Can it really be that simple of a fix?

[BigLenny]

Hey Folks,

 

I started this discussion on another thread, but I wanted to start clear and tell the complete story so you guys can give me some advise.

 

Last Saturday my wife and I went on a ride with 12 other bikes. About an hour into the ride we all stopped at a convenience store to take a break. When we got back on to continue the ride, the bike had no power. The dash would not light up and it showed no signs of electricity. We decided to push start the bike and it fired right up and ran great. My gut feeling at that time was to head home, however, with some coaxing from some that were on the ride, we continued on with the group. Well, after getting about 15 miles down the road in the middle of nowhere, the bike started missing and the dash started shutting off and flashing. The bike started intermittently running okay for a spell and then spitting and sputtering. We luckily came to a lonely intersection that had an old country store and we stopped there. With the bike barely running, I got out my volt meter and plugged it into the port that I had installed just a couple months ago and it was reading 6.7 to 10 volts. It was trying to stay running but in the end it died and then showed no dash lights and no power when I pushed the start button. With the bike not running, the volts read 12.6. So, I sent the group on their way and called my son who brought me my truck and trailer and I got the bike home. I really thought at that time that I had experienced the failure of the stator, or maybe even the R/R.

 

Late Saturday night I went out to the garage to take a quick gander at it. I turned the key on and it still showed no dash lights and had no power. The battery voltage still read 12.6. So, I took the seat off and thought I would just check the battery connections to make sure they were good and tight. They were tight, but I noticed some corrosion on the positive battery terminal. I disconnected the cable and scrubbed it and the terminal really clean with a wire brush. I hooked it back up and turned the key and viola! The dash came to life, the fuel pump ran and when I pushed the start button the bike fire up and ran perfect. At idle the voltage was 14.2.

 

Now, this gave me a cautious confidence that all of what I went through was as simple a fix as the battery needing the corrosion cleaned off of it. However, I had a thought in the back of my mind that maybe now that the stator had cooled off it was working correctly, but if I rode it for a while the stator would start heating up and breaking down. I wasn't completely sure that I had found such a simple fix because the bike had been so violently terrible when the event happened with all of the spitting and sputtering and rough idle and such. I just felt like it had to be a bigger issue than just needing to clean a battery cable and terminal.

 

Anyway, I've been traveling on business this week so last night was the first chance I was able to get it out for a test ride. I rode the bike for over an hour at speeds ranging from 70-75 on the interstate, down to 30-50 on highways. The bike ran perfect and never repeated the issue. and it was hot outside. Pushing 100 degrees.

 

I had the voltage meter plugged in during the whole ride and here are the readings:

 

At idle with passing lamps off - 14.2v.

At throttle with passing lamps off - 14.3v.

 

At idle with passing lamps on - 12.9v-13.3v.

At throttle with passing lamps on - 14.1v.

 

After I got home and killed the bike the voltage read 12.9v.

 

So, my questions for the group are:

Does this sound like a fix as simple as cleaning the battery cables?

Do the above voltage readings appear to be in the normal range?

 

Please throw all advise at me that you can think of. This is an urgent need because I'm leaving out a week from tomorrow to go on a 3 day Labor Day Weekend ride to Birmingham to visit the Barber museum and I want to make sure the bike is sound.

 

Thanks so much,

 

Big Lenny

[BigLenny]

Oh, By the way. Don't ask me why I didn't take the seat off while I was stranded at the country store and check the battery connections. LOL. I think it was because it had acted so erratic that I automatically figured it was going to be something like the stator or R/R. Crap, I don't know! I'm still beating myself up over that one. LOL.

[bongobobny]

In a word, YES!

[etcswjoe]

Wish my voltage readings were that good, corrosion can do funny things so I would say that was your issue.

[Condor]

Just a lame thought, but you might check under the seat and see if you not pinching a wire while your sitting on it?? Or loosing a contact when your off of it??? Sure sounds like a loose wire somewhere.... Intermittent gremlins are a PITA....

[2WHEELSFORME]

Yes it can be that simple. Me on the other hand stupidly took mine to the shop and had the pleasure of letting them tell me it was only corrosion on the terminal and they fixed it and for a price.

[IronMike]

I would do a fuse and relay cleaning also. With electrical contact cleaner and brass or SS brush. If the battery was charged it was making a connection.

[Woody]

sounds like you got it, put some contact grease on there so it does not happen again oh yea thanks for sharing.