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Ryder29 · 07-02-2008, 09:58 PM

Hello everyone.
I have a problem i was hoping i could get some feedback on. I have a Yamaha XS400 that isn't working. At first, I'd turn the ignition, but the electrics wouldn't work. It was in storage for a while, so I assumed it was a dead battery (it was old anyway). I purchased a brand new battery, filled it with acid, charged it for about an hour, and tried again...nothing. Any ideas what the problem may be?

The_AirHawk · 07-02-2008, 11:51 PM

First: Charge the battery at least overnight.

Second: Look for "mice damage" to the wiring.

seruzawa · 07-03-2008, 06:38 AM

A battery will have more than enough charge to run the bike as soon as it's filled, though it's better to charge it a few hours until it is bubbling nicely. Did you check the fuses? Spray some wd40 in the ignition switch and work it a bit? Is the kill switch off?

bbtowns · 07-03-2008, 09:20 AM

As another recent poster found, check the battery terminals to make sure they are really tight. Now you need to find out where your electrical problem is. After following Airhawk and Seru's advice, I'd take a multi-meter and measure voltage at the battery, then start following the wiring to the ignition, kill switch and starter button through to the starter looking for problems. Try putting the bike in it's top gear, and see if you can spin the rear wheel with it in the air (it will take some effort), that will tell you don't have a "stuck" motor (cylinder, piston, bearing, etc.).
Electrical problems suck. Can you bump start the bike?

mscuddy · 07-08-2008, 03:01 PM

Sometimes when a bike sits for eons with the battery hooked up, the hot wire (positive) gets all corroded under the insulaiton, and won't conduct electricity anymore. Take a pocket knife and cut away some insulation about 5 inches from the battery, if a bunch of white stuff falls out, and is packed inside where the wires use to be, there you go, bad hot side wire.

Buzglyd · 07-08-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mscuddy

Sometimes when a bike sits for eons with the battery hooked up, the hot wire (positive) gets all corroded under the insulaiton, and won't conduct electricity anymore. Take a pocket knife and cut away some insulation about 5 inches from the battery, if a bunch of white stuff falls out, and is packed inside where the wires use to be, there you go, bad hot side wire.

Your forgot to tell him to stand in a puddle of water while holding a hair dryer for safety.

Kenneth_Moore · 07-08-2008, 05:58 PM

And not one of you even hinted at submerging the the bike in warm salt water for a few days. Have we learned nothing here? Buy them books, send them to college, and they still sit around all day smoking dope and listening to the radio.

The_AirHawk · 07-08-2008, 10:07 PM

Radio Sucks, dude. And it's too f'n hot here to sit-around smokin' dope all day - I'd much rather sit around drinkin' Beer all day - and I don't even like Beer..............

sarnali2 · 07-09-2008, 06:45 AM

Loose translation:.....I got this bike that's been sitting in the corner of someones garage for the last 20 years to save gas and now it won't start...any ideas?

Ryder29 · 07-10-2008, 07:25 PM

The bike was purchased by and belonged to my older brother, who moved out about a year ago and gave the bike to me. Like I said, it's been in storage for a while, a few years before he moved out in fact. I've charged the battery, and I'm sure it's charged. I'm going to start checking along the cable for any damage or malfunctions, as was suggested, this weekend (I attend school: not much time). I'll update if I find anything out...or don't find anything out. Maybe i can get some pointers on what to do next.

Thanks for the tips guys. I greatly appreciate it!

07-02-2008, 09:58 PM	#1
Ryder29 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 3	Yamaha-Not Working Hello everyone. I have a problem i was hoping i could get some feedback on. I have a Yamaha XS400 that isn't working. At first, I'd turn the ignition, but the electrics wouldn't work. It was in storage for a while, so I assumed it was a dead battery (it was old anyway). I purchased a brand new battery, filled it with acid, charged it for about an hour, and tried again...nothing. Any ideas what the problem may be? __________________ XS400

07-02-2008, 11:51 PM	#2
The_AirHawk Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Livin' in a Van: down by the Mariana Trench Posts: 10,891	First: Charge the battery at least overnight. Second: Look for "mice damage" to the wiring. __________________ *Parfois, on fait pas semblant* Sometimes, it's not pretend Oderint Dum Metuant Let them hate so long as they fear политики предпочитают безоружных крестьян Politicians Prefer Unarmed Peasants Nothing to see here, Citizen. Move along now...

