| Author | Message | ||
     Reddogalberta |
I have a 2008 XB12XT with only 3,000 km / 2,000 miles on it. Yesterday I road home 600 km, about half of it in driving rain through the Rockies. This morning I hop on and ride about 10 blocks to a car wash to clean it. I polish in the sun and buff it up nice. It hasn't started since. The instrument needles cycle but the warning lights don't come on. Pressing the starter button does nothing, not even a click. I went back later thinking something had to dry out. Still no start but now the warning lights still don't come on, but they come on when the key is shut back off and removed. Batter cables are good and solid. Like I said the machine is practically brand new. Any ideas would be gratefully appreciated as my dealer is 90 miles away. Many thanks. | ||
| Terrys1980 |
Check and clean the ECM connections, the fuse block and relay block under the seat. | ||
| Froggy |
Another reason not to wash it :-) Check your grounds and fuses too | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Check spark plug wires: remove and dry. | ||
| Zane_t |
If you know for sure you have 12 volts at the battery and good connections, start by jiggling the starter relay and playing with the key switch. A good chance pressure washing forced water where it ought not be and fouled a connection. Maybe try jumping the starter solenoid too. | ||
| Ourdee |
There goes the rear wheel bearings too. When the brown streaks come out from the bearings they're gone. | ||
| Spdrxb |
Ya.... how close did you have the nozzle to everything on the bike while washing it? I only use "mist or "shower" setting on a garden hose to rinse soap off. When I changed my handlebars a couple months back,I noticed the controls and switch gear halves or not sealed in anyway. I think water under pressure could get in there very easily fouling out a switch easily. I suggest taking the controls off the bars and look at how much water is in there. | ||
| Brother_in_buells |
Did you hear the fuel pump? is the red safety button on the ON position at the right-side handlebar? pull the clutch lever when try to start or check the battery/fuses | ||
| Doz |
It's wash, cut, blow dry...sheesh! | ||
| Dfishman |
I bet one of the safety nazi switches is the culprit. | ||
| Reddogalberta |
Thanks fellas. What amazes me is the hours of pounding rain I was through the previous day and then the following day it fires fine for the zip to the wash. I've ridden for 33 years and have never "aimed" high pressure at axles/wheel bearings, electrics, instruments, carbs (the CBX had 6 of them), etc. In fact, I've found 5 or 6 times in the wash bay that the Buell cleans rather easily, until now just bugs and general dust. I've never seen this before and I shudder to imagine this situation in the middle of Kootenay National Park between Radium and Banff when I stopped to find my rain over-gloves. I was literally in the middle of nowhere and out of cell range in wicked conditions. My location, resources and tools are limited at home and it's raining here this morning. A neighbour has put out an air compressor for me before he left for the weekend. (another neighbour helped me get the bike home yesterday where it's locked and under cover) When the weather eases I'll put the trickle charger on it and explore connections, fuses, drying anything that might have gotten wet. I appreciate the comments. | ||
| Syonyk |
Where rain gets on a vehicle and where car washes get a vehicle wet are *totally* different. Good luck... a voltmeter would be useful too. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Motorcycles: no power wash, no power tools. WD40 is your friend. Spray everything. Cables, coils, fuse/relay box wires, everything. (No click means no relays.) | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Go through your fuse box. I bet you washed it  Take each fuse out and add WD40 to the connectors. This is why a dirty bike is a happy bike. | ||
| Motorbike |
I wash my 08 XT all the time. at home using only the fan spray from a garden hose and still try to avoid the handlebar area, wheel bearings and steering head bearings. They do get wet though but so far no issues at all. I also blow it off with compressed air then towel dry what is left. My Buell is kinda pampered. My bike is happiest when clean and that makes me happy too! | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
My '09 XT has never failed to start because it was too dirty.  | ||
| Toona |
Clean the contacts on the right switch housing for the yellow "push to start" button. Scrape the contacts with a pocket knife or clean them with steel wool. Watch for the "Jesus" spring. When it comes flying out, you'll say "Jesus, where'd it go" | ||
| Ourdee |
When I am working on something with a spring that will fly out, I put it in a big plastic bag so that it is contained when it flies. | ||
| Syonyk |
Ourdee, that's a really good idea! I'll keep that in mind... My bikes stay dirty... any day that's a good "Hey, I'll wash the motorcycles!" day is a better "Hey, I'll *ride* the motorcycles!" day. | ||
| Greg_e |
Wash them when it rains, you're going to get wet anyway and so is the bike. Mostly mine just gets hosed off once in a while. | ||
| Mtnmason |
quite possibly the longest stream of answers for a (should be) easy to fix problem. I would try talking to the bike a little. Some gentle convincing has always gone a long way with my bikes | ||
| Argentcorvid |
I had an idea last night: if your ECM connector is cracking from the seat putting weight on it, you could have got water in there. That wouldn't be good. |
