Main loom.

[ME 109]

Steve, I thought you had determined the problem was there in the loom with instruments detached?
Could the starter motor clacking be caused by a poor connection of the neutral light?

[SteveD]

Steve, I thought you had determined the problem was there in the loom with instruments detached?

That's still #1 theory. The loose circuit board connection at the pins seems less likely if it's happening with different boards/pins.

I need it to start now. BIGGER problem I think?

Could the starter motor clacking be caused by a poor connection of the neutral light?

Is that a real possibility?

[ME 109]

The starter won't run if the neutral light isn't on, and it's flickering eh"?
How about with the clutch in?

[SteveD]

The starter won't run if the neutral light isn't on, and it's flickering eh"?
How about with the clutch in?

Forgot about that. It's just clacking...no turnover at all. I gave the battery a float charge, which took 10 minutes to get to full (12.48v at the terminals, ignition off) I just connected the instruments, wriggled for the neutral, hit starter and...clack, clack.

[ME 109]

I'm thinking it a good idea to leave the battery disconnected when you're not there.
We need Rob Frankham.

[Bob Bennett]

G'day Steve & Jeff
Wow' sounds like you have a couple of problems now, the starting one, sounds like battery or battery terminals.
Maybe charge the battery & clean, with emery paper, the conections, could fix the starting problems.
I had a problem with that instrument plug/socket also, it was a broken conection to the earth socket, it only took
me 2 years to sort it,(some times I'm a bit slack). I think Charlie's idea is worth a go, could get you away next
weekend anyhow. Hope all goes well and I'm very courious as to the solution.

[SteveD]

G'day Steve & Jeff
Wow' sounds like you have a couple of problems now, the starting one, sounds like battery or battery terminals.
Maybe charge the battery & clean, with emery paper, the conections, could fix the starting problems.
I had a problem with that instrument plug/socket also, it was a broken conection to the earth socket, it only took
me 2 years to sort it,(some times I'm a bit slack). I think Charlie's idea is worth a go, could get you away next
weekend anyhow. Hope all goes well and I'm very courious as to the solution.

I'm less worried about the intermittent lights than I am about the non starting. The connections at the battery are bright and clean.

I'm wondering if I've damaged the battery when I started the bike without the -ve firmly connected? Despite it saying it's fully charged, I'll float charge it overnight, try again in the am. If that fails, I'll try to jump it from the car, then get a new battery if that works.

Bob, where exactly was the connection to the earth socket? Is that terminal 12 on the plug?

[Bob Bennett]

Yeah Steve, I,m calling the part on the end of the wireing loom a socket, as it has the female parts.
The small tube had broken away and was loose in the rubber bit, I just jambed some fine wire down the hole
and the pressure makesthe conection. my instruments seemed to work OK untill the headlight was turned on
then no inst illumenation or tacho and high beam ind on low, it was weird. It was no earth on 12 pin.
Some how it was getting enough earth with feed back through the illumination lights to work the tacho.

[SteveD]

Yeah Steve, I,m calling the part on the end of the wireing loom a socket, as it has the female parts.
The small tube had broken away and was loose in the rubber bit, I just jambed some fine wire down the hole
and the pressure makesthe conection. my instruments seemed to work OK untill the headlight was turned on
then no inst illumenation or tacho and high beam ind on low, it was weird. It was no earth on 12 pin.
Some how it was getting enough earth with feed back through the illumination lights to work the tacho.

Thanks. George Ryals was thinking along those lines.

[Deleted User 62]

The starter won't run if the neutral light isn't on, and it's flickering eh"?
How about with the clutch in?

Forgot about that. It's just clacking...no turnover at all. I gave the battery a float charge, which took 10 minutes to get to full (12.48v at the terminals, ignition off) I just connected the instruments, wriggled for the neutral, hit starter and...clack, clack.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong (again), but I think a fully charged battery showing only 12.48v is not a good thing. Should be up above 13.5v or closer to 14v, shouldn't it? Did you try starting it with a jumper to your car battery?