Help ! Bulldog dead

[BuffaloBig Dog]

Hey guys...2002 Bulldog... Out last nite, 1st stop, alls well, go to 2nd stop, come out, try to start, didnt quite catch first try, so go to hit starter again,lites are on, as I hit starter button, bike goes completely dead...No lites, no starter...nothing..

Pushed bike a few feet ouuta way, tried again, lites went on..hit starter, bike goes dead......Sounds like starter control wiring issue? I just had new brake switch installed a month ago...Maybe start in hand controls???

Are there any fuses that can be checked??

 

[X-ray Doc]

There should be one large fuse at the battery, but it sounds more like the battery or a loose battery cable. Make sure both cables are tight and have the battery load tested.
Give me your email address and I will send you the ele. diagram.

 

[BuffaloBig Dog]

Thank you...........wildman8513@yahoo.com

 

[BigDogBro1]

Like mentioned earlier...

Sounds like:

Poor battery condition
Poor battery connections
Poor battery charging

 

[BuffaloBig Dog]

Battery is 1 yr old...Connections are tight......Put jumper cables on it, with the vehicle off, and turned key, nothing....

 

[X-ray Doc]

Ele. file sent.
There is a started relay switch under the dash, but that only controls power to the
starter, not cutting lights out too. Check the large fuse at the battery, could also be
the key switch, they fall apart easily and that would cut all power.

 

[BuffaloBig Dog]

Got schematic...ty will check switch and fuse tomorrow

 

[BuffaloBig Dog]

Turns out it was the positive connection on the battery....Bolt was able to be tightened 1 1/4 turns......What baffles me is how it came loose...Was just tightened about 3 weeks ago, as I used loctite, cause of it becoming loose every so often...

The shop said that the there should only be the starter cable on battery, the 3 accessory wires shouldnt be attached at the battery...A pigtail should run off the starter center terminal to a smallterminal strip , where the 3 accessory wires should there be connected...Something that with all those smaller connectors on the battery terminal, and the heating up, cooling down, expanding, contracting, gives the opprotunity for loosening up and arching....

Bothe terminals taken apart, cleaned, sanded, and loctited up..Hopefully, this will hold..

 

[Mickeetwo]

I have the same ritual everytime I return from a ride.....1- Check Oil 2- Check bolts on battery 3- Check bolt on the 5 ground wires that ground to the frame on my PDM unit . 4- Attach my battery Tender (if not going to be riden for a while) You'd be surprised how many times the battery bolts get a little loose. Vibration I guess, I've tried everything to keep them tight.

 

[BigDogBro1]

Battery is 1 yr old...Connections are tight......Put jumper cables on it, with the vehicle off, and turned key, nothing....

They need to be very clean. Disconnect the battery terminal connections and clean both sides of each of the connectors with a fine copper wire brush and place the main cables next to the battery terminal first when you reattach them.

 

[BuffaloBig Dog]

All were cleaned, main cable next to terminals......loctite also...see what happens

 

[alxdamon]

I check my cables every couple of times I ride. They tend to come loose often. May try adding a star washer and see if that helps.

 

[BigDogBro1]

All were cleaned, main cable next to terminals......loctite also...see what happens

FGS...You can't use Loctite on the battery terminal bolts!

That causes a NO connect or a resistance to the bolt. With the bolt insulated with Loctite, you are only using the battery terminal block side of the connection stack to get power thru. ONLY 50% contact surface.

GET RID OF THE Loctite and clean the bolt and terminal NUT and use a split lock or internal tooth star washer.

 

[Ægir]

Would this also explain why lately I start fine, start going down the road and bike cuts off? Let it sit a few minutes and runs fine. Or do I have another issue.

Thanks for any feed back.

 

[BuffaloBig Dog]

Looking for the best way to get the accessory terminals off the battery post.....Pigtail off the starter, up under seat, do I get a small terminal strip? attach all to that? Or is there a better way???? Just want to have 1 cable( starter) on each post of battery...And if anybody knows of a specific brand/make of connectors to use? Where to find them? Greatly appreciated !