I need help in Whitehorse

[huckstr]

WOW,

A muddy brake light switch on the foot brake :huh:

Does this mean we need to wash our bikes? :blink:

 

[weekend rider]

First glad that the issue was resolved so you were able to continue on your trip home. Now to find your problem, with the information given of the brake light being on would lead to this. From the service manual 12.8 volts is required for the elecrical system to work, Your battery in the off position showed a reading 12.6 to 13.0 with it decreasing over time,all night. That being the case It would indicate a cell going bad than with the brake light staying on it brought the battery voltage down enough so the electronics do not to work properly, The electronics are very sentive to voltage change and require their minium to work correctly, if less than minium you get intermitten operation and heat build up and electric failure in one of your components not knowing which one. That is why it is important that for the battery always to perform to the voltage specifications with in the voltage range that is required by the tech manual for the components. I replace mine every three years. Maybe a good practice when one goes on a trip and the battery is nearing its useful life would be to take a new battery along with them, just in case, then you do not have to buy a $200.00 battery.

How about inatalling the new LED lights and/or new led bulb replacement?

The weakest link and most problems usually are the electronics/electrical

Could this be answer to the problem most likely= New battery

 

[cruppelt]

Ken,

Don't know how I could have been missing this post! Looks like you got it figured out and are probably home or at least close to it by now.

I agree with the statements on the battery; you shouldn't see a drop of .4V in only one night with a good battery.

Hope to see you again one of these days!

 

[Niehart]

If the foot brake shaft gets dirty and foot brake lever does not go all the way off, you get two conditions.

1] A drag that will wear out the rear break pads.

2] A brake light that will stay on and run down the battery.

Unlike Ken, I was lucky to have some one behind me that noticed the brake light. 18 Miles of Hwy 38 [skalkaho Pass] in Montana that are wet gravel and red clay will do that to ya.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Glad to hear that the problem was solved and you're back on the road again Ken. Sometimes the simplest things...I guess I'll be washing the bike twice as often now!

--G

 

[Fred W]

I am doubtful that a stuck brake light switch would cause a running bike to stall. For one thing, the amount of drain on the charging system is minimal, unless you are also running a butt load of other farkles and this is just the last straw.

I know mine has stuck before, and I've seen lots of others do it too. None of which exhibited and charging problems.

Last year on a week long vacation ride, I had a similar experience to yours. Perfectly running bike, sudden engine cut-out. All dash lights and gauges looked normal. Mine turned out to be a broken wiring connector going to the starter safety relay. I found it by wiggling wires in the area (originally suspecting the tip-over switch right next to it) and when the connection was re-made I could hear the fuel pump kick on like it does when you flip the kill switch off and back on.

Here: clicky

 

[blufjr]

You make a good point Fred, and maybe the mechanic wiggled or unplugged and replugged something that actually solved the problem. I think so, but have no proof, so will go with the brake lights as indicated. The bike hasn't showed less than 12.6v since.

With 116,000 on the odometer, it is bound to have a hick-up now and then.