Disconnected Battery while Running - Now Bike Wont Start....

Glenn

Member
Bike: 07 K9 Stock Electrics (EHC)

Well I wanted to check to make sure my stator was putting out enough juice to run my bike and charge the battery. I thought I would do a simple check that I use to do on my old cars. I would disconnect the battery and if the car ran on its own then the alternator or whatever was doing its job.
So while my bike was idling I disconnected the positive side of the battery terminal and the bike stopped running. I reconnected and started the bike up again. This time I brought the throttle up a little and disconnected the positive terminal and the bike instantly died. Well I figured maybe my stator is not putting out. I reconnected the battery and tried to start the bike - this time nothing - no power at all going to the bike - no neutral lights no nothing. Great did I fry my EHC? I pushed the little black button on the bottom of my 40 amp shortstop breaker but nothing. I let the bike sit awhile and still nothing. Yep I just screwed up a perfectly running bike CRAP!!! Any suggestions on how to approach this issue just chime in....thanks!
 

chubs

Guru
Bike: 07 K9 Stock Electrics (EHC)

Well I wanted to check to make sure my stator was putting out enough juice to run my bike and charge the battery. I thought I would do a simple check that I use to do on my old cars. I would disconnect the battery and if the car ran on its own then the alternator or whatever was doing its job.
So while my bike was idling I disconnected the positive side of the battery terminal and the bike stopped running. I reconnected and started the bike up again. This time I brought the throttle up a little and disconnected the positive terminal and the bike instantly died. Well I figured maybe my stator is not putting out. I reconnected the battery and tried to start the bike - this time nothing - no power at all going to the bike - no neutral lights no nothing. Great did I fry my EHC? I pushed the little black button on the bottom of my 40 amp shortstop breaker but nothing. I let the bike sit awhile and still nothing. Yep I just screwed up a perfectly running bike CRAP!!! Any suggestions on how to approach this issue just chime in....thanks!
:hi: Double check the battery cable and make sure it's good and tight. Did you maybe miss a wire when you hooked things back up? Most likely something simple like bad or nonexistent connection since that is all you unhooked, and make sure the battery is charged up, it took a lot of charge to start the bike a couple of times and didn't have time to recharge. good luck buddy:oldthumbsup::yesnod:
 

Twisted

Well-Known Member
Well that sucks, I used to do that with the old cars too but with all the electronics who knows if you messed something up. As Chubs said, first make sure you charge the batter to rule that out. Is there any power at all, any lights on the EHC?

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BWG56

Guru
no power at all going to the bike - no neutral lights no nothing.

I had this happen to me twice after trailering the bike home from Daytona, and 2 hours later it fired right up. I had nothing, no neutral light, completely dead even with a jump start on it, dead. Give it an hour or so, why? I have no clue, but this is what happened to me.
 

chubs

Guru
Well that sucks, I used to do that with the old cars too but with all the electronics who knows if you messed something up. As Chubs said, first make sure you charge the batter to rule that out. Is there any power at all, any lights on the EHC?

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If you're like me, it's probably something really simple, like the lead that goes to the key switch or something . I always imagine the worst when something happens to me, and don't think to straight.
 

chubs

Guru
no power at all going to the bike - no neutral lights no nothing.

I had this happen to me twice after trailering the bike home from Daytona, and 2 hours later it fired right up. I had nothing, no neutral light, completely dead even with a jump start on it, dead. Give it an hour or so, why? I have no clue, but this is what happened to me.
Completely dead?:skep: like no volts in the battery? :skep:Maybe you forgot to turn the key on the first time!:rofl::rofl::oldhardlaugh:
 

BWG56

Guru
:hi: Double check the battery cable and make sure it's good and tight. Did you maybe miss a wire when you hooked things back up? Most likely something simple like bad or nonexistent connection since that is all you unhooked, and make sure the battery is charged up, it took a lot of charge to start the bike a couple of times and didn't have time to recharge. good luck buddy:oldthumbsup::yesnod:
Even when my battery was run down and I only had 1.46 volts when I tried to start it, the head light and neutral light was on, he has nothing
 

BWG56

Guru
Completely dead?:skep: like no volts in the battery? :skep:Maybe you forgot to turn the key on the first time!:rofl::rofl::oldhardlaugh:
Well your close, cause after this happened to me, I did replace the key switch, and it happened again this October with the new switch in it also. I flipped the switch on an off a dozen times and nothing, dead
This is when I decided it was time for the ESC
 

chubs

Guru
Even when my battery was run down and I only had 1.46 volts when I tried to start it, the head light and neutral light was on, he has nothing
Gotta be a wire didn't get hooked back up I really don't know anything about those brain boxes, but I don't think unhooking power to it would be any different than turning the kill switch off.
 

Glenn

Member
Glenn, where you at man?:oldconfused: keep us in the loop here! Figure anything out yet? :oldconfused:
My battery is fully charged and I have tightened down everything - still no power. My keyswitch does feel very loose and worn out - there is hardly any friction when I turn it on. Maybe I need to take that apart. Crap I just got this bike together after 3 months - installed new rebuilt trans from Andrew and replaced rear bearings. Bike has been running like a champ - I knew it couldn't last.

