Help! Why does it keep shutting off?

Correction:

"This happens when a jump-start goes bad. Likely to happen immediately if the HOT wire is connected BEFORE the GROUND wire."

No. What I meant to type is:

"Likely to happen immediately if the -- GROUND Wire -- is connected BEFORE the -- HOT wire."

 

Fox, one more thought. Have you checked your ground cables? I had mine break on my 81 Max behind the motor and under the box. Start and run find, shut off at any vibration or effort to move under it's own power. Be sure that they are tightly bonded. Don't give up, best of luck to you!

 

It looks like we have found the culprit. The side stand switch. I checked it when the problem first started and I kept going back to it but the stupid thing always worked when I tested it. But now that I have a spare here I figured I might as well try. So I unplugged the old one and tried the bike but then the bike would act like the stand was down at all times. So I plugged in the spare switch and tucked it into the front of the seat and tried the bike again. Well I put in a good 10 miles without any problem what so ever. I am still a little iffy about it since it has gone more then 10 miles seeming ok before only to act up later but it is encouraging. I will take the bike out for a longer ride this weekend and hope for the best.

I guess I should mention the other reason why it is working too. I have been trying to get the bike going so I can make it up to my brother’s place for the upcoming fall break from school. Wouldn't you know it he lives in Buffalo; they just got 14" of snow there. So looks like I might be taking the buss anyways, doesn’t it always work like that :? .
!

 

Glad you found your problem the resident experts around here sure seem to know there sh*t..

 

Hurrah! Guess the team gets to keep the trophy for a little while longer...

 

What amazes me is that we are getting these problems solved without being able to look, touch, listen or do any hands-on testing.

I guess there's something good happening around here.

Glad you're close to riding and not still doing frustrating trouble-shooting.

 

Well tomorrow will be the big test, I will load it up and get a nice 170 mile ride in the rain. I have faith in it though.

 

this is very interesting to me, I bought a project yamaha that is doing the very same thing?? :?: it runs great sitting in neutral, but as soon as you touch the gear shifter is dies??? i'dove to find out what this problem is.
did you ever find the problem with this?

 

That problem is usually associated with the Switches and the Safety Circuit Relay.
If you have checked the operation of the Safety Switches and they are Opening and Closing as they should with the Side Stand and the Clutch Lever ... the problem might be the Relay.

The Safety Relay is a special Relay. NOT configured (wired) like a Power Relay but they LOOK identical.
The Safety Relay's Triggering and Load Terminals are different from the standard lighting and power Relay.

Try Unplugging the Safety Relay.
Unplugged, the Bike will Start and Shift into Gear without shutting down.
But, the Bike will NOT Start (restart) UNLESS the gearbox is ACTUALLY in Neutral.

Complicating matters is the danger of having a Standard Relay substituted for a Safety Relay.
This is a dangerous situation.
With a Standard Relay in place of a Safety Relay --- The Relay works opposite of the Safety Circuit and the Starter Motor will engage accidently.

The Starter Motor will engage when the bike is IN Gear and the Start Button depressed WITH the CLUTCH Lever RELEASED!

In other words ... Nothing happens when the Bike is IN Gear with the Clutch Lever PULLED and the Starter Button PRESSED.
BUT, the Starter WILL engage with the CLUTCH LEVER RELEASED --> Bike IN GEAR -- START BUTTON PRESSED!

The obvious danger is for the Bike to lurch out of control or even start without you being ready thinking that that the Safety Circuit protection against such happening is protecting you.

 

thanks alot, we have it down to the safty clutch switch that plugs into the headlight area, seems that when the handle bars were changed out, this was unpluged ? I havent had time to check this area out as yet ? I didnt know there was a connection for the clutch lever there ?