Coil, Starter Motor, Rectifier...all of the above?!

[Robster]

Arse. The Twin has stopped playing nicely again.

Stopped for fuel on Monday night, having shortly before been thinking how well the beast was running. Fuelled up, paid, went back to the bike and it wouldn't start. It would barely turn over. After couple of tries, all the idiot lights and trip meter went off. I gave it a minute and turned it back on again and trip meter and idiot lights seemed to nice and bright as I'd expect having only had the battery for 3 months or less.

After waiting 5 minutes or so to see if it would recover a little on its own it reluctantly turned over and fired up. I rode home without any trouble at all.

Yesterday morning it started fine and I rode into work as usual. Last night though, as I left early to go out for my birthday, there was no joy. Again it would barely turn over though the idiot lights were still shining bright. I left it at work and trained it home.

I'm assuming then I've got some corrosion or something on one of the bits mentioned above. My knowledge only extends as far as that though. I'm not entirely sure how to sort it. I guess I need to systematically clean up the terminals on various bits? I know the starter relay is behind the right panel, so I'm assuming this is the least likely to be corroded. Not sure about the other bits though. Are they accessible with minimal tools at the roadside?

Anyone up near Tottenham Court Road know their stuff and fancy lending a hand?! Technical or physical help gladly received! Did I mention its parked right by a pub?! Heeeellllllpppp!

[YEN_POWELL]

Sounds like when my ignition switch went. Thought it was the starter relay at first. Try hot wiring it (I think you have to connect 3 ignition wires together, wiring diagram will show you) and see if the problem goes away. I made up a joiner that plugged straight into the ignition switch plug under the tank with 3 bits of wire and 3 spade terminals and all systems were okay again.

Or of course it could be the famous loosening battery terminals, check they are okay first of course.

[robelst]

Sounds like another fine example of a failing rectifier / regulator?
Idiot lights don't need much juice to shine brightly, starter-motor is a different story of course.
Hopefully it is just a loose battery terminal; in my experience a failing ignition switch usually results in a more on/off behaviour of things, or interesting effects like the brake-light switching on after switching the ignition off But since Yen suggests it, it will be more than worth having a look at that anyway.

[Simon]

I have had similar problems on my last bike. I was riding home and the lights went off and then on again. I got home and everthing was working. I switched the engine off and then tried to switch it on agian and nothing happened at all. But when i tried it agian the next day it worked ok agian. Ended up taking half the bike apart before i realise it was a battery connection that had broken! Doh!

[Chad]

batterie connections the first fingers crossed place it happend to me couple of months back then all of the above
good luck mate

[Robster]

UPDATE.... I've just got home - on my bike!

I called the RAC after toying with the idea of just getting them to come stright away with the recovery truck, but I figured I'd give them a chance.

I had a good poke around at lunchtime and couldn't see any loose or broken connections to the battery, and the starter relay seemed to be ok too.

The RAC guy stuck his battery pack on and 2 seconds later the Twin fired up. It was idling at 13.7 ish volts (did I read somewhere it should be 14.2?) with the lights off, but as soon as I put the lights on that dropped to the 11s.

It was in the low 13s with just the sidelights on and the RAC guy suggested riding home like that! No thanks! Especially when I noticed one of the sidelight bulbs had gone. This must've only just happened since Sunday when I replaced one of the headlight bulbs.

Anyway, I eventually disconnected one of my headlights which got me to the mid 12s at idle. I decided to risk it rather than wait for the tow truck and just kept my revs up at 3k whenevr I came to lights or whatever.

Soooooooooooooooo.......I'm guessing Reg/Rec then?

[Chad]

BINGO

[Robster]

Oh cock...I had a feeling that was going to be the answer!

[Simon]

thats what it sounds like. I had a rectifier problem on my brothers ER5 once. We thought it was the battery just and replaced that and then went a run up to the NW200. We were nearly there and i came down to a junction and it cut out. We managed to get it jump started and got there. Had to jump start it to get it home and then the whole way home would have to pull over ever so often and let the battery recover enough to just jump start it. If the battery had not been brand new this wouldn't have worked. The most fun bit was when passing someone i indicated back in again and the power used by the indicators made the engine miss fire!

[Robster]

I shall get on the phone then