12/10/2013
My luck with going on branch rides has struck again.
I was up early this morning, ready to join the branch on the ride to Warwick for the "Bikes Thru The Bar" ride.
As the ride was going to be "up" the range, I decided I'd take Crash out for a spin and get a few more K's under our belt before we head down to Tassie at the end of November. Trailer connected & plugged in, jacket and gloves on, I was ready to go. Turn the key and hit the starter..............nothing.
Checking the battery showed on 11.4 volts, not enough to start the bike. Trailer disconnected, battery removed and charger fired up, I knew I'd be pushing to make the ride.
45 minutes later, battery fully charged and put back in the bike. Starts first time so it didn't look like it was going to be too bad a day after all as I'd just be able to catch up with the branch before they left. Connecting the trailer I noticed the wiring was a little loose, but didn't take any notice. All dressed again, I started checking the lights, indicators and horn.....nothing. Bike runs but none of the electrics are working. I knew now todays ride wasn't going to happen.
Turning off the bike, I disconnected the trailer and opened up the battery box for a second time. Checking the fuses I found 3 blown fuses - trailer wiring, indicators and headlight....strange. Checking my spare fuses, I found I was 2 spares short so it was a quick trip to the local bike shop to pick up sufficient fuses to replace the blown ones and a few spares incase they blew again. $24 dollars later, I was back home with 5 fuses, ready to get the bike back up and running.
As the trailer wiring fuse has blown, I checked the wiring to the trailer connector....there's my problem...all 7 wires had pulled loose from the connector. It was then I realised I must have been a little too aggressive when I relocated the wiring last weekend. Not a problem I thought, I'll just grab the wiring diagram I used when I installed the tow bar.....wrong. I had a clean up a few weeks ago and threw out the diagram as I didn't think I'd ever need it again.
A long searching session on google finally located the wiring diagram I needed and I was ready to connect the wires. Then I through - "Did I wire the connection up the same was as the diagram says?". I was reasonably sure I had, so 5 minutes of wire trimming and screw tightening and I was ready to rock. Grabbing my volt meter, I checked everything and it seemed to be OK. Fuses in & trailer connected, I restarted the bike.
Bike starts - check
Left Indicator - check
Right Indicator - check
Brake Light - check
Horn - check
Under Bike Lights and Driving Lights - check.
Problem resolved.
Here's the plug wiring for my bike:
I was now ready to go for the ride. It's a pity it was now about midday and by the time I got to Warwick everyone would be heading home, so no ride to Warwick. Maybe next weekend...oh hang on, I'm On-Call next weekend, so I doubt I'll be able to get out, but you never know.....
Thursty
PS: I worked out why the battery went flat. It seems the loose wiring in the trailer plug created a circuit, allowing the charge to leak. I looks like this was the case for a week & when I attached the trailer plug it brought all the wires together, blowing the fuses. So I guess this means I butchered my bike....but don't tell anyone.
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