07-03-2008, 06:38 AM	#3
seruzawa Robby Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: 8501 ft. Posts: 16,803	A battery will have more than enough charge to run the bike as soon as it's filled, though it's better to charge it a few hours until it is bubbling nicely. Did you check the fuses? Spray some wd40 in the ignition switch and work it a bit? Is the kill switch off? __________________ I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain.

07-03-2008, 09:20 AM	#4
bbtowns Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 531	As another recent poster found, check the battery terminals to make sure they are really tight. Now you need to find out where your electrical problem is. After following Airhawk and Seru's advice, I'd take a multi-meter and measure voltage at the battery, then start following the wiring to the ignition, kill switch and starter button through to the starter looking for problems. Try putting the bike in it's top gear, and see if you can spin the rear wheel with it in the air (it will take some effort), that will tell you don't have a "stuck" motor (cylinder, piston, bearing, etc.). Electrical problems suck. Can you bump start the bike? __________________ What kind of man can abandon his family like that? Seriously, who is he, I'd like lessons.

07-08-2008, 03:01 PM	#5
mscuddy MODERATOR X Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Next to my still checkin the temp. Posts: 5,444	Sometimes when a bike sits for eons with the battery hooked up, the hot wire (positive) gets all corroded under the insulaiton, and won't conduct electricity anymore. Take a pocket knife and cut away some insulation about 5 inches from the battery, if a bunch of white stuff falls out, and is packed inside where the wires use to be, there you go, bad hot side wire. __________________ A gun is a tool, Marian; no better or no worse than any other tool: an axe, a shovel or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that.

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07-08-2008, 05:58 PM	#7
Kenneth_Moore Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: VIsiting the GIft Shop in the Pit of DIspair Posts: 7,118	And not one of you even hinted at submerging the the bike in warm salt water for a few days. Have we learned nothing here? Buy them books, send them to college, and they still sit around all day smoking dope and listening to the radio. __________________ www.kennethmoore.org

07-08-2008, 10:07 PM	#8
The_AirHawk Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Livin' in a Van: down by the Mariana Trench Posts: 10,891	Radio Sucks, dude. And it's too f'n hot here to sit-around smokin' dope all day - I'd much rather sit around drinkin' Beer all day - and I don't even like Beer.............. __________________ *Parfois, on fait pas semblant* Sometimes, it's not pretend Oderint Dum Metuant Let them hate so long as they fear политики предпочитают безоружных крестьян Politicians Prefer Unarmed Peasants Nothing to see here, Citizen. Move along now...

07-09-2008, 06:45 AM	#9
sarnali2 Aging Cafe` Racer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sittin' down by my window, lookin' at the rain. Posts: 8,132	Loose translation:.....I got this bike that's been sitting in the corner of someones garage for the last 20 years to save gas and now it won't start...any ideas? __________________ "Carpe` Throttelum -Loud Suits Save Lives" "All the BMW riders in the room, I want you to leave. Now. Out. "

07-10-2008, 07:25 PM	#10
Ryder29 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 3	The bike was purchased by and belonged to my older brother, who moved out about a year ago and gave the bike to me. Like I said, it's been in storage for a while, a few years before he moved out in fact. I've charged the battery, and I'm sure it's charged. I'm going to start checking along the cable for any damage or malfunctions, as was suggested, this weekend (I attend school: not much time). I'll update if I find anything out...or don't find anything out. Maybe i can get some pointers on what to do next. Thanks for the tips guys. I greatly appreciate it! __________________ XS400