Whacky electrics and backfiring.

Cheers guys.

I've already replaced all the fuses in the main box with brand new ones, even though none had ever blown and all looked in acceptable condition.

I've read similar threads where the starter relay was the cause. Aparently everything runs through that. And they can go a bit flaky with old age. Symptoms were never quite the same and some guys were claiming it was actually the clocks in the end.

Looking at ebay, can pay up to £35 for a used/salvaged one. Probably all as old as mine and no guarantee it's not going to go mental iteself in a few months. I've seen a new relay for £46. That's not a bad price for piece of mind.

I'll phone the shop this morning. Get them to order me a relay and book in for that and immobiliser disconection.

Yorkie - thanks for the offer. I should be able to get it sorted with the shop in time for my big ride (11th June). If not, I'd like to take you up on it and buy you breakfast. Assuming the bike makes the journey that is

Originally Posted by chakraist

I'd have a look at the starter relay - the one with the 30A blade fuse on. It might be the ignition something, I'm not sure what it's called, but if you take the seat and the side panels off, it's the bit on the right hand side of the bike with the green cap on it. Pop that cap off, unscrew it and have a look at it (it's in a little rubber housing). Check to see if the metal on it is all green- if it is, give it a clean up and put it back on the bike, check the fuse, while you're at it, check all the fuses.

Second that. I had a similar problem with my SV a few years ago. It took me ages to find the source of the problem. It turned out that the main fuse holder on the starter relay was seriously corroded and literally fell apart when I dismantled it for inspection.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by chakraist

I'd have a look at the starter relay - the one with the 30A blade fuse on. It might be the ignition something, I'm not sure what it's called, but if you take the seat and the side panels off, it's the bit on the right hand side of the bike with the green cap on it. Pop that cap off, unscrew it and have a look at it (it's in a little rubber housing). Check to see if the metal on it is all green- if it is, give it a clean up and put it back on the bike, check the fuse, while you're at it, check all the fuses.

See what happens.

Originally Posted by skumlerud

Second that. I had a similar problem with my SV a few years ago. It took me ages to find the source of the problem. It turned out that the main fuse holder on the starter relay was seriously corroded and literally fell apart when I dismantled it for inspection.

What's the Starter got to do with it once the bike is ruining? genuinely

Originally Posted by Stu

What's the Starter got to do with it once the bike is ruining? genuinely

The starter relay also contains the fuse holder for the main fuse. It's the fuse holder that can be the problem. If it's very corroded it will not be able to deliver enough amps to power the bike. Voltage will then drop and clocks, ignition etc will stop working properly.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Stu

What's the Starter got to do with it once the bike is ruining? genuinely

As skumerlud says, all power for the loom goes through the main relay. There are 3 connections to relay, 2 of them are for the solenoid to fire the starter, the other one is a red wire that goes up to the fusebox and supplies everything.

Ok I've got the old starter relay in front of me.

Some blue corrosion on the main nut terminals. The 30A fuse looks in good health but there's some furring on the blades, same in the fuse holder. However, the 4 connector block pins are corroded, plus additional paricles of corrosion building up between the pins.

One pin is on it's last legs. Just a light touch and it bends. I suspect there's not much left at the base of it. That would have been severely limiting current.

I think we have the culprit. Brand new relay installed and the immobiliser's off too.

Will give you gents a sit-rep post first big ride.

my k3 did exactly what you described, only i noticed before any of the backfiring/cutting out that it was idleing at about 1000rpm rather than the usual 1.5k, the only thing i did when it cut out was leave it swtiched off at the side of the road for about 10mins... then drove it to a garage and filled it up with super unleaded. Few days later i left it in to the dealership and they could find no fault, that was about a year ago now but it hasnt done it since!

Well it's been run all week. 0630hrs blast over Pendle Hill each morning. Feels like a mountain goat. No glitches at all. I dare say it's been sorted.

Thanks guys, in particular Chakarist & Husky for the initial direction.

Bunka