Author Topic: Trying to start the bike kills everything !  (Read 912 times)

Offline Steve2

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Trying to start the bike kills everything !
« on: January 29, 2023, 10:32:15 AM »
The bike has been stood for a bit and started with the help of jumping it from my van. I ran it for about half an hour no problem ( jump leads disconnected ). Came to it the next day it would turn over but failed to start although it tried. Eventually I flattened that battery which is about 2 years old. So I charged it overnight and in the morning it showed as being  faulty which was a bit wierd. I then tried to jump the bike again from the Van and all that happened was everything went dead when I pressed the start button the lights on the panel just went out like its completely dead. Disconnecting the jump leads and trying later exactly the same. Taking the battery off and jumping directly from the van same. With the van running the voltage is showing 14V at the bike the jump leads are heavy duty. Essentially pressing the start button, assuming Ive got some lights on the panel, just kills everything.

Any Ideas on this would be great as I am at a loss here with what to look at.

K1100LT
  • Shrewsbury
  • K1100 1996

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: Trying to start the bike kills everything !
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2023, 01:09:14 PM »
Check and clean the ground connections.  If that doesn't do it, check and clean the starter brushes.

In fact, do the brushes even if the grounds fix the problem.
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline Laitch

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Re: Trying to start the bike kills everything !
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2023, 01:21:12 PM »
The ground connection from battery to transmission would be the first suspect in Gryphon's list.
 
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles
I wept because I had no radials until I met a man who had no splines.
https://tinyurl.com/RillRider

Offline Steve2

  • Curious
  • Posts: 5
Re: Trying to start the bike kills everything !
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2023, 01:37:15 PM »
Thanks for the help.

I re seated some connectors and double checked everything. This seemed to help everything lit up as expected the bike cranked over quite a few times and then nothing absolutely dead no lights or anything. The voltage is good as are the fuses & all the connectors are clean. If feels like its tripped the main circuit breaker so to speak where or what do I start looking at first.

All ideas appreciated.
  • Shrewsbury
  • K1100 1996

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: Trying to start the bike kills everything !
« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2023, 01:57:49 PM »
So, did you check the ground connections and the starter brushes?
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline frankenduck

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  • Posts: 4965
Re: Trying to start the bike kills everything !
« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2023, 02:50:51 PM »
Flakey side stand switch?
Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
New to K bikes? Click here.
K Bike Maintenance & Mods: Click here.
Buy parts here.

Offline Steve2

  • Curious
  • Posts: 5
Re: Trying to start the bike kills everything !
« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2023, 03:10:23 PM »
All the grounds are good the bike has been put back together with attention to these points.

The side stand switch is bypassed.

Im aiming to look at the key switch next however this just stopped while it was cranking over its like its deceased it just stopped cranking and all the dash lights went out.

Has anyone got a schematic for this bike (K1100LT) and any test points to hit or a link to a flow chart
  • Shrewsbury
  • K1100 1996

Offline frankenduck

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  • Posts: 4965
Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
New to K bikes? Click here.
K Bike Maintenance & Mods: Click here.
Buy parts here.

Offline Laitch

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Re: Trying to start the bike kills everything !
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2023, 06:22:44 PM »
Has anyone got a schematic for this bike (K1100LT) and any test points to hit or a link to a flow chart
On the Home page you'll find the Technical Directory and in the Technical Directory you'll find a schematic for your Brick. Look around; you'll find many useful resources. Like this. Also, linked below. It discusses how the Motronic engine management system works in your Brick and might lead you to the source of the fault.


  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles
I wept because I had no radials until I met a man who had no splines.
https://tinyurl.com/RillRider

Offline Steve2

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  • Posts: 5
Re: Trying to start the bike kills everything !
« Reply #9 on: January 30, 2023, 04:23:33 PM »
Thanks for all the help so far. I'm on it so to speak and working through all the suggestions which I am grateful for.

I've stripped the starter down that was pretty grubby inside and wouldn't have helped much. I've also relocated the grounds to one of the anchor points including the  -ve battery terminal which is where it should be according to the manual.

Motronic looked good but cleaned that anyway.

After cleaning the connectors and earths I'm using something called ACF-50 which is a penetrating corrosion preventer which seems really good. However I get the impression that most of you guys are on it with all that kind of stuff.

When I get a battery on it Ill see whats what and let you know.

Thanks again for the help much appreciated.
  • Shrewsbury
  • K1100 1996
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Offline Steve2

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  • Posts: 5
Re: Trying to start the bike kills everything !
« Reply #10 on: February 04, 2023, 12:52:16 PM »
OK so a big thanks to all that have helped me here and to those who have posted wrt similar issues. The five common reasons why things dont start was truly helpful.

So the beast is now piped up and singing which is where I was just over a week ago ! As you can imagine having fully disassembled the bike then rebuilt it with a hiatus of 2 years it was a huge high wen it ran up. Followed by a huge down when it died. Anyway its sorted now thanks to your help.

The resolution was I am fairly sure servicing the starter motor and cleaning it.
Visiting all the earth points and cleaning plus relocating the -ve onto one of the starter securing bolts.

Thanks again. 112350
  • Shrewsbury
  • K1100 1996
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Offline Past-my-Prime

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  • All of us are better when we're loved.
Re: Trying to start the bike kills everything !
« Reply #11 on: February 04, 2023, 01:54:16 PM »
. . .
The resolution was I am fairly sure servicing the starter motor and cleaning it.
Visiting all the earth points and cleaning plus relocating the -ve onto one of the starter securing bolts.

Thanks again. 112350
And thank you for coming back and posting what it took to get things going again. Common problems - common solutions, and someone will quite possibly be in exactly the same situation as you, and seeing that you were able to fix it will encourage them to help.

Cheers!
  • North Shore of Lake Superior (in my garage)
  • BRICK: 1989 K75 RT - Rocinante; NON-BRICK: 2007 F650 GS Dakar - Betty Blue
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Offline gordon

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Re: Trying to start the bike kills everything !
« Reply #12 on: April 12, 2023, 08:42:25 AM »
i second what Past-my-Prime said
  • Spain
  • K100 RT

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