Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git

[KungFooBob]

You can borrow my Bullet, I'm only down the road

[Demannu]

Hmmm...
KTM Duke 690 - not really made for travelling the length of France.

Wuss!
Did Europe camping 2 up on a 610 husky, only broke down 4 times!
Got to spend a night with Bernd Heimer and have a play with one of his toys

[weeksy]

Yes, I've been thinking along those lines as well. The question now is whether to try and reschedule sailings etc. or just forget all about it. Certainly in this heat I have no desire to troubleshoot electrical problems on a hot bike in a hot shed.

Oh, and the steering head bearings appear to be on the way out as well...

Oh dear... get one of the other bikes out instead matey ?

Hmmm...
KTM Duke 690 - not really made for travelling the length of France.
Aprilia Falco - still missing its top fairing (at a black hole called repair and paint)
350LC - I'd be amazed if it (or I) made it there intact...

That's it - I need another bike!

Took my 690 to Germany.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Hmmm...
KTM Duke 690 - not really made for travelling the length of France.

Wuss!
Did Europe camping 2 up on a 610 husky, only broke down 4 times!
Got to spend a night with Bernd Heimer and have a play with one of his toys

I toured the Ardennes on my 610, it never broke down.

[mangocrazy]

Yeah, I'm a wuss, and while I love the Duke to bits the idea of hammering it down 600-odd mile of Autoroutes does not fill me with great joy. Had the Falco been ready I'd have taken it in a heartbeat, buit that wasn't an option.

And realising just how much yesterday's exertions took out of me, I'm quite glad now that I'm not facing a 300-400 mile slog down to the gaff in near 40 degree heat. And the prospect of continuous daytime temps above 35 deg C for the next week or so.

[weeksy]

Yeah, I'm a wuss, and while I love the Duke to bits the idea of hammering it down 600-odd mile of Autoroutes does not fill me with great joy. Had the Falco been ready I'd have taken it in a heartbeat, buit that wasn't an option.

And realising just how much yesterday's exertions took out of me, I'm quite glad now that I'm not facing a 300-400 mile slog down to the gaff in near 40 degree heat. And the prospect of continuous daytime temps above 35 deg C for the next week or so.

Granted i wouldn't want to Autoroute it on the 690, that's not terribly enjoyable.

[mangocrazy]

I've had time to cool down and begun to think straight again (well, within limits obviously...) and am working on a hunch that the electrical problems I experienced are earth related, basically because if they're not I really am in deep sh1t.

Yesterday I left thehouse in Stafford at 3:30 am and by the time I'd got to the M6 I realised that I only had side lights at the front of the bike, no dipped or main beam. I decided to carry on as I simply didn't have time to fix it, and most of the motorway was lit and I could manage the bits that weren't using other people's lights. I also knew that by the time I got off the motorway(s) it would be about 5 am and sunrise. All other electrical systems were working (dash lights, indicators, horn etc.)

So the first time I really started looking at the problem was when I was back at Sheffield, with a frazzled brain. The side and rear lights were still working but when I checked (and fiddled with) the plug to the headlight it started working, but intermittently. I'd touch or move it and it worked, then when I stopped it didn't, or a variation on that theme. So I carried on poking and prodding and moving bits and eventually the headlight stopped working completely. At that time I noticed that the side lights had stopped working, as well. I then tried the indicators and horn and lo! they had also quit.

The final nail was when I tried to start the bike to put it back in the shed and the engine spun over like a good 'un, but it wasn't even trying to start. But curiously the dash lights were still working, as was the rear brake light (I didn't think to try the front one). So anything controlled by the handlebar switches were dead as a dodo, but other electrical stuff was still working. The engine spinning over but with no ignition had me stumped, but then the thought occurred that the ignition kill switch might be intervening in a way I couldn't quite fathom.

So that's how things stand at present. There is a cable strap from the negative battery terminal to the engine and I'm planning to run a cable from that ground point to the front of the bike and jury-rig it so it supplies an additional earth, to which I will somehow connect the non-working devices. It's the best (and in fact only) thing I can think of.

So that's the current state of play. Any searing insights as to what the problem might be are welcome. As are best guesses. And beer.

[KungFooBob]

For £500 plus expenses I'll come and set it on fire.

[Taipan]

I was thinking earth problems, but also I had an early Fireblade that did strange things and would only run with the lights on, which turned out to be the rectifier, or is it regulator?

[mangocrazy]

I've had reg/rec problems in the past, twice as it happens, so took the precaution of replacing the iffy OE item with a MOSFET Shindengen jobbie, mounted in the airstream (OE Honda reg/rec was mounted under the seat, ffs). So if it's that I'll be proper pissed off. But I will bear it in mind, cheers.

[mangocrazy]

For £500 plus expenses I'll come and set it on fire.

I doubt I'd even get that much back off the insurance...

[Demannu]

Snaffled headstock wiring perhaps, it is a veteran bike now so things get brittle!

[MingtheMerciless]

Over washed controls? I had an R6 that did odd things (no tail light etc) until I sprayed copious amounts of switch lube into the headlight switch cluster.

[mangocrazy]

Snaffled headstock wiring perhaps, it is a veteran bike now so things get brittle!

Yeah, I did think of that, but then put it out of my mind in a womanly 'I don't want it to be that' kind of way... Most of the wires leaving the loom are still flexible, so I'm hoping it's not that. If it is, I'd probably break it for bits. It's worth more in pieces than the sum of its parts.

[mangocrazy]

Over washed controls? I had an R6 that did odd things (no tail light etc) until I sprayed copious amounts of switch lube into the headlight switch cluster.

That sounds cheap and easy. <frantically googles switch lubrication spray...>

[Mr. Dazzle]

Jiggling stuff sorta fixed it but then ultimately lead to its demise.

Shouts broken wire/plug to me?

All bets are off as to which one.

[mangocrazy]

Jiggling stuff sorta fixed it but then ultimately lead to its demise.

Shouts broken wire/plug to me?

All bets are off as to which one.

Not just that particular electrical circuit (headlight) but the malaise then spread to multiple other circuits/devices. Once I've got the front fairing etc. off I'll be doing lots of continuity testing. And probably confusing myself even more in the process.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Dodgy earth.

It's always a dodgy earth.

[mangocrazy]

Dodgy earth.

It's always a dodgy earth.

That's what I'm betting on. There is no Plan B at present.

[Skub]

Wires are evil.