Ignition Problem?

[Photo4x4]

Hello Chaps

I rode my Burgman 400 K6 (2008) home a couple of days ago, no problems at all, and parked it in the garage.

Two days later I put they key in the ignition, turned it and...nothing! Everything was completely dead, no electrics.

I put the charger on the battery and the battery is well charged up (green light showing on the charger).

I have checked all of the fuses and none are blown.

Then I tried the ignition again and the electrics came on. Bright lights, horn working etc.

I then held the back brake and pressed the starter...everything died again. Checked all the fuses again and nothing had blown.

The ignition will turn on intermittently and each time the same thing happens, as soon as I try and start it...it all goes dead again.

I'm guessing that the ignition switch may be faulty, but I thought it would be worth asking if there was some well known fault that would save me hours of trying to trace the fault or save me getting the bike on a trailer to the nearest dealer (50 miles away).

Yours in hope...

Keith Hart

[kayz1]

They suffer from earth problems, have you checked you have a good earth, plus the battery screws can be a tad slack too..lights can work OK but as soon as you try to pull lots of amps for the starter things can grind to a halt.

[anonstarter]

Sounds like it could be a knackered battery to me - have you tried to 'jump' start it?

[Photo4x4]

Thank you for that Kayz1. Would a loose earth cause the problem of switching on the ignition and 'no electrics'? The electrics only come on intermittently, perhaps about every 10th to 20th time I turn the key.

Thank you anonstarter, I put the battery on charge and after a short time the indicator went green thus indicating the battery is fully charged. Also when the electrics do come on there is plenty of life there - the lights are bright, the indicators and horn all work normally. However as soon as I press the starter everything cuts out.

The intermittent way the electrics come on make me think that there is some sort of loose connection or a problem with the starter switch.

Regards

Keith Hart

[anonstarter]

I suggest you do try to jump start it. Some knackered batteries will still appear ok until you try to draw the current needed for the starter.

**You do need to be cautious if using a car. The IMPORTANT thing to remember is DO NOT START THE CAR ENGINE.**
I STRONGLY recommend you Google how to jump start a motorcycle from a car to familiarise yourself with the "how to" if it's your first time.

Wouldn't it be nice if it was just a simple battery replacement job!

[Ferret]

Sounds like the battery is low on amps to me . I have just changed a friends battery which was on one of those battery tender type things which also said fully charged .When checked it was infact down on amps but not volts .

[kayz1]

wasn't there a T-Max did the exact same thing,,,was the solenoid i think...had a couple of Suzuki VanVan's do the same thing and it was the thick starter cable from the solenoid to the starter motor that was high Resistance. So worth checking for the tel tail white deposits around the connectors and cable ends.

PS: and ALL fuses and the fuse holders too.

[Photo4x4]

hello

Thank you to everyone for their assistance.

I'm taking the Burgman into Mitchells, Inverness, by trailer today. The mot is due in July so I'm getting it mot'd on Monday (1 month prior) and I'll get it serviced at the same time.

My thought process was that I've to get it in for the MOT and a service next month anyway so I may as well take it in earlier and get them to sort the electrical problem.

I'll let y'all know what they found - hopefully something simple and cheap to repair.

Thanks again

Keith Hart

[Photo4x4]

What the heck do I know?

A 'phone call from Mitchells informed me that the cause was...a faulty battery!

Thank you everyone for your assistance - you were all spot on!

I hope to collect the bike by the end of the week.

Keith Hart

[anonstarter]

It's normal to consider all the potential reasons when presented with electrical problems! Glad you got it sorted!