wont run

[hawkdad]

Parked my '03 R1150R the other day and now, when I attempt to start I get intermittent/ interrupted power.

When I put the key in and put to start position, I get no power at all to the 'dashboard'.. then.. I put her on the side stand and she'd start, stand her up and she'd shut down immediately with no lights on the 'dashboard'.. yesterday I put her on the center stand, kickstand up, still no power when key is in the ignition at start position. When I would move the side stand to down position or back and forth, I'd get power just for an instant, then it would cut out..

Side stand cut out switch is what I'm thinking.. If that's hit, how do I by pass the switch while I wait for a new one?

Thanks for the help!!

[towerworker]

I'm not sure if the sidestand switch is a "normally open" or a "normally closed" switch. It's most likely a simple "toggle" that is just opened or closed by action of the stand. To determine that you disconnect the plug from the sidestand switch--take an ohmmeter and put the meter leads on the switch and work the sidestand up and down. If the switch shows full meter deflection with the stand up then that's simply a short. You could use a small piece of wire and short the leads on the plug and allow the machine to run. I'm guessing it's designed that way to keep riders from just simply disconnecting the plug. But in the event it requires an "open" to operate you would just unplug the switch.

[hawkdad]

Thanks TowerWorker.. will give it a go this evening. Unfortunately, my electrical skills are quite lacking. So.. could I run this test? unplug the switch and see if it simply runs, if not, put in the 'jumper' on the plug receiver end and see if it runs?

[milehighboater]

I would say you have a short or break in your wiring harness to your handlebars. Only because you describe no power on your center stand and the power when she is on the side stand. The one thing that is different is the position of your handlebars. I would check under zip ties first. Try getting power when you move the bars back and forth on the center stand.

[CycleRob]

hawkdad, Member milehighboater got it right. The fact your dashboard lights go dead eliminates the sidestand as a cause. If your `03 OilHead still has the zipties attached to the left and right side main front wire harness "loops" under the headlight, then you have broken wires inside. Repair of those broken wires, given your admission that "my electrical skills are quite lacking", is best performed by someone with wiring experience and sound practices. Can anyone with those qualities nearby chime in ?

Here is a thumbnail to those zipties and very likely where the wire break(s) will be found:


If you run into a fuse that blows during the diagnostic stages, use an old headlight bulb (where one filiment has burned out) and make it into a fuse substitute that will not blow out, while giving you a very bright indication that there is an electrical short.

[towerworker]

I guess I'm braindead. I completely overlooked your comment about the dash lights. CRS and CSS. Can't remember and can't see ----

[hawkdad]

Thanks Guys I'll start there. Unfortunately, haven't been able to dig into it just yet, I'm in the middle of moving/selling a house so that's taking the majority of my 'free' time. I'll have to dig out my copy of 'Motorcycle Electrical Systems' book I never finished reading.

I'll keep you posted on results as I can finally get into it.

Again, I REALLY appreciate the help!

[vwdoctor]

You don't need the books. Get on the bike, ignition on and turn the handlebars left/right. It should be enough to figure it out. It sound like a break in the kill switch wiring.

[hawkdad]

Hey Guys,
Finally got to it today... yep, exactly right. Put her on the center stand... turn left right.. that did it.. Left with the steering, she had power, right... power cut out. I then clipped all the zip ties and felt along the wiring from the switch and sure enough I could make her get/loose power whenever.

I stripped back the covering and found the break. Using some weatherproof butt connecters and some heat shrink tubing I was able to get it all back together and she's running just fine now.

So a follow up question...

Since I've had this wire break, should I expect other wires to be breaking shortly??

btw.. I did NOT replace the zip ties.

Again, A BIG THANK YOU!!

[AZBMWRIDER]

I would not be surprised if more wires break .

I found out about this problem about 5 years after getting my bike in August, 2002 .

Cut the cable ties off then, but in the last 2 years, I've had two wires break, nothing critical, instrument internal lighting and right hand grip heater .

The hand grip heater, the metal conductor was broken in the wire, but the insulation was still intact .

If you have not removed the factory cable ties, do it, I have placed flexible split plastic conduit on all the wires around the steering head, the original OEM rubber harness covering has split and fallen off of a majority of the wiring in this area on my bike .