No electrical action unless rolling

[MrFox]

Hey:

I tried to search and couldn't come up with anything close to what I have going on.

I rode to work today!    I was almost stranded at work today! 


('85 FJ1100) Turn the key, nothing.  Fuel gauge doesn't move, no horn, lights, anything.  I checked the kill switch and battery terminals.  I put the bike up on the center stand and screwed around with the side stand switch, still nothing.  I completed some connection somewhere by messing around with stuff, because a few times I got the neutral light to come on.  I pushed the starter, there was a fizzy pop noise coming from the left side, and instant death.  It did this 3 or 4 times total.

I put it into 3rd or 4th, rolled around the parking lot and noticed the fuel gauge bounce.  I hit the starter and it fired right up with no issues at all.  I rode the 20 miles back perfectly fine.  I pulled into my parking spot, shut it off, turned the key off (neutral light was on), turned the key back on and nothing again.

So, as it sits, turning the key does nothing, rolling the bike makes it be alive.

Anyone have any ideas?

Is the kill switch being stupid?  Is the side stand switch shorting out?  Do I need to use a bigger hammer?

Thanks!

[Marsh White]

My knee jerk reaction is that it is your battery.  When was the last time it was replaced?

[SlowOldGuy]

Could be any of these three things:

battery.
Battery, or
BATTERY.

DavidR.

[MrFox]

Guys, are you sure it isn't the battery? 

I'm going now to get it checked, and tomorrow will be a new one.  (dealer is closed now)  No idea of when it was last changed, I got the bike last fall.

Thanks!

I was kind of thinking the battery, but it seemed too easy and I'm very worst case scenario with my fat hog.  and my motorcycle.

[Kurt J]

Take it too a auto shop and ask for a load test, that will pretty much answer your question before spending $$$$$$$$$

Kurt

[MrFox]

The offending battery in question was tested.  They said it was at 6 volts.  Hopefully it's just the battery.

Marsh and SOG!  Thanks for the help!

Kurt:  already on it! 

[Dan Filetti]

Couldn't this also be the infamous 'halfway stuck in starter switch' issue?  He did say "turn the key, no lights, horn... nothing"  ...then it started after some messing around.  Easily could have jarred the switch. 

I'd be lubricating it at least, better yet dissembling cleaning and lubricating it, if there's time.  Certainly would not hurt.

Dan

[Kurt J]

With the power going on and off this sound like a main circut issue not battery.
The starter relay has a fuse in it . It is the main power circuit for the ign.
There should be a Spade type fuse or wire going across from screw to screw. If it is the wire type check it out and check it real well.  I've had a wire have a hair line crack across it and you could bump the bike and the power would go on and off.
The main power fuses do run a lot of voltage threw them. Some times they will blow with out showing it. When you take them out they fall apart in your hand.

Kurt 

[MrFox]

Couldn't this also be the infamous 'halfway stuck in starter switch' issue?  He did say "turn the key, no lights, horn... nothing"  ...then it started after some messing around.  Easily could have jarred the switch. 

I'd be lubricating it at least, better yet dissembling cleaning and lubricating it, if there's time.  Certainly would not hurt.

Dan

you know, now that you mention it, the starter button didn't quite feel "right".  Less resistance than usual, like it was sunken in. I think I'll start there before I get a battery.  Any tips on what to use to clean and lube it?

With further thinking of what happened, I was backing the choke off when it cut out.  It wasn't a sputter sputter die.  It was a quick loss of power cut out.  I'm not sure if there is anything to do with it or if it was a coincidence.

[SlowOldGuy]

You had the battery tested and it only had 6 volts?  News Flash:  These things need a 12 volt battery to run!

I think we've found the problem!  Stop wasting time, get a new battery.

When you push it in gear, the alternator is adding enough extra juice for it to appear to not be a battery.

IT'S THE BATTERY.  I've had enough FJ battery failures over the last 26 years to have seen it all.  When the battery goes that dead, you get no lights, nothing.  You can even hear some main relay popping when you hit the starter, sounds like something blowing up.

Get a new battery!

DavidR.

[Travis398]

6 volts? It's clearly not the battery, you have 50% of the battery life left.
Sounds like you haven't changed your fork oil recently, You should probably start there.

[Kurt J]

6 volts....i missed that.

Check fork oil AND muffler bearing.....

Kurt

[Dan Filetti]

If you got 6 volts, one more 6 volt battery (at half the price of a 12 of course) aught to do it. 

You may want to at least lube the switch anyway, I'd use silicone for the switch mechanism.  As I said,  I'd spend the extra hour involved with dissembling the switch cleaning it with compressed air and some contact cleaner.  Do a final lube with some silicone on the switch mechanism, as you reassemble and you should be good to go.  For extra credit, dialectic grease on the contact points helps a good bit.  Even if this is not the issue, (and it SURE DOES sound like it's the battery), servicing the starter switch is not a bad idea.  It is a known failure point.

Other may offer different advice for doing this but this is what I'd do.

Dan

[MrFox]

My starter switch has been stuck in the on position previously, as indicated by starter clicking and oil light on.  It probably needs cleaned any ways.

There wasn't much I could do in the ways of getting a new battery last night.  Dealer opens shortly.  I like to give the local guys my money.

Do you think a new front tire could help it start better?  Couldn't I just use a few 9v batteries duct taped together?  My cell phone still works at 50% juice, so this is the same, right?   

[weymouth399]

6 volts? It's clearly not the battery, you have 50% of the battery life left.
Sounds like you haven't changed your fork oil recently, You should probably start there.

I would guess that the charging system has THE ISSUE, thats why the battery is pouched.
So if you do buy a battery. check the voltage output with a meter so you don't boil this one.

Bob W