sync and then a vacuum sync. This is my first experience tuning and syncing carbs. Have you checked your valve clearances; it will affect the vacuum, so that should be first on your list. I'm right off of Ridge Av. at the top of the hill that comes up from Main St. Manayunk. I'll PM you when I get a better handle on this stuff; I'm waiting for parts now.

[maro]

just to follow up. The cleaned lightly cleaned connections and the problem didn;t seem to happen... thanks for all the help!! Go stuff to know in the future!

[ohgoodtimes]

Just a thought, i had this problem with my ex250 and i cleaned the connectors helped a little, then i replaced the screws and nuts and never had a problem again. The other ones were kind of lacking in thread and so the connectors were moving just enough to kill the bike when i hit the starter. Just a thought

[Steve]

Battery has been on a charger all winter.

What kind of charger?
If it was a manual charger, your battery is just plain toast.
If it was an automatic charger, your battery is still toast.

Your only hope is if it was a charger/maintainer similar to those sold under the "Battery Tender" brand name.

Check to make sure you have not boiled the battery dry over the winter.

Another way to help you diagnose battery problems is to connect another battery to your bike with jumper cables. Park your car next to the bike, turn the engine off, connect the batteries. Now try the bike to see if you get anything. If it works now, you will need a new battery.

.

[maro]

well, it didn't start up up the poswer didn't get out when I pulled the clutch and hit start. I've had it on a tender all winter. Seems to me, now, that there is a mechanical reason why it won't fire, now that it seems to cranking.


thanks for everything

[Steve]

I've had it on a tender all winter.

Was it a propper "tender"? Even an "automatic charger" keeps too much of a charge going when it's done.

Have you checked the electrolyte level in the battery? Even a good tender might boil off some of the water.

.