mcn "project bike" ('round the world bike) back on the road - deadh

[Trevor Staples]

A few months ago I went out to start the bike: lights come on, push the starter button, hear a loud "click", then no power at all. I turned the key off, turned it back on. Got the lights again, but when trying to start it, got the click and no power again. Dug down to the battery and tighted the cables which were kinda loose. Problem solved. Couple days ago, I go out to the bike and get the same problem. Dig down to the battery to tighted the cables and upon trying to tighten them, they're tight already. Then the bike starts right up. This morning, the problem happened again. Took the cables off, battery out, cleaned anything off the connections (they looked pretty clean), and put dielectric grease on the cables and terminals. Put her back together and she started right up. Then she died (while running, loss of all elec.). Then, she started back up again. Rode around, got home, she died when I stopped, but started right back up. So, am I chasing the wrong wild goose? It sure seems like it. I would appreciate any suggestions! p.s. I did ride most of the salty michigan winter, so maybe there's a corroded connection somewhere?

[Richy]

Check behind the left side lower black cover near the swingarm, there is some more wires there from the battery and the selenoid for the starter. There is not much to the KLR harness, take it from a guy who had it (the bike) in 50 pieces about two weeks ago.. The only place you will really have that problem is near the battery,the selenoid or any related connectors in that area. Chances are if you went over the top components and wires, then the lower ones are loose or dirty. Since its an A-18, I suspect the cables near the rear of the motor under the cover mentioned are loose right around the starter relay or motor.. Please clean,tighten and advise.. Richy --- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Trevor Staples" wrote:

> > > A few months ago I went out to start the bike: lights come on, push

the starter button, hear a

> loud "click", then no power at all. I turned the key off, turned it

back on. Got the lights again, but

> when trying to start it, got the click and no power again. > > Dug down to the battery and tighted the cables which were kinda

loose. Problem solved.

> > Couple days ago, I go out to the bike and get the same problem. Dig

down to the battery to

> tighted the cables and upon trying to tighten them, they're tight

already. Then the bike starts right

> up. > > This morning, the problem happened again. Took the cables off,

battery out, cleaned anything

> off the connections (they looked pretty clean), and put dielectric

grease on the cables and

> terminals. Put her back together and she started right up. Then she

died (while running, loss of all

> elec.). Then, she started back up again. Rode around, got home, she

died when I stopped, but

> started right back up. > > So, am I chasing the wrong wild goose? It sure seems like it. I

would appreciate any

> suggestions! > > > p.s. I did ride most of the salty michigan winter, so maybe there's

a corroded connection

> somewhere?

[Trevor Staples]

Well, it turns out there were two problems going on here... The first one was solved by cleaning/greasing the battery cables/terminals. The second one happened at the same time, making me think there was only one problem. The sidestand kill switch was not functioning properly, so upon putting the bike in gear with the sidestand down or putting the sidestand down while in gear (with the clutch lever pulled), the bike would die. I "solved" the problem by cleaning the connection in the circuit that lives near the clutch lever. It was kinda gunked up in there. I hope this helps someone else!

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Trevor Staples" wrote: > > > A few months ago I went out to start the bike: lights come on, push the starter button, hear a > loud "click", then no power at all. I turned the key off, turned it back on. Got the lights again, but > when trying to start it, got the click and no power again. > > Dug down to the battery and tighted the cables which were kinda loose. Problem solved. > > Couple days ago, I go out to the bike and get the same problem. Dig down to the battery to > tighted the cables and upon trying to tighten them, they're tight already. Then the bike starts right > up. > > This morning, the problem happened again. Took the cables off, battery out, cleaned anything > off the connections (they looked pretty clean), and put dielectric grease on the cables and > terminals. Put her back together and she started right up. Then she died (while running, loss of all > elec.). Then, she started back up again. Rode around, got home, she died when I stopped, but > started right back up. > > So, am I chasing the wrong wild goose? It sure seems like it. I would appreciate any > suggestions! > > > p.s. I did ride most of the salty michigan winter, so maybe there's a corroded connection > somewhere?

[Globeridergreg]

MOTORCYCLE CONSUMER NEWS KLR PROJECT BIKE ON THE ROAD AGAIN We ve made some changes to the MCN Kawasaki KLR Project Bike that was ridden around the world in 2002. To test our modifications the KLR will soon be on the road again and in Alaska July 16-30. One of the tests will be in the Deadhorse Endurance Rally. Anyone out there want to join in the expedition and adventure? Contact off the list at deadhorserally@.... It s an all-comers ride to Prudhoe Bay, slated for July 26. Any brand is invited. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Yahoo! Messenger. http://messenger.yahoo.com/