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- Jun 12, 2013
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This didn't happen on my Nc700x, but it did happen on my C50 Boulevard last week.
I rode the big girl into work. After work, C50 started right up, no lag, one/two cranks and vroom.
I rode around Clarksville Indiana doing some errands; stopped at Wally World, couple of other places. Bike started up, no hesitation.
Went to Best Buy to buy a micro SD card. Went out to the bike, turned the key and nothing, no electrical anything...oh crap.
Checked the typical-kill switch, side stand nothing... still no electrical output.
Removed the seat; check the battery connections-tight as tight can be. I don't carry a volt meter on the bike but wanted to test the battery; went old school-took two open end wrenches, made a upside V shape. One end on the positive, barely touch the ground and POW. Ok battery is good, bad battery would not have went POW, maybe a pstt, but not a POW.
Said heck with it, seat was off anyways. So, I loosened the battery connections, moved both the hot and ground wires to a 45' angle from original position.
Tightened the connection; turned the key and vroom....power, lights. everything.
This past weekend, removed the battery connectors; took a file and filed the battery posts, the hot and ground ends; placed some battery grease on the connectors and tightened everything up.
The C50 is purring like a kitten.
Moral of story: just because battery connectors are tight, doesn't mean electrons are flowing from battery to bike. Unseen oxidation under the battery connectors, unseen tarnish, microscopic salt builtup (can happen anywhere, not just the coasts) can stop the flow of electrons and hell sometimes electrical devices just need a complete disconnect and reboot....including batteries in our bikes.
I believe I had oxidation occurring between the wire connectors (ground especially) and battery. I have gotten wet many times riding home the past few weeks; the bike has been in some downpours at work in the parking lot; humidity is quite high (been in the 70-90% range even when not raining).
I rode the big girl into work. After work, C50 started right up, no lag, one/two cranks and vroom.
I rode around Clarksville Indiana doing some errands; stopped at Wally World, couple of other places. Bike started up, no hesitation.
Went to Best Buy to buy a micro SD card. Went out to the bike, turned the key and nothing, no electrical anything...oh crap.
Checked the typical-kill switch, side stand nothing... still no electrical output.
Removed the seat; check the battery connections-tight as tight can be. I don't carry a volt meter on the bike but wanted to test the battery; went old school-took two open end wrenches, made a upside V shape. One end on the positive, barely touch the ground and POW. Ok battery is good, bad battery would not have went POW, maybe a pstt, but not a POW.
Said heck with it, seat was off anyways. So, I loosened the battery connections, moved both the hot and ground wires to a 45' angle from original position.
Tightened the connection; turned the key and vroom....power, lights. everything.
This past weekend, removed the battery connectors; took a file and filed the battery posts, the hot and ground ends; placed some battery grease on the connectors and tightened everything up.
The C50 is purring like a kitten.
Moral of story: just because battery connectors are tight, doesn't mean electrons are flowing from battery to bike. Unseen oxidation under the battery connectors, unseen tarnish, microscopic salt builtup (can happen anywhere, not just the coasts) can stop the flow of electrons and hell sometimes electrical devices just need a complete disconnect and reboot....including batteries in our bikes.
I believe I had oxidation occurring between the wire connectors (ground especially) and battery. I have gotten wet many times riding home the past few weeks; the bike has been in some downpours at work in the parking lot; humidity is quite high (been in the 70-90% range even when not raining).