Weird electrical problems

[chakraist]

So my clocks started bouncing around when I hit bumps a few days ago. This then graduated into completely haywire clocks. Then I turned the bike on, it started flickering the lights on and off; didn't bother going anywhere, wasn't urgent and I was afraid it would cut out. It's been sat in the rain uncovered a few nights in a row, I think it might be a funny connection around the clocks area or a bit of water in the loom. I'm going to take the fairings off tomorrow and get everything checked over at the front, but what do people think?

Thanks as ever,
Conrad

[chakraist]

Oh... also, weirdly the bike feels like it's cutting out when I nail the throttle from 3-4krpm, and then again a little jiggle at about 7krpm.

[yorkie_chris]

Loose battery connections?

[chakraist]

I would think that, but it starts perfectly when the lights aren't flickering off. The clocks were going weird but the alarm was disarming fine and it was starting nice and easy. Makes me think a loose connection at the front as the clocks went first?

[yorkie_chris]

Clocks and lights don't share feed, unless it's the earth to front half of the loom.

[chakraist]

Okay, I'll go through everything in order, from front to back and check all the connections, turn the key and see what happens each time, isolate the problem. After that if there's nothing I guess it's go buy a multimeter?

[yorkie_chris]

Yeap. Just check usual stuff like the connection to starter relay etc first though. It's wierd what they can do.

E.g when connection to starter relay came loose on mine, it dropped down onto one cylinder, the clocks went mental etc... but if you pressed the pass button everything went back to normal!

[Grinch]

I'd have a look at the starter relay, the connector for the fuse on the relay tends to rot thought, as as it gets worse you notice the symptoms above. True on the curvy, not so sure about pointies.

[chakraist]

Wow, that's basically the problems I've been having, I guess the weird cutting out sensation is it dropping to one cylinder intermittently? I'll have a look through the haynes, but as I've got everything off the bike at the moment and can't see anything drastically wrong (I haven't checked the starter relay), I may as well take it all apart and put it back together again.

[chakraist]

Right; got the starter relay out and it only has one 30A fuse instead of two. It has one on the side of the battery lead and not on the side of the starter motor lead. Confusion. Do you clever chaps think this might be my problem?

[yorkie_chris]

No, the other side is a spare.

[chakraist]

Bugger! I'll go buy a multimeter then :(

[Grinch]

Look closely at it, you should be able to see the little tab of metal for the fuse, when it corrodes it goes a nice green. Its easy to see if there is a problem, though saying that I have heard people say the insides rot too.

Have a look at the attached image if my details a little unclear.

[chakraist]

The wiring connector that plugs into the relay itself only had 3 wires on it. Also it was sort of white, had this white crap all over it.

Just got the fuse out and that looks fine, although the little tab to the fuse does appear slightly greenish; it might be me willing it to be greenish though as I have a spare relay at home (non-uni home) on my old bike. Still, I should get to work and back fine tomorrow where I can get the new relay and swap it out.

Does anybody think riding it 20 miles is a bad idea with it being a bit 'funny'? It hasn't failed to start and isn't stalling or anything like that, lights weren't flickering today either.

[yorkie_chris]

Spray a bit of ACF50 or WD40 in there and push the connector on and off a few times.

[chakraist]

Thanks for the help guys, yeah, the tab you suggested may be green (Grinch) is a little off in colour. I'll give it a whizz over with the WD40 and ACF50, put everything back together and go for a little spin, see what happens.

[Grinch]

Mine was a little green and cleaned it up... it fell apart. Had to get a new relay.

[chakraist]

I basically covered the bugger in ACF50 and WD40, went out and it works perfect. Not sure how long it'll hold, but I'll grab the spare relay when I'm at home next. Winner. Thanks again!

[Grinch]

Buy some electric contact cleaner, you can get it at Maplins or most car shops like Halfords. It evaporates so leaves no residue.