Topic: CB350F no power when kill switch is on RUN

[linoidfinish]

Hi folks,

Electrical issues suck. I was getting ready to sell my CB350F and it decided that it wasn't going to get power.

Background
I rode it just fine about 6 months ago; kick and electric start—no problem. Bullet and spade connections were cleaned and re-seated during a headlight and turn signal upgrade; all lights worked as intended. About 3 months ago, I started it and let it idle for about 10–15 minutes to show a prospective buyer. When I tried to start it again, the starter motor cranked slowly—I assumed it was a dying battery. I kick started it and it ran just fine.

Symptoms
Oil and neutral lights only come on when ignition key is on and kill switch is OFF. If I turn the key on with the kill switch already in RUN, the oil and neutral lights come on for a split second before going dark again; no power and does not crank.

Attempts

• Battery reads 12.65v
• Kill switch behaved as expected when continuity tested with a multimeter
• Starter switch contacts were corroded—cleaned with metal wire brush and applied silicone grease; no effects
• Bypassed kill switch (Bk/W directly to Bk) yielded same symptoms; no effects
• Battery negative to frame connection cleaned with metal wire brush
• Jumping starter solenoid with a screwdriver made oil and neutral lights turn off, does not crank

Do the fine folks of this forum have any ideas what could be happening? Coils? Solenoid? Short in the harness?

EDIT: Fuse was visually intact and passed continuity test; cleaned with QD Electronic Cleaner and applied silicone grease

[bryanj]

Check battery voltage with kill switch off and then on if voltage decreases dramaticaly you either have a short on the ignition circuit or a bad battery.

You could also check that both ends of both heavy cables are clean and tight.

[linoidfinish]

Voltage drops to 1.4 volts when ignition is turned on, regardless of kill switch position. Voltage returns to previous reading with ignition off.

Can you elaborate on how a voltage drop would indicate a bad battery?

EDIT: Okay, now I feel dumb. It was a bad battery—jumping with my car resolved the issue. I should add that the dash lights use LED bulbs; the fact that they didn't dim down like the stock incandescent bulbs would with a low battery completely threw me off. 

[BomberMann650]

Dropping to 1.4v with just the key on shows just how dead you battery was. 

A full load test (starter draw) would draw a good battery down only a little under stress.  Lights only would have a just a slight dip.

[linoidfinish]

Guess I never learned how to properly test a battery. Doh!