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Author Topic: Bike suddenly stopped at a light and won't start.  (Read 1554 times)

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Offline flateric

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Bike suddenly stopped at a light and won't start.
« on: April 14, 2012, 11:26:48 AM »
Today, I went for a little test ride after a long winter of "restoring" my CB550K (1977). It ran fine for 15min in town then at a light it just stopped. It seems like an electrical problem to me but I don't know where to start looking.
The bike always started right away at first kick but this time it did not do anything. It is like loosing every sort of spark, electrical connection... The battery is fine, there are no more dash light going on when I turn the key and even when I try to push start it, it just does little "put put put" but not even sign of life...

Could someone tell me where to start?

Thank you
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Offline Duke McDukiedook

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Re: Bike suddenly stopped at a light and won't start.
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2012, 11:29:35 AM »
Fuses.
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Offline flateric

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Re: Bike suddenly stopped at a light and won't start.
« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2012, 11:36:15 AM »
That's a good start... I am going to check that first.

Thanks
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Offline Spanner 1

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Re: Bike suddenly stopped at a light and won't start.
« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2012, 11:43:07 AM »
+1.... main fuse... you are carrying spare fuses, right ?... replace the main fuse, ride home and then service the 3 fuseholders right away. Very common for bikes to suddenly stop because the fuse/ fuse holder heats up and melts the fuse...... fix it now before it happens again IMO  ;)

BTW... Main =15A
Headlight = 7A   
Taillight = 5A
« Last Edit: April 14, 2012, 11:45:16 AM by Spanner 1 »
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Offline dhall57

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Re: Bike suddenly stopped at a light and won't start.
« Reply #4 on: April 14, 2012, 11:47:33 AM »
Sounds like something similar that happened to my 750K6. Check your ignition key cylinder and make sure where wires are soldered to back of it have not broke loose.
« Last Edit: April 14, 2012, 11:50:15 AM by dhall57 »
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Offline flateric

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Re: Bike suddenly stopped at a light and won't start.
« Reply #5 on: April 14, 2012, 11:54:06 AM »
Thanks.

I actually ended up pushing the bike home (it was mostly downhill... lucky). I will check the fuses and the fuse box in a bit. I do not have internet on the go... :-)
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Offline flateric

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Re: Bike suddenly stopped at a light and won't start.
« Reply #6 on: April 14, 2012, 12:13:39 PM »
Nice one... It was the main fuse. I changed it and the bike started right away again... Thanks for your help. I now have a box of spare fuse in case...

I have checked the fuse holder and it looks clean and nice.
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Offline jamesb

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Re: Bike suddenly stopped at a light and won't start.
« Reply #7 on: April 14, 2012, 12:34:56 PM »
check your wiring you may have a exposed wire grounding out some where mine was doing it and it was the break light. it had a bare spot and was grounding out on the frame.every time i hit the break it would die and not start it was blowing the main fuse.
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Offline Grabcon

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Re: Bike suddenly stopped at a light and won't start.
« Reply #8 on: April 14, 2012, 03:56:55 PM »
My kids 1978 CB550 had similar issues. It turned out to be the standard fuses just were not tight in the fuse block. Changed it out yo the new style flat fuses. No issues since.
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Offline Spanner 1

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Re: Bike suddenly stopped at a light and won't start.
« Reply #9 on: April 14, 2012, 05:30:56 PM »
OP.... 'looks clean and nice' is obviously not clean and nice enough  ;) or the fuse would not have melted  : :o... need to shine-up the fuse clips and squeeze the clips together carefully so as the fuse is gripped tightly by the clips. If any doubt about the tightness, then change the 3 fuses out for auto. type 'blade' fuses/holders ( about 3 bucks ea. @ Advance Auto ). Get the ones with the 30A rated 'yellow' pigtails and put the relevant size fuse in.... good luck  :)
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If your sure it's a carb problem; it's ignition,
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Offline flateric

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Re: Bike suddenly stopped at a light and won't start.
« Reply #10 on: April 15, 2012, 12:07:03 AM »
Thanks for the heads up. Next time it blows, I will change everything for 'blade' type fuses/holder.

I will also check for ground issue along the wiring harness.
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