Is my bike overheating?

Ok, so this is the second time that this has happened to my bike. I took it for a short 10 minute ride, and when I went to shut the bike off, it kept cranking. The first time this happened, the bike started right back up. Now I get nothing when I turn the key. Any ideas? I'm thinking it's either overheating, or it's something electrical. It never did this last year. The only changes I've made throughout the winter is an oil change (20w40), I cleaned out the gas tank, I replaced the battery, and I put new starter brushes on.

Check out the link to the video below:

VIDEO

 

Thats SO wierd dude! Never seen anything like it! Maybe its your aftermarket Coils! Maybe they're still trying to suck power from your battery.

 

japple, for now un-hook your battery immediately.

 

I just went down and unhooked it. So you're thinking it's the battery?

 

Don't know for sure but I'm guessing something is shorted in your starting circuit causing the starter to stay engaged. Reason it quit crankning is the battery is drained from running the starter continuously.

 

Yeah, I did kind of rig up my own starter solenoid a while back. That might have something to do with it.

 

I think that is where to start looking. somewhere you got a wire crossed & it is keeping power to the starter on all the time. You might try checking your start button too if nothing found at solinoid. But if your rigged it, it is more than likely where your problem lies.

 

I agree with gregg your starter is still engaged and is probably still turning after the engine has started. If you don't trace this out you will burn up your starter. It is like when you jump a starter with a screwdrive, check the leads on the selonoid.

 

I agree you have something crossing the terminals on the solenoid.

 

Here's a repeat... check the starter button it could be sticking.
It doesn't have to be all the way in to mess you up.

 

That should be the starter solenoid. After 25 years it's likely that it keeps sticking. If you check the wiring diagram, you will realize that the starter motor is feed directly by the battery (no fuses, no nothing) via the starter solenoid. The switching part of that solenoid is feed by wires which are part of the harness via fuses, starter button, etc.

So, if the solenoid is sticking then your starter motor will rotate no matter what you're doing. I mean: you can turn her off with the kill switch, main switch or anything. She will crank over because the starter motor is on a different wire which is not connected other than the solenoid and the battery. What you can do is to disconnect the battery when she's doing that. He will stop cranking suddenly.

A temporary fix is to tap the solenoid with a small hammer to unstick but order a new one and replace. Oh, by the way. Don't run her when she keeps cranking. It will cost you a lot of money.

 

Your overheating worries are misplaced, I'd bet my bike that is an electrical issue. Check out the starter circuit, especially the parts you rigged up when you fixed your solenoid.

 

You're killin me !!
You're killin your battery, starter, etc. . .
Stoppiiit !!
Take your time and go thru all these tests:

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... rcuit.html

That should fix you right up, your bike looks too nice not to run right !

 

Thanks everyone. I'm banking on the starter solenoid. It's one of those $5 solenoids that you buy for a lawnmower and I'm guessing that it's not enough for the bike.

 

Just get ahold of Len and see if he has the proper one for your bike. He's a supporting vendor and has many parts for our bikes. I use his service and I have yet to have a problem.

Blow the starter or worse the starter clutch and the price of a solenoid will be the cheapest part of that repair.

 

Ok, I can't watch Youtube at work and was able to watch your video now.

It's a wonder if your starter isn't trash already. It had to be hard on it just cranking for the video and you saw the battery dying so it's happened at least 2X.

Like I said, it's a wonder that starter is any good!

I wouldn't try that much more!

Now I too believe it could be the solenoid because the kill swithch did nothing, what about the key, if you turn it off does it quit cranking?

I'd say the contacts are fused together!?

 

Starter solinoid shorting on the frame? my xs400 maxim solinoid is less than an inch from the frame next to the battery . I am using a rubber tire patch to shield it.

 

What happens with the starter is all gunked up? Can it short as well? What are those symptoms? Mine was pretty gunked up, and I cleaned it up. Just wondering.