Hi All, good to be a biker again.

[UK Motorcycle Forum Member]

A big hello to all,
 I have had a rest from bikes for a few years,it would be great to make some new friends online and on road,
 started when i was 15 with a BSA 250,then a Greeves 250, a BSA 650 cafe racer, followed by a Norton 750 Commando, Suzuki 400, and my last bike a BSA 650 Golden Flash, when i sold that i honestly didnt think i would ride bikes again, but that itch came back, and have recently acquired a Suzuki 800 Volusia.
I have toured most of the country and Northern Europe over the years, but now have more sedate fair weather cruising in mind.
I work as a self employed electrician in the Ceredigion area so may be able to help on electrical problems posted, bike or otherwise. 

[UK Motorcycle Forum Member]

Well hello there and welcome from another recent addition to the madhouse. 

[UK Motorcycle Forum Member]

Hi Mike. Welcome.  The itch never goes away so it was only a matter of time!  What a fantastic biking part of the World you live in. It beats the diesel sodden City Streets of Cardiff any day!

Take it easy.

[UK Motorcycle Forum Member]

Hi mike,  welcome to the forum.

I have an electrical problem on a streetfighter project.  the ignition just makes a clicking sound when I try to fire it.  It worked before I took it off the road.  The battery is brand new and I've tried boosting the battery power.  I have new solonoid, relays etc but ain't tried them yet.  Any ideas?

Probably two many to list.

[UK Motorcycle Forum Member]

  helloo

[UK Motorcycle Forum Member]

hello and welcome 

[UK Motorcycle Forum Member]

Welcome to the mad house Mike

[UK Motorcycle Forum Member]

Hi mike,  welcome to the forum.

I have an electrical problem on a streetfighter project.  the ignition just makes a clicking sound when I try to fire it.  It worked before I took it off the road.  The battery is brand new and I've tried boosting the battery power.  I have new solonoid, relays etc but ain't tried them yet.  Any ideas?

Probably two many to list.

Check your earths,there might be some high resistance somewhere.
Find were all the earths are connected on the bike,battery, engine and clean them with a wire brush or something and make sure they are all tight as well.
You could also run an extra earth from the battery to the engine earth as well to see if this improves things.

[UK Motorcycle Forum Member]

Hi mike,  welcome to the forum.

I have an electrical problem on a streetfighter project.  the ignition just makes a clicking sound when I try to fire it.  It worked before I took it off the road.  The battery is brand new and I've tried boosting the battery power.  I have new solonoid, relays etc but ain't tried them yet.  Any ideas?

Probably two many to list.

hi ryan, do you have a multimeter that can show voltages? when you say the ignition clicks, can you be more specific, what clicks? do you have power to lights etc. just trying to narrow things down, as you say it could be many things,
i find it best to work backwards from the fault, ie do you have a voltage at the starter motor terminals when the start button is pushed, if not go to the next component down the line,etc. using the circuit diagram, check all connections are correct and earth continuity as you go, bet its something silly like a wrong connection or a bad earth, it usually is. be patient and methodical and you will find it. good luck.

[UK Motorcycle Forum Member]

I don't have a multimeter as yet but I need to get one soon for my computer hardware course.   I have lights and indicators.  The earth sounds a likely cause. It was stolen and recovered and when I brought it home I was thinking why is there a earth connected to my triple clamps.  A botch job someone done to get my bike going for me to collect it and ride it home.  I was so disappointed I couldn't get it to start I haven't touched it in a while.  I will refresh myself with the bike, maybe today or if not tomorrow,  and try and get back to you with something a bit more specific.   Simplify and eliminate is obviously the right route. Thanks for reply, It has given me encouragement to finish it off.   I only need to find this electrical and it's ready to go for M.O.T.   I have bought a complete race system, battery, had clamps made to hold different forks, and rear wheel spacers as the wheels and forks are off a different bike. A used replacement shock,  lustracing jack up kit, renthal chain and sprocket(chain now rusted), new battery, bars and raisers, hugger, baglux tank cover etc all the usuals and I shamefully got deflated and have not touched it in a few months over this silly problem.  I will gather as much info as I can, jot it down on paper as I go along and get back to you with what I know so far.   If I can't sort it with your online help are you for hire?

[UK Motorcycle Forum Member]

hi ryan, it sounds like you have put a lot of effort and cash into your project, im sure if you get started with a meter and circuit diagram you will suss it out, a cheap meter for a tenner will do, but its worth putting sleeving or ins.tape around the probes so that only the sharp tip is exposed to avoid nasty short circuits in confined spaces, i am happy to make suggestions on line if you have more info , with you living so far away it would cost you a fortune for me to attend,
the cheaper last resort would be to get a local vehicle electrician to sort it i'm sure their are plenty down South, maybe a sos post on this forum would turn up one that's also a biker and  give you a sympathetic price.
ps you mention it was stolen, worth checking the wiring of ignition switch  and that it  functions correctly.
get stuck in and good luck

[UK Motorcycle Forum Member]

hi ryan, it sounds like you have put a lot of effort and cash into your project, im sure if you get started with a meter and circuit diagram you will suss it out, a cheap meter for a tenner will do, but its worth putting sleeving or ins.tape around the probes so that only the sharp tip is exposed to avoid nasty short circuits in confined spaces, i am happy to make suggestions on line if you have more info , with you living so far away it would cost you a fortune for me to attend,
the cheaper last resort would be to get a local vehicle electrician to sort it i'm sure their are plenty down South, maybe a sos post on this forum would turn up one that's also a biker and  give you a sympathetic price.
ps you mention it was stolen, worth checking the wiring of ignition switch  and that it  functions correctly.
get stuck in and good luck

I have got a new ignition barrel that ain't been taken out of the box yet and another solonoid to try (claimed to be tested as working).  I got my battery back on trickle ready to try again tomorrow.  Hopefully I'll be posting that it is running but I doubt it as I get more than my fair share of luck and it's all bad. lol.

Just realised the distance between us.   Shame.

[UK Motorcycle Forum Member]

HI welcome to the forum 

[UK Motorcycle Forum Member]

cheers blue, aberystwyth see front cafe seems to be the local meet up place so maybe see you there.

[UK Motorcycle Forum Member]