Gremlins in the electrical bits
 

Advice from those who know about these thingies gratefully received!

I have intermittent complete electrical failure.
The symptoms are
1. Twice I have turned the ignition key and the instruments have failed to light up and self check, the headlights have not come on.
- turn off, turn on and all is well, start up and ride away.
2. On two occasions I have had the engine cut out whilst riding within 5 min of starting in the morning (daylight and Iam not sure if the headlights went out)
a) at about 10 mph
stopped turned ignition off, on and no joy, instruments dead
left ignition on, put stand down, got off, looked at instruments everything lit up! - got on started engine, rode away
b) at about 30 mph
engine cut out, all instruments dead pulled clutch expecting to coast to a stop. - ignition light and FI light came on, bump started engine without stopping - rode away.
3. Similar to b) but at about 50mph after approx 50 min riding.
(Night and all the lights went out) - scary!

Ridden to work today without any problems

Checks so far
1. Side stand switch - OK
2. Clutch switch - OK
3. Main fuse - Firmly seated - OK
4. Accessible wiring inspected - no pinched or split insulation.
5. Kill switch - OK

Any ideas?
Thanks in advance

Chris

Re: Gremlins in the electrical bits
 

If it is a curvy, have you checked (in detail) the wiring loom as it passes under the back of the tank?

Hmmm, if it's Gremlins you got then don't take you bike out in the wet - they'll only start breeding. :shock:

If however, you've only got a case of the Mogwais, then simply don't fill up the tank at a 24 hour petrol station - it'll only make things worse.
You can tell the difference because if you just have a Mogwai in your system it'll whistle cute little tunes at you. :wink:

That sounds like a classic dodgy earth. The trick is in finding the bugger.

Good luck.

Its gremlins all right K

I can spot one of the bu&&er a mile off when it raises its ulgy little head.
Trouble is I'am no good at catching them!

Following up Baphs suggestion I'll get the WD40 out tonight and spray everything in sight, with any luck said gremlin will lose its grip and fall off. Hopefully I can then run it over with the back wheel.

Sorry Andy - should have been more specific - its a pointy of the "S" varity.

Off home now, see if I can make it with no excitement.