angus

Gizmo, Sorry for the slow reply, I haven't set up the options to make it email me when someone replies. Thanks a lot for that info, which would certainly explain why it died after driving in heavy traffic, in the cold, at night, when the battery had only been jump started! As Ttaskmaster says, very clear and concise. Cheers for that, Angus

Hello, Just an intro to say hi and a bit of back ground (and to say sorry to have been cheeky and already asked for help with my bike!). New to bikes having done my DAS in September. Had wanted a bike for quite a while but couldn't really justify the cost and was focused on another project but now have to commute round the outskirts of London everyday so seemed a good excuse to finally do it. Been in to mechanical things for a while and have spent the last 5 years rebuilding a 1969 ford mustang, which is still a bit of a beater but a good laugh. Have bought a 1998 650 dragstar with the aim of doing a few bits and pieces to it to make it more personal - going somwhat down the bobber route, as a lot seem to be, with the aim of making it look like a 1940s or 1950s bike. Got a small fender made to hug the tire, got a sprung seat pan that I want to cover when I get the chance, and am looking various things to change the rear end in other ways. Found a 1936 ford tailight I quite want to use but just trying to figure out a way of making it look good and be with in all the regulations. Am sure I will have plenty of questions as the time comes. Cheers, Angus

OK, thanks for all your help, I will keep riding it and see how I get on and when it iss light again I'll go over the wiring harness very carefully and check for loose connections etc. It is a bit of a weird one because of the time between faults when it has been being ridden every day in between. On the test light, you are right I am sure - I just figured if there was a significant draw it should light up as the circuit would be complete, and it seemed to work when the ignition was set to 'on'. If I do find what the problem was I'll post it up in case it is of use for anyone in the future. Thanks again, much appreciated.

Yes, ran the ammeter between the disconnected negative cable and the negative terminal on the battery. Is this the wrong thing to have done? Just what I read on another thread either here or somewhere else. Test light is just one of those ones that looks like a pen with a point on one end and a crocodile clip on the other and I did it in the same way to see if there was a current being drawn. Again might be wrong thing to do but had one kicking about so gave it a try.

yes, and also with a test light.

Seemingly longer, as was a week between the two failings to start. Also I put a fully charged battery in on friday lunchtime and did the tests this afternoon and it was fine. There does not appear to be any draw on the battery with the key in the 'off' position either.

OK, so with the engine off the voltage is 12.93, then when started and revving it a bit it hovers around 14.2 ish, which I understand means it is all working as it should? Does strike me as a pretty stupid place to put something electric. The above test seems to suggest that maybe there is some wiring shorting out somewhere, strange that is doesn't seem to have any rhym or reason to it. I don't have any accessories, literally as it left the factory, and I don't ever leave the ignition on when the bike's not running, which is why I was surprised as apart from dying at the traffic lights the symptoms are just like what you would expect if I'd left the headlights or or something. Thanks for help so, far will keep investigating and look for a short somewhere/corroded wires.Maybe best to fit a kill switch somewhere.

OK, thanks, from reading previous posts on this forum that was what I was starting to lean to. Will get my mulitmetre from home tomorrow and give it a go and post up the result. Thanks for the help.

Hi, I bought a 650 dragstar a couple of weeks ago and have been meaning to join here for a while but have now been spurred on by it dying. Worked and ran fine for the first week and a half then last Wednesday, after riding it back from work I left it a couple of hours, definitely no lights or anything left on, and when I came to start it it just made a clicking sound and refused to start. RAC man came out and tested the battery and concluded the battery was knackered and needed replacing. I put a new (GS) battery in and it worked fine until this evening when exactly the same thing happening. I jump started it and then rode it about 15 miles, initially on the motorway and then through traffic for about 5 miles. Then at lights it died again. This time everything went off and when I hit the starter it wouldn’t even click, lights and everything went off and even the neutral light was hardly lit. I have removed the battery and it is now on charge but any suggestions would be very gratefully received. Thanks a lot for any help in advance, much appreciated. Angus