Electrickery

1990 VFR - I've had her since '95 and it has been a trouble free bike - a bit over 50,000 miles. I did burn the main electrical connector at the starter solenoid, but replaced that and installed the VFRness mod.

For a variety of reasons, I just haven't been able to rid much this year - but did attempt to do so last weekend - Labor Day. Bike cranked, hit a few times but didn't catch. During the process, there was a sort of a "snap" sound - and I lost all electrical activity - including the starter.

Got to spend some time looking into it today - the main fuse is good and nothing appears to be blown. What else would take out ALL of the electric service on the bike? Where should I be looking?

Jeff Rees

 

Just a hunch , but I would check the connections at the battery , and the main solenoid as well as the switch and wires to it. Wouldn't hurt of course to double check all the fuses in the main box as well.

I am sure someone familiar with you model/gen bike will have a better answer.

 

Some more info - battery connections are tight. While poking about, I must have done something because suddenly I had electrical functions again. Trying the starter, I again got the "snap" and lost electricity. With the bike somewhat opened up, I could hear that the sound was from the solenoid area - at least I think so. I am highly suspect of the actual solenoid device itself. Does that make sense?

 

Probably time to do an electrical health check by doing the "drill" before you destroy the charging system completely. Cut the connector out between the stator and R/R and solder and heatshrink the wires. The 10 year old connector on the bike is waiting to give up on you

 

It could be the solenoid, or corrosion anywhere along the way. I have had connections that felt solid but were corrosion fouled. Everything would seem fine until I hit the starter. Might not hurt to wiggle or better yet unhook, clean and reinstall any suspect connections.

Might not hurt to have some one push the starter for you ,while you listen and try to home in on the "pop" sound which of course occurs when and where the circuit opens.


If it's not the solenoid and no one comes up with another likely location , you might find it useful to study the wiring diagram or charging/ starting circuit diagrams as there are only X number of failure points that would cut off all power. It has to be along the main power circuit to kill all of the power at once.

Sorry I don't know more about your gen , I am sure there are only a handful of possible locations that can cause your problem.

Regards
db

 

Thanks for all of the input. It will be the weekend before I get the time to pursue any further.

And yes, I figure that while I've got her opened up, I'll run through all of the electrical connections - particularly grounds and stator outpur wiring.

 

Finally got the time to chase this down - and found it to be a combination of a less than optimum connection in a crimp connector, a failing battery that went terminal during the process, letting me find the issue - and a good bit of "operator error!"

A new battery and some basic clean-up and I'm in business!!

Thanks for everyone's suggestions and input.

Jeff Rees
'90 VFR