electrical problem

[Mudfacetony]

Now here is a good one.

A copule of weeks ago my Mk3 started with a small electrical problem. When I put the indicators on, the back light would also flash (at first you could hardly tell), which is now really pronunced.

To add to this, I as up in Scotland on Tuesday and all of a sudden I could hear something like arching and the bike started to miss fire. I thought it was because it was very cold (-5) but it sarted doing it again yesterday when it was +6. Thismiss firing is intermittant.

I have checked the back end by removing the indicators and using a spare rear light and the problem of the flashing back light is still there. I have also inpected the wiring under the seat (it needed loads of cleaning) and I have inspected the wiring behind the headlight and cannot see anything.

I can't replicate the misfiring/arching but I'm sure it will still be there.

Can anyone help before I start throwing a big hammer at the bike?

[fallenmikethebike]

Now here is a good one.

A copule of weeks ago my Mk3 started with a small electrical problem. When I put the indicators on, the back light would also flash (at first you could hardly tell), which is now really pronunced.

To add to this, I as up in Scotland on Tuesday and all of a sudden I could hear something like arching and the bike started to miss fire. I thought it was because it was very cold (-5) but it sarted doing it again yesterday when it was +6. Thismiss firing is intermittant.

I have checked the back end by removing the indicators and using a spare rear light and the problem of the flashing back light is still there. I have also inpected the wiring under the seat (it needed loads of cleaning) and I have inspected the wiring behind the headlight and cannot see anything.

I can't replicate the misfiring/arching but I'm sure it will still be there.

Can anyone help before I start throwing a big hammer at the bike?

Hi Tony, Hhmme, could it be water in the harness, the current could be flowing through a wet joint, and livening up the rear light
Mike

[knackeredMk1]

+1

[chris356]

hi tony is the headlamp coming on dim when you use the indicators ? if so then the rear indicators are finding a earth through the tail light & travelling up to the headlamp & then down to earth try connecting a wire to a clean part of the frame & the other end to the earth wire feeding the rear light & indicators
chris

[Mudfacetony]

Just for info, in case anyone gets a similar problem, the final solution to this was to change the condensor (not sure this was a problem but changed it anyway) and also changed the rectifier and all appears to be sorted.

[knackeredMk1]

The symptoms you listed were classic for a short in the wiring. You may have moved the wires or dried them out during your investigation but I'm sure that the capacitor and reg/rec were not responsible for the original problem.

[xander77]

I would say bad earth! might be worth checking as some where the parts you mentioned might have something to do with the earth either, directly or indirectly

[Mudfacetony]

Definitley not just bad earth. After 2 months of "drying out" and a trip to the sparky the problem was still there until the rctifier was shown to be dead and changed.

[knackeredMk1]

Having reread the original problem was it that the back light came on when the indicators were on or that the back light (that was already on) flashed when the indicators were on .

If the second I can entirely see why the faults lay with the reg/rec and maybe capacitor.

[jontymiller]

I agree with Knackered there should be a short in the wiring!

[jm38]

my mk 2 started to pop and fart at the end of 3 long straights on way home as i was braking for an s bend it ground to a halt so i wiggled all easy to get at wires put it on reserve and turned off the lights and it restarted and rode as good as ever .next run i started it and noticed the lights dimming as i revved it but just thought it would clear later.
it started to die under braking or if i indicated so again i switched off the lights and all was well for the rest off the run.
i stripped the bike to find what i thought would be a loose connection but could not find anything so i took off the rectifier and tested it one set of diodes had died .a replacement was concocted from an other bikes (kwaka)i think but it would not run untill i turned the lights off again ,then it would fire and miss fire and miss fire and miss ,i also noticed the neutral light was blazing verey brightly .
i have ordered another from ebay (39.99)and will update when it arrives and i have tried it out.a new replacement can be obtained from electrex for £90 .

[knackeredMk1]

What you describe sounds very much like there is a short in the wiring loom to the frame in the lighting circuit,

[helisupp]

Possibility of mud, water in the rear light connection where wires are connected to the light assy.

One of mine was full of mud and causing problems.

[jm38]

well the replacement rectifier arrived yesterday ,i plugged it in and fastened it up and i now have a runner with lights that dont dim either braking or indicating .i did find the rear light connector was dirty could this may have started the fault that killed the rectifier ?

[twistednuts]

Alright jm, whereabouts in preston are ya?