I agree with the comments that I should have just put a meter on the battery instead of testing it the way I did. I am usually a pretty good mechanic....but when Im tired sometimes I take shortcuts and stupid things happen......thanks for the comments, I got all day tomorrow to play with this bike - great way to burn my vacation time crap.....
 

chubs

Guru
My battery is fully charged and I have tightened down everything - still no power. My keyswitch does feel very loose and worn out - there is hardly any friction when I turn it on. Maybe I need to take that apart. Crap I just got this bike together after 3 months - installed new rebuilt trans from Andrew and replaced rear bearings. Bike has been running like a champ - I knew it couldn't last.

I agree with the comments that I should have just put a meter on the battery instead of testing it the way I did. I am usually a pretty good mechanic....but when Im tired sometimes I take shortcuts and stupid things happen......thanks for the comments, I got all day tomorrow to play with this bike - great way to burn my vacation time crap.....
Just an idea, Glenn, set the run switch to on and hold the start button while you wiggle the key, might tell something or might not. Worth a shot. Also are you sure ALL the wires got hooked back up?
 
My battery is fully charged and I have tightened down everything - still no power. My keyswitch does feel very loose and worn out - there is hardly any friction when I turn it on. Maybe I need to take that apart. Crap I just got this bike together after 3 months - installed new rebuilt trans from Andrew and replaced rear bearings. Bike has been running like a champ - I knew it couldn't last.

I agree with the comments that I should have just put a meter on the battery instead of testing it the way I did. I am usually a pretty good mechanic....but when Im tired sometimes I take shortcuts and stupid things happen......thanks for the comments, I got all day tomorrow to play with this bike - great way to burn my vacation time crap.....
Before getting into your ignition don't introduce anymore into the problem.
1. Do your have any lights on your ehc /ignition ?
2. Not sure about the k9 but most bikes have a fuse that will blow before you fry the system.
3. Did the cable contact any part of the bike while it was running?
 

Glenn

Member
Before getting into your ignition don't introduce anymore into the problem.
1. Do your have any lights on your ehc /ignition ?
2. Not sure about the k9 but most bikes have a fuse that will blow before you fry the system.
3. Did the cable contact any part of the bike while it was running?
No the EHC lights are not on. There is no indication that power is getting to any part of the bike. The positive cable was removed while bike was running and cable did not touch anything but there were certainly some sparking on the positive post as the cable was being removed. I'm looking at the 40 amp short stop breaker and trying to determine how to meter test it to see if voltage is getting past it. Are there other breakers on this bike I need to check?
 
No the EHC lights are not on. There is no indication that power is getting to any part of the bike. The positive cable was removed while bike was running and cable did not touch anything but there were certainly some sparking on the positive post as the cable was being removed. I'm looking at the 40 amp short stop breaker and trying to determine how to meter test it to see if voltage is getting past it. Are there other breakers on this bike I need to check?
I know the breaker has a reset button but may want to start there..
Any smoke from the bike while sparking? May have burnt the wire and need to replace battery cable
 

chubs

Guru
No the EHC lights are not on. There is no indication that power is getting to any part of the bike. The positive cable was removed while bike was running and cable did not touch anything but there were certainly some sparking on the positive post as the cable was being removed. I'm looking at the 40 amp short stop breaker and trying to determine how to meter test it to see if voltage is getting past it. Are there other breakers on this bike I need to check?
connect one meter lead to negative battery post and probe each lead of the breaker. If it's closed and set to run, you'll have same reading on each lead. (some meter leads are made to pierce the insulation on the wire, If yours don't you can stick a small pin in the wire and connect to that) Sorry I can't be more help, but I don't know anything about those brain boxes. Good luck
 

Bdm4ever

Well-Known Member
Troop Supporter
Glenn, sorry about your problems. I have an 07 K9 as well. I used chapter 15 and the chart on page 15-8 of the manual (you can download it on the forum). It outlines exactly how to troubleshoot the charging system (battery, voltage regulator, PCB, starter, stator, etc.) step by step. I had many electrical problems that were intermittent. Would get power, stop, come back, flash the 4-ways, beep the horn, then stop again. On warm days it would start, run down the street for a few miles, and stop. Had to get towed home.

After several months of troubleshooting and replacing the starter, battery, ignition, resetting the black buttons, I finally had to replace the EHC. Not sayin this is your problem but mine started like this and the only way I could figure was to eliminate everything but the EHC. This worked for me. I hope you don't have to replace the EHC because it's expensive. Good luck. :chopper:
 

BWG56

Guru
After several months of troubleshooting and replacing the starter, battery, ignition, , I finally had to replace the EHC. Not sayin this is your problem but mine started like this and the only way I could figure was to eliminate everything but the EHC. This worked for me. I hope you don't have to replace the EHC because it's expensive. Good luck. :chopper:
:agree:Thats why I said about mine going completely dead after trailering, and then 2 hrs later without doing anything to it, it would start:oldconfused: and I can't say that my starter bang wasn't a result of the ECH not triggering the CR's sometimes. The weird shit started to pop up more and more:oldrant:
I think the same shit started to happen to Cdoggy also until he put the ESC in.
 

Glenn

Member
connect one meter lead to negative battery post and probe each lead of the breaker. If it's closed and set to run, you'll have same reading on each lead. (some meter leads are made to pierce the insulation on the wire, If yours don't you can stick a small pin in the wire and connect to that) Sorry I can't be more help, but I don't know anything about those brain boxes. Good luck
ok Im getting the same reading on each lead so the breaker should be ok - thanks chubs.
 
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