Topic: Wierd electrical problem

[Scout]

I guess it's time for me to have an electrical problem....

I rode to work this morning, everything was great. I go down to get my bike, put the key in the ignition, turn it to On, the lights blink for a second, then everything goes dead. Turn it back to off, then on again, same thing. I played with the key a little, then turned it past On to Park, then back to On, and everything is working just fine. Tested it a few times, but turning the bike off, then on, and same thing - the lights will blink, or stay on for 1-2 seconds, then go off. If I go all they way to Park, then back to On, it's solid...

Any ideas??

Scout

[grumburg]

Sounds like a bad ignition switch.

[Jonesy]

I just encountered the same issue with the same bike. In my case the power would only come on after jiggling the wiring harness behind the switch.

Remove the switch assembly and carefully remove the white plastic cover on the bottom. The rotating portion of the switch will have little spring-loaded shoes that ride against a stationary plate with copper pads on it. I cleaned everything with a spraycan of electrical terminal cleaner (available at most hardware and auto parts stores) and then polished the parts with a scotchbrite pad. To finish up, apply a thin coating of dielectric grease and put it back together. All the parts have indexing tabs so they can't be reassembled incorrectly.

If it turns out the parts are toast or you busted something taking it apart, the part #'s are:

-35101-422-007 (H/C 092529)- plastic switch cover
-35102-431-007 (H/C 092530)- the contact portion of the switch

Others have warned me that the aftermarket switches are basically junk.
 
Good luck!

[ProTeal55]

Loose connection at the battery ?

[Scout]

Well, on the way home from work the bike decided to die on me, loosing electrical power intermitently.... First time it did it, I got the loudest backfire I've heard yet, I thought I lost one of the pipes...... I pushed the bike for about 1/4 mile, then got too tired, and decided to play with the wires. I got it working good enough to almost get me home, died again 2 blocks away...

I took everything apart, and the contacts are in horrible shape, it's a miracle it worked as long as it did. I ordered new parts, but I'll try to clean everything and see if that works...

Just wanted to share my fun today, on a hottest day in Chicago yet this year (over 80F and humid, and me in a leather jacket)

Scout

[Rushoid]

I had the same problem on my maiden voyage. 4.5 miles down the road it just went dead. It was the ignition switch. The shop I bought the new switch from said it was common with my bike ('78 750F) because the clutch cable was routed too close to it and they would rub together. When you take the switch apart, don't lose the little, spring-loaded contacts! Luckily I found mine on the other side of the garage.