Electrical woes

[didgeman]

:cry: I know that this is not enough to really diagnose a problem but this is all the info that I have at the moment. Two days ago I went to start the bike up from a cold start as usual. I ride this bike at least 3 to 4 times per week. Hit the starter once and it turned over but stoped as usual(like I said a cold start it always takes two tries.) On the second try it went to go start and then NOTHING! No power at all. Not even with the key turned to the on position, nothing, nada. I checked all the fuses and they are fine. The battery is only six months old and I just replaced the rectifier/regulator also six months ago. I have a power commander, and a speedohealer hooked up but the have been for years. If anyone out there can help diagnose a electical problem any help would be greatly appreciated. P.S. I heard a small click just before it died from somewhere in the sub frame. Not very loud but I heard it.

[vrooom]

did u check the cables to the battery? make sure they are on tight.
have u done any work the the bike previously? if so, what.
check the battery with a tester, if you have one.

[didgeman]

Yup, they are on tight. I just had a valve adjust., oil change the work over at Lee's Cycle two weeks ago and it was running fine till this happened. I did not do any work on the bike myself. I don t have a battery tester but I have a battery tender would that help at all.

[cbrsmurf]

It probably isn't the voltage regulator... the bike should be able to start w/o one. It also probably isn't the battery since it almost started the first time ... the battery wouldn't drain all of a sudden in a split second. There must be a short/disconnect somewhere in your electrical starting system. Check your fuses again and make sure all your connections are plugged in securely.

[Jakub]

By no power do you mean the with the key in the on position nothing worked, lights, horn, gauges, etc? If that's the case its almost certainly a short. I'd start with the battery connections and ignition switch. My bike's done this twice, but turning the key off and on has worked, so I'm guessing it's the ignition switch.

If the bike has power, but it doesn't start, do you hear any clicks? Look at the starter and starter relay on top of the ignition switch and battery connections.

Electrical problems are a *****, but first thing I'd do is look closely at the wiring. Look for any kinked, or broken wires, corroded grounds, etc. If you can get a wiring diagram for your bike you can get a multimeter and start checking continuity in the wires for the starting and ignition system.