Jumper cables hooked up backwards '97 VFR750

It was dark...the sun was in my eyes, 9-11, whatever the reason, I left my lights on. The following day I realized my 1st error, grabbed my portable jumper and proceeded to hook it up backwards. It was hooked up wrong for a full 30 seconds before I noticed it. No smoke or fireworks, just a dead VFR. No lights, ignition, anything. When I turn on the switch there is no change. All fuses checked and good.

Any ideas as to where I should start?

Harassment humbly accepted...

kenwood

 

Checked the main 30 amp fuse at the starter solenoid ? Recharge your battery or replace it if it's less than about 12 volts or higher, and try again.......you might be lucky, but get your meter ready anyway.

 

+1 to squrrilman suggestion :thumb:

 

Check your battery with a meter, you could have reverse charged it!

Full article: http://www.batterystuff.com/blog/battery-myth-can-a-battery-reverse-polarity.html

 

Squirrel nailed it.

 

Hopefully the fuse will be it. As for "jumping off" a motorcycle. Just another reminder NEVER do it from a running car. A lot of people have the opinion that you should never use a car battery period. You may agree. The bigger issue that I've read is that our bikes have 3 phase regulators, cars don't. If you hook them up with the car running you can fry the RR. :nono:

In a perfect world a booster like the OP has would be good. When you are stuck in a parking lot that may not be the option. Also, learn to "roll / push" start if you don't know how. I recently helped out a guy and his wife when her starter relay failed. Good battery she just could not start it. He had never rolled off a bike and didn't know how.

 

Maybe bring back kick starters and magnetos.

Run and bump? LeMans start?

 

Yes a LeMans start!

 

Charged the battery overnight. Taking it to the shop in an hour to have it load tested. I've had batteries show good voltage that dropped to zip under load. Before then I'll check the solenoid fuse (didn't know there was a fuse outside the fuse box) (ain't lernin' great?!) as soon as I look up where it's located. Will let you know what happens when I return.

Thanks for the help all.

 

She's purty!! Best looking bike in the second pic!!

 

I took it on a charity ride for a little kid at Children's Hospital in San Diego. Out of over 4,000 bikes, I'd say there were only 40 or so non-Harleys. It was great!

This is what it looked like when I bought it:

 

Good job for bringing her back to life :thumb:
The 30Amp fuse is closes to the battery follow the Hot wire

 

Battery checked out OK and is fully charged. Bike is still a paperweight. Gotta do some work so will check 30 amp fuse in a couple hours.

 

Working on enough bikes over enough time, someone is likely to mispolarize a battery sometime, and i've gotten away with it at least twice. Main fuse is always the first thing to check.

 

Agree with squirrelman 30 seconds wasn't long enough to do anything to the battery.

 

OK, here's the starter solenoid.



Is the red section the fusable link? My book sucks, picture wise (Clymer). I've tried to press in the 2 clips, but I can't get it to separate. Do I have to unscrew the starter cables? Should the connector just pull out? I hate to force plastic!

When I get it out I'll clean it up & repair the boot.

 

The tabs on the red connector may break off and often do with age but you need to pluck that connector and inspect the fuse underneath. It is a run of the mill fuse.

 

Victory!

It was the 30 amp fuse. Took a bit of monkey fisting to get the top off the solenoid, but there it was. Thank you all for your input. I had no idea there was another fuse there & (after hours of frustration) White Fang would have most likely ended up in the shop.

There's a reason you ride VFR's, you are the best.

Thanks again,

kenwood

 

Ok so why does it blow the fuse something must go to ground to blow it, does it earth out through the stator,rotor or CDI unit, just curious. I know over on the Supersport fourm someone did the same recently and it also blew the main fuse