ELECTRICAL FAULT

[Guest]

Hi all!

I have a 125 and recently it's developed a strange fault. It keeps blowing fuses

It started the other night so I replaced fuse and rode it for ten minutes and it blew again

Next day I put a new fuse in but with the battery charged overnight and ride it for a solid 45 minutes with no problems at all

This morning started the bike it started up and then just completely died again

Does this sound like a battery issue-desperate for some help guys. When it ran for the 45 minutes it ran beautifully

[raesewell]

It sounds like you have a bare wire somewhere that is occasionally touching something it shouldn't. It normally occurs near the headstock as you turn the bars. That's where I would start.

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply-what am I looking for exactly. I did notice that where the cables connect to the battery itself the black one is quite exposed, could it be that

Like I say it ran fine for nearly a whole hour and suddenly this morning as soon as I hit start it went dead

[JRH]

The black wire on the battery should not be a problem as that is the negative / earth, unless there is a "bare" positive wire that can touch it.

When Rae says to look at the headstock are you will need to look for a cable that has been partially cut or the insulation has been rubbed off it allowing the copper wire to touch the frame.

this could also apply to other areas but start here.

[Guest]

Ok I'll have a good look around tonight-so basically I'm looking for any copper touching my frame?

I have a red wire on top of a black wire that connects to the battery but they both have a bit of copper exposed so not sure if it would cause a problem

[JRH]

Ok I'll have a good look around tonight-so basically I'm looking for any copper touching my frame?

I have a red wire on top of a black wire that connects to the battery but they both have a bit of copper exposed so not sure if it would cause a problem

If the 2 areas of copper cannot touch, that is not a problem. if in doubt post a picture.

[Guest]

I'll have a look around it tonight and see what I can see

[Guest]

Voltage 12V

Battery Code HJTX7L-FP

Battery Type Sealed Maintenance-Free Battery

Capacity Rating 6Ah (PbA-EQ)

Cold Start Performance 105 CCA

Maximum Charging Rate 18A (Recommended Rate 3.6A)

Weight 500g

Terminal Layout Left - Right + (with terminal side nearest you)

Distance Between Terminals 90mm

Length 115mm

Width 72mm

Height 90mm

These are the specs of my battery-what battery do I need to look for as I'm not paying £80 for one if can get it cheaper. What am I searching for on eBay for example

[raesewell]

Why are you looking for a new battery?

[Guest]

In case it's a battery issue

[Bhawk]

I had a few that kept blowing, turned out it was the wiring, every time the handlebars went full lock left (like when parking it) the wires were kinking and it was blowing the fuse.

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply. I'll have a check into that. I took the bike out like I said for nearly and hour last night turning around and doing all sorts including have all lights on etc. I went out on reserve petrol like an idiot and this morning I turned the peacock to full and it started for a split second then died but am I right in saying the peacock has nothing to do with the electrics

[raesewell]

I think you mean Petcock and you are right it has nothing to do with the electrical problems, It also will not be the battery.

[Guest]

Yeah I meant petcock bloody auto correct on the phone. I've had a quick look and found that my horn wires were lying on a part just behind my headlight, a part of the frame. Don't know if they were touching it but the reason they're disconnected is because my horn is broken and I'm waiting for a new one

What makes you say it's not the battery-sorry but electrical is not my strong suit

[raesewell]

Well in as much as the battery supplies electrckery to the bike I suppose all electrical problems trace back to the battery eventually. However the battery will not be responsible for the fault that is blowing the fuse. The loose horn wires might be. Tape up the horn wires individually if possible or at least make sure they are insulated from each other and everything else.

[ThePhatomfart]

quod erat faciendum

[Guest]

Thanks for the reply. So I put a new fuse in (my last one) and the bike fired up immediately and seemed fine. I took the the horn wired which were exposed and touched the ends to the frame and the headlight bracket (as that's what was closest) and a spark came off and the bike lost power for a split second and came back so I did it a couple of times and same thing, then the last time I did it the whole bike died and sure enough the fuse was blown. I've since taped them up separately at the heads

Do you think this is what it could be? I had a look inside the headlight and the wires are really clean, I turned the handlebars and nothing happened

I've had the horn off for a good two weeks and it's never happened...could it suddenly just start now

[raesewell]

It sounds like you have found your problem. Lesson learned, don't leave exposed wires dangling. Oh and by the way it's illegal to ride without a horn, they are as cheap as chips and available almost everywhere, so no excuse

[Guest]

Oh someone told me it wasn't illegal and that it was ok to not have one-I'll have to pick one up asap

[Guest]

Could I drop you an email if it happens again tomorrows

[raesewell]

It was remiss of me not to have asked if you had done any work on the bike recently, it's normally the first place to start.

[Guest]

I've done a bit of work on it but nothing with electrics as I don't like to touch anything to do with that. I just took the horn off and put the wires up so would be easy to re-connect

I really hope this sorts the problem

[raesewell]

So you did do some work on the bike, taking the horn off is working on the bike. You would have been as well leaving the old horn in place and waiting for a replacement. You'll be fine now, maybe next time seek advice before getting the spanners out.