My bike's electrical system died on me. What can I do? :(

[Thorby]

I was cruising around town when, without any sort of warning, my engine shut off.  It happened right after I had taken a pretty speedy straight.  The gas tank is nearly full since I had recently filled up.  However, I noticed that I completely lost power as if a break happened somewhere along the electric wiring.  Battery charge should be fine.  Imagine that you are riding and suddenly your battery comes completely disconnected but the break is not AT the battery but someplace I can't see.  Absolutely nothing is lighting up.  Fortunately buddies arrived, picked up the bike unto a pickup bed and took us home.

Somebody suggested the alternator got disconnected. Is this a good place to start looking?  Your advice will be greatly appreciated, it's such a bummer having my bike dead like this. Bringing a mechanic to my door will be tricky and costly so I hope to somehow revive my Honda so that I can at least limp her to the closest mechanic.

[Hellbilly429]

My bike did that cause the battery took a crap, and since my bike can run straight off the battery without the charging system hooked up, I don't believe that is your problem, of course mine is an '81 so I don't know if it's different for the older bikes.

Did you check the main fuse at all?

[seestheday]

If you really do need to take it to a mechanic, you can get them in a truck or trailer.  Heck, you could rent a uhaul truck for a day or a home depot van/trailer for an hour if you really want to do it cheaply.

That said, I'd start by trying to trace current using a voltage tester.

It could also be your kill switch failed.  You might have even bumped it and you just need to switch it back...

[Hellbilly429]

I hit that stupid killswitch all the time! But would it make all the lights turn off like that?

[shinyribs]

Did you check the main fuse?  I had to pull over about 100 miles ago and replace mine. I'm leaving the store now with stuff to swap out my fuse block

[Thorby]

-The main fuse looked ok, but I'll double check.  I see on the wiring diagram that the starter is indeed part of the main fuse circuit so I'll find the repair manual so I can see which lid I need to pull to access the starter.  EDIT:  The diagram actually points to the Starter RELAY not just the starter itself.

-The kill switch does not kill the entire electrical system on my bike.

This kinda reminds me how a chopper mechanic told me once (a year ago) how it's better to just pull out all the wiring and simplify the heck out of it.  How much sense does that make to you guys?

[Piute]

                                                Chopper

The official definition of a Chopper is when a factory motorcycle is altered and everything unnecessary to either move or stop is stripped or chopped off and " then rebuilt with customized or performance parts."

                                                               
                                   "" then rebuilt with customized or performance parts ""


   
                           I'd say yo "chopper" guy is refering to better / updated

[Thorby]

Thanks guys!!

It was the main fuse after all.  I replaced it and the lights all came on, cranked my bike on.   Even though the fuse doesn't look burned, it obviously stopped working.  I really appreciate that you pointed me in the right direction.

[Dw07u]

I hate electrical issues... probably the cause of most of my bikes issues... But after 4 different mechanics fixing my issues very temporarily, I have decided to grab that service manual and do it myself, I think that, even if I don't have the tools to fix it, I must buy it, buy the parts myself, just do everything myself... My bike dies randomly, with a battery that's drained, my charging system is buggered, and the regulator is not a stock or even OEM... thanks to some lazy mechanic...

Read the forum, ask for advice, and learn... use that manual and DIY...

That's what I am going to do from now on, I'm so tired of spending money on the bike and the problems keep persisting a week later...

I'm glad after reading your posts to see your doing it yourself... Your a inspiration

Mechanics aren't always much of a help...

[TOOLS1]

Electrical problems are a pain. Especially 40 year old ones. However after, you get them worked out, you should be good, for another 40.
TOOLS

[Lucky 1]

Yes.

Check your battery connectors and the kill switch.

[Cabreco]

TOOLS1 wrote

Electrical problems are a pain. Especially 40 year old ones... TOOLS

However they are easier to deal with that 40 year old wives. <lol>
(oh, he did NOT just say that!)