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Psykick_machanik
Posted on Thursday, April 09, 2015 - 05:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

So there i was, ignition switch turned on, lights on, fuel pump whirring, pushing starter button, THUD, then all went black......
WTF i stammered in shock and disbelief.
What just happened?????
"did you finally fry your ignition switch? Bad Batt. connections?" my little inner mechanic voice asked.
Wiggle the Batt. connections.......Nothing.
Hooked up the ignition switch jumper i had stashed just for this moment.......Nothing.
Now I am completely stumped and had to get a ride home from a coworker, leaving my poor, powerless bike at the hanger all alone, but at least inside.
The next morning I was able to fix it in less than a minute,
so here is the quiz.......
What was the problem?????
Here is a hint, it wasn't a fuse.
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Buelliedan
Posted on Thursday, April 09, 2015 - 05:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Neutral safety switch or bad key switch.

If it was the neutral switch you should still be able to start your bike with the clutch pulled in.

(Message edited by buelliedan on April 09, 2015)
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01x1buell
Posted on Thursday, April 09, 2015 - 05:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

thats what happened to mine and it was the key switch
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S1owner
Posted on Thursday, April 09, 2015 - 07:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Kickstand switch
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Purpony
Posted on Thursday, April 09, 2015 - 08:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I had the kickstand switch fail on me... I also had the main ground wire under the seat break and did the same think... stone dead.
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Natexlh1000
Posted on Thursday, April 09, 2015 - 09:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

AGM batteries crap out on fun ways like that.

I had two fail with 12.5V @no load. as soon as any load applied=0V
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K12pilot
Posted on Thursday, April 09, 2015 - 10:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

muffler bearing??
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Harleyelf
Posted on Friday, April 10, 2015 - 12:35 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Main power lead from voltage regulator to fusebox came unplugged?
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Kalali
Posted on Friday, April 10, 2015 - 07:56 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I'm with Buelliedan.
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Hootowl
Posted on Friday, April 10, 2015 - 09:36 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

A bad safety interlock switch would not make the entire bike black out, just the ignition.

I've seen batteries go like that too Nate. I vote battery.

...or possibly the ground strap.
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Psykick_machanik
Posted on Friday, April 10, 2015 - 11:24 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

thanks for playing.
All good guesses. oddly enough the "muffler bearing" was the closest.
It was the tail light bulb!
The running light filament had broken and was shorting out to the side of the bulb housing and shorting out the entire system.
It all started after repacking the muffler the other day and i checked the tail light bulb after a friend told me it was out. messing with it was enough to jar it to short out.
not sure why the fuse didnt blow....
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Akbuell
Posted on Friday, April 10, 2015 - 11:27 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Since this is a quiz:

The main 30amp master circuit breaker attached to the frame (at the rear of the fuel tank, I believe) would be my choice. Not that I have ever hear of one failing, but hey, someone has to be the first.

Since jumping the bike off of a known good 12V battery is a simple way of eliminating the battery as a suspect, I would look at the circuit breaker.

Hope this helps, Dave
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Hootowl
Posted on Friday, April 10, 2015 - 11:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

"The running light filament had broken and was shorting out to the side of the bulb housing and shorting out the entire system."

I'm sorry, that is not possible. The filament is already shorted to ground, that's why it lights up. If it broke off the ground side of the bulb and shorted to ground, all it would do is light up. At the very worst, the filament would burn out.

Even if the positive side shorted to ground through something other than the filament, all it would do is blow a fuse, not make the entire bike "go dark", unless your battery is severely weak.

I think something else was causing your problem and you'll have it again unless you find it.
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Greg_cifu
Posted on Sunday, April 12, 2015 - 04:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Have we ruled out the grounding of the air cleaner? Static electricity is just that--static--not moving. If your air cleaner isn't grounded, the static electricity can stop air from getting into the engine.
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Buellistic
Posted on Sunday, April 12, 2015 - 06:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If the AIR Cleaner is the correct polarity there would be no problem, but if the electrons do not move then there still is no problem !!!
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Psykick_machanik
Posted on Monday, April 13, 2015 - 11:44 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
You guys crack me up. I really needed that, thank you. Buried my awesome Aunt this weekend and that laugh just made me feel a ton better.
Good point Hoot. all i know for sure is that i havent had a bit of trouble with my electrical system until i messed with the bulb. replaced bulb and everything went back to working fine. Ill have to chew on this further so i dont get stranded. Time to clean and check ALL electrical connections.....and de-gauze the air filter. the magnetic flux might be miss aligning the oxygen molecules.
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K12pilot
Posted on Monday, April 13, 2015 - 12:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

What did I win??
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Hootowl
Posted on Monday, April 13, 2015 - 01:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

A lifetime supply of muffler bearing grease, and regular maintenance, including labor. Transportation costs to and from the dealer are not included. Congratulations. : )
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K12pilot
Posted on Monday, April 13, 2015 - 09:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Totally AWESOME

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Brother_in_buells
Posted on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 - 02:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Now to make use of that special grease ,you buy a tail gunner muffler!?

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/376461.html?1216299963
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