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Do you know more about electrics than a collie dog?

Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2018 9:24 pm
by Hugh
Greetings bright sparks,

Ok so now it is my bike with an electrical problem :!:

Pulled up on my Beta Alp 4.0, turned the key, lights went off, neutral light, indicators, etc, removed the key and the engine kept running. What :?:

Slid the kill switch over and the engine stopped running.

Restarted the engine and all seemed well but part way across Houndkirk the engine spluttered and died, eventually restarted and died again, restarted and died yet again. Started to dismantle to look for a failed wire when a couple passed by with four dogs and non of them could find the fault, the spaniel asked if Richard had fixed his bike yet, but the collie said he thought it might be the ignition switch or CDI :lol: Put it all back together and with a bump start the engine fired up.

Rode home with full performance but again the engine would not switch off. Turn the key and all goes off but not the engine. Slide the isolator switch and the engine stops. So took the collie’s advice and stripped and cleaned both the ignition and starter switches but still the fault persists. Fiddled with the wiring to no avail but if I disconnect the white lead from the alternator the engine stops. This makes me think that the white lead from the alternator area, which produces 2.25V with the engine running, feeds the CDI unit which perhaps has a ‘trigger’ that is not internally disconnecting electronically

OK, so do any of you know more than the collie and does anybody have a used CDI unit spare for testing or for sale :?:

Answers on a doggy bone please.

TTFN

Hugh.
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Re: Do you know more about electrics than a collie dog?

Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2018 9:34 pm
by Craig-SM
Not sure but I’ll have a pint of what you’ve been drinking

Re: Do you know more about electrics than a collie dog?

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 1:26 am
by deksawyer
I reckon it's the mechanical side of your ignition switch, but then again, I ain't a dog.

D.

Re: Do you know more about electrics than a collie dog?

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 6:29 am
by Oop North John
deksawyer wrote: Fri Aug 24, 2018 1:26 am I reckon it's the mechanical side of your ignition switch, but then again, I ain't a dog.
That's happened few times on BM''s, including a F650GS twin that I had.

Re: Do you know more about electrics than a collie dog?

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 6:30 am
by PHILinFRANCE
Yep sounds like the ignition switch to me and my Jack Russels 8-)

Re: Do you know more about electrics than a collie dog?

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 6:46 am
by Mad Hatter
My corgi thinks it sounds like the ECU isnt getting the kill signal, which is just normally grounding it out. He's agreeing with everyone else and Phil's jack Russell's that it could be the mechanical side of the switch.

But he's just a pup so I'll add in check the cables on the side of the switch with a meter all the way back to the ECU and wherever it goes the other side, also if you can pop them out, start the bike a physically short them to see if that works, make sure you get the right wires though :shock:

That's his inspiration fox for hard thinking :lol:
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Re: Do you know more about electrics than a collie dog?

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 7:49 am
by r6eck
PHILinFRANCE wrote:Yep sounds like the ignition switch to me and my Jack Russels 8-)
Strangely or maybe not my Jack had 10 years as a diagnostic dog.
Ignition switch

Re: Do you know more about electrics than a collie dog?

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 8:23 am
by SHarper
My cats say you’re welcome to come over to mine and try various parts off of my Beta Alp until you suss it out.
I live about a mile from the Sheffield end of Houndkirk.
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Re: Do you know more about electrics than a collie dog?

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 8:49 am
by dodursley
had a similar problem with my XBR500, without dogs!
The ignition switch would not always stop the engine. I fitted a relay in a line to earth the ignition if ignition off, no power to relay but would not ground with ignition switch on, ie relay powered.

Re: Do you know more about electrics than a collie dog?

Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 9:01 am
by redbikejohn
Agree with all the above ref ignition switch. Bikes ignition/ running is stopped by grounding the ignition feed. The kill switch works as that grounds it. It's either the switch contacts or the plug if the ground isn't right by the switch. That just my thinking.....I have no trained mammal to back that up unfortunately