I just got the bike last sunday and rode it about 25 miles to home
without incident. I rode it around the neighborhood a couple of
times. Today, I ventured just a bit further and man was it cold.
(Colorado) So I stopped to put on some gloves and allowed it to die.
When I went ot restart it....click.

I could hear the startedrelay click a couple of times. There was
not enough power to turn over the motor. The battery was drained. SO,
I got my fat butt behind the bike and pushed it over the top of the
hill, what a workout, and restartedthe bike using gravity and clutch pop. Here is
where it gets interesting.

While going home, about 1/2 mile from the break down point, the bike
was intermittently at full power and then very labored. The headlight
intensity varied with sputtering, backfiring and surges of power.

Gas tank 3/4 full
New gell battery
One week old carb job
16k miles

I am thinking an alternator, or generator issue. Maybe an electronic
module thingy problem, Or something else.

Now that I have charged the battery, the issue seems to be somewhere
other than the charging system. The bike just wont start. It wont even
turn over. When I have the key on and the run button on I hit the starter
button, all that happens is a "click" low and on the right side. I
believe it is the starter relay. The starter does not turn. However,
the lights go dim and stay dim when I release the starter button. I
then quickly turn off the key. Three attemps caused the charging light
on the battery charger to come on as if the effort significantly
drained the battery. It is almost like an electrical motor is in a bind
while the switch is turned on.

The Battery is a new gel cell, one week old, to the tune of $120.00 from a Kawi dealer here in Castle Rock.

How do you recommend I proceed?

 

The cheapest first step is to check all of your connections, particularly your ground, andcheck your fuses. Also make sure you don't have any tricky aftermarket electrical gizmos that are somehow acting like a power soak when the bike is off or running. (You know; the digital clocks that tell time in 10 countries, the 200db alarm which draws more amps than your battery is rated, etc.) Put a meter on your battery to see if it's charged. (I know; it should be, but weird stuff happens.) You may want to even give the battery a "jump" to see if it will start the engine. If it does, the problem is likely not the starter relay. If it doesn't, then juice is not getting to the starter motor. You can also bypass the relay and go direct to the starter. Don't remain on this connection very long; just see if the starter will turn the engine over. This will help narrow down the relay issue. If the engine turns over either way, probably not the relay.
Assuming you can get the engine running, put your meter on the alternator leads to see if it's charging.
If your lights are "dim" at idle and get brighter when you rev the bike, you've got some charging issues.
If the battery is the only variable you've changed in the past few weeks (when the bike was running properly) my guess is that it either wasn't charged properly to begin with, or (if it was) there's a ground problem somewhere.
Just for giggles, I'd probably check my plugs, too, just to see if the carb job is doing OK.
Keep us posted.

 

+1^

While sitting, at idle and at maybe 1500 rpm. Does the voltage increase?

Then maybe check the voltage at the relay, then check the voltage to the starter. See if there is a voltage drop.

If there are no voltage drops, the volts increase during your idle and rpm test, then I would suspect the battery being the issue.

 

edit: Nice job jeffzx9 on thenice write up. But I would prove the voltage drop across the relay before jumpering.

 

Had the same problem on my 1996 1500 Classic.
Found the electrical plugs by the starter relay were green and corroded.
Cleaned everything and all was ok.
Sirloin

 

Nice example sirloin on what can cause voltage drop.

 

If you do not mind could you respond to my question about my nomad? Under general questions.

 

I have a 1998 Vulcan nomad. I had to jump it off today, so I figure the battery is bad. (has been on a trickle charger). It cranked fine. Then I turned it off to make sure it was going to crank again. Now I am getting no power from the ign switch. even with the jumper cables hooked up.DidI blow something? I checked the ign. fuse. It's ok. I still get no power when I turn the key. What shouldI do?

T

 

tpaul, posted a question on how you may have charged the battery when you mentioned jumpered. ie, how did you jumper the ride?

edit: on your other post that is.

 

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum, so thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

I have a 1999 Vulcan Drifter and the brake lights don't work. The license plate light, the front and rear turn signals and all the dash lights are working fine.

I checked the fuses and the bulb and they both appear to be okay.

Does this bike have separate relays for the front and rear brakes?

Can't figure out what mightbe going on. Should I just re-wire both front and rear brakes in the event it might be a bad wire or a short?