smittyvtf1

So i am at witts end with this electrical issue, after doing some wiring repair still the SH will not start! I have tested the R/R, the battery, the starter, the selionoid, just about everything except the stator! all good so far. the bike will turn a crank or two then it stops and makes a wining noise like the battery is to low to start. It will start with a batt charger on it so something is draining the battery when u turn the key on. Any ideas?

mattmcgyver

I've seen this happen to a bad starter in a Ford, not enough juice to engage the bendix (which is centrifugal not electrical so I never understood that) but a new starter fixed it...

shayne

I doubt anything will drain the battery that quickly when you turn the key on that it prevents it from starting.

I would make sure ALL connections and switches in the starting circuit are in good working order. It is also possible you have a battery with a dead cell. When this happens they can still read a good voltage but have no grunt.

Mr Toad

The battery must be load tested.

nath981

+1 The battery could read ok after charged but still not have the cold cranking power needed for starting. Did you load test?

smittyvtf1

I took it to an auto parts store, he said it tested good under a load. Don't know how accurate it was, i think i'm gonna buy a new battery anyways if thats not it than i dunno... Thanks for the info guys hopefully i'll be riding again soon.

Circuit_Burner

Auto parts stores rarely get diagnosis right on cars, forget help with motorcyles.

nath981

Do you know the procedure to locate what is referred to as parasitic draw?

Hawkrider

Monitor battery voltage with a voltmeter. Start pulling fuses. If battery voltage goes up then that is the source of parasitic draw. Tracking it down from there is the "fun" part.

smittyvtf1

Never heard of it, thanks fellas, this problem has really got me down i just bought this bike!
I let ya know how the testing goes!

nath981

well. you may want to get someone to help you. if you buy a multimeter($20 @ autozone-need a 9 volt battery to put in it) I'll describe how to check for drain.

smittyvtf1

Well i feel like a f****** tard, about two weeks ago i installed an emission removal kit, removed alot of trash. On the left side of the airbox i removed a vaccum line and did not cover it. Bike runs like a top now. Sorry fellas! But thank you for all the help and suggestion's

nath981

Glad to hear you got it fixed. We know what it's like to be chasing your tail cause we've all been there. You may be able to help someone who does similar in the future, then you'll feel like a f******hero.

smittyvtf1

Hopefully, still can't believe that was the problem, don't see how a line like that could make such a mess. Thanks again fellas, love this site!