Ok, so I've been riding my SHawk for about three or four weeks now. For the first week or so, the electric start worked fine, but now she will start with the kick start just fine, but the battery power will not turn the starter. So, the system charges enough to keep the bike running, but not enough to turn the starter motor. Anyone come across this before? I am running a solid state rectifier.
Also, the lights are rather dim up front until I turn the bars all the way to the left, then then flicker brighter. I don't know if this has anything to do with the charging. I was thinking it may be a bad ground. There is no ground wire I could find on the diagram running from the chassis into the HL bucket, has anyone added one with good results?
Not charging...My Two CentsFor what it's worth. Take a volt reading with it running and the headlight dim. Then take a volt reading when you turn the sterring and get it brighter. I'm guessing you have a faint short and when that light goes brighter you will see the volts to the battery change in a positive way I would think. Or maybe a negitive. That would only be if it draws more current making a better connection. Check all connetion near/in the HL bucket. Check all wires for chafing where they twist together or get pushed together or rub against metal. Testing each connection between your fingers as you move it around between your fingers can reveil weak connections as well. I do suspect a ground short though from wire chafing. A link might help.
http://www.croberts.com/chaf.htm 2000 ZX12-R Kawsaki/1966 Dream 305 CA77/78
Start by monitoring voltage with lights on and off. See if the light flickering is responding with voltage. Always start with a good fully charged battery and make sure the connections are clean and secure. Doubtfully a short to ground as the fuse would pop almost immediately. Dont forget the ground cable at the engine side, as it needs to be to good bare metal of the frame, not on top of paint, rust ect.
64' CB77
65' CB160
All good advice and thoughts.
I've run a green ground wire from the headlight bucket (grounding wire -- quad receptacle -- green with white ring/tube) to the coil bracket. Some models(?) incorporated such a wire from the factory, I've read. Fully charge the battery and experiment with normal use of the bike from there.....
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