25-09-15, 09:20 PM
(19-09-15, 02:03 PM)PieEater link Wrote:Just got the bike out to enjoy a ride in the sunshine. It took a lot more effort to start than normal, seemed to be turning over OK but wouldn't catch. I played with the choke (not normally needed) still nothing, left it for 30 seconds and it started. Rode 500 yards down the road and everything cut out, engine, lights, clocks, everything. I turned round and started freewheeling back towards home and within 20 seconds the electrics came back on and the bike started up again when I pressed the starter.
Battery is Motobatt less than a year old (now on charge).
Bike is in good order with minimal corrosion, I've just been through all the electrics top to tail and made sure the connectors were all good and squirted WD40 down them all (not long ago did this with ACF50).
Iridium plugs are probably due for a change soon (done about 20k) but I wouldn't expect this is the issue.
Last ride out the bike behaved faultlessly although picked up a puncture so the back wheel has been out and back in since.
Will go down and squirt some WD down the ignition barrel.
Any ideas - hate not being able to trust the bike, I guess it's time to get some breakdown cover.
Have you had the battery tested under high current? Sometimes the internal connections start being flaky and occasionally open up, then when the connection closes again, everything seems to work, but a high current load test will show that. Typically I go to the car part store and they do not charge for the test that takes 5-10 minutes.
Here in Florida, batteries tend to die (particularly that way) quickly because of the extreme temperatures. Typical symptom is the car won't start after sitting on the parking lot in the middle of the day. Always OK in the morning.