Melted Negative Battery Terminal

[tpalmer1359]

Uh oh, or maybe not?

79 1000L ran perfectly fo 60 miles 3 days ago. Yesterday I tried to start it. Engine turned over but did not catch, then a small puff of white smoke and all electricity died. I charged the battery overnight, but it is still dead, so obviously that is a gonner.

I guess the next step is to check and clean all connections to the battery, starter, and grounds. If anyone has experienced this or has any insight, I'd greatly appreciate your advice.

Thanks as always.

Tom

[bonanzadave]

check and clean all connections to the battery, starter, and grounds.

Check (change) all the fuses. Clean all the connectors on the bike. Before you try to start again check the oil for possible overfull condition which is an indication that fuel has entered your crankcase.

[chuck hahn]

Sounds to me that the starter may have locked up a bit causing an electrical back load. Also check the charging system once you get it goingb again. I would pul the starter and see if the armeture is not wiggling in the bushings..just to eliminate a hanging starter issue.

[DanTheMan]

Sounds to me that the starter may have locked up a bit causing an electrical back load. Also check the charging system once you get it goingb again. I would pul the starter and see if the armeture is not wiggling in the bushings..just to eliminate a hanging starter issue.

While the starter is out, TEST it! Pos to the post, neg to the body of the starter. If it doesn't turn, you need to rebuild it whether the armature is loose in the bushings or not. I've had the brush plate short out inside before, but the armature will still turn and not feel loose.

[chuck hahn]

Bet he finds it full of balck powder from the brushes!!!

[tpalmer1359]

Starter turned freely by hand, then spun quickly and quietly when hooked up to battery off the bike. When I came home from work the battery was charged and quickly recharged after being used to test the starter.

Hmmmm?

[chuck hahn]

Something most obviously caused a seriuos short and grounded that battery out for some reason. Does everything else work on the bike like normal??

[keman]

Still say go through the bike front to back. Clean all the connections including every ground.

I replaced almost every bullet connector with covered blade style contractors and even heat shrinked most of those after adding a touch of dielectric greese to each.

Charging system works much better, no more hot wires or nasty bullet connections. Before I did all that I thought my stator was toast.

[tpalmer1359]

Something most obviously caused a seriuos short and grounded that battery out for some reason. Does everything else work on the bike like normal??

Everything but the rear clutch side blinker. The bulb is burned out.

[silverhorse47]

Where did the puff of smoke come from?
S.

[tpalmer1359]

Where did the puff of smoke come from?
S.

I suspect the negative battery terminal. I have not found any melted or charred wires anywhere on the bike, but am going to look again in detail.

[Guest]

Bad ground wire or bad ground on the other end of the battery cable.

[tpalmer1359]

Bad ground wire or bad ground on the other end of the battery cable.

Boy I wish I could find it. The negative cable's connection to the engine is clean and secure. Same for the wire attached to the cross member directly in front of the battery.

Now the battery isn't holding charge. When I have the tender attached to it, I can turn the ignition on and electrics work. I disconnect the tender and zero electrical power.

Could this just be a battery issue, or is there a ground problem that needs to be found and corrected?

Frustrating. The bike ran sooo nicely after all the maintenance I performed recently.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Can you take your battery somewhere to have it load tested?


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[tpalmer1359]

Hi,

Can you take your battery somewhere to have it load tested?


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Top of my "to do" list!