I service and inspect my bike pretty regularly, and because of that I don't carry any basic tools with me while I'm on the road. Well, I washed and dried the bike yesterday morning and got it ready for a local rally last night. Left the house with my riding buddy and before I got out of the neighborhood it began to sputter and died. All power was out. I figured I had gotten some water inside a connection or something, so I got it back to the house, removed the seat and fuse cover and began opening connections and drying things out. Got it back together and all was well.

About 20 miles later it was killing power, speedometer would drop to zero then kick back up, all kinds of weird chit was happening. In my mind I still thought there had to be water in something and maybe the wind and heat would dry it out. Stopped at a gas station about 40 miles out shut it down for something to drink, when we went to leave the bike was as dead as hell.

So here I am 40 miles out, no tools, and a dead bike. Went to buy a phillips screwdriver at the gas station to pull the battery cover off and all they had were straight screwdrivers. So now I'm pissed. A nice couple saw we were having trouble and let me use a screwdriver they had. I got the batt. cover off and the screw on the negative terminal has vibrated loose, and I mean really loose. So I figured just tighten it back and we're good to go...nope, the battery had gone totally dead.

Another biker there had jumper cables so we tried that, after 30 minutes we realized that wasn't going to work either. The best I can guess is it must have arched while being loose and fried some cells in the battery, who knows.

Another person there drove me to a parts store, and $95 later I was back on the road. I don't know if it was just the area I was in or what, but there are still people out there willing to help a fellow man when they are in need.

My lesson learned....carry some essential tools ALWAYS.

 

I think you have to have a fair charge on the battery to start the bike. It seems like otherwise the ecm won't let you start the bike.

 

Roger all of that. At the very least an extensive multi-purpose tool like a Leatherman can save your stranded ***. I know this for a fact.

Nice to hear about all of the help you got too!

 

It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

 

That's probably true but the engine would only turn over once and then I'd get the starter click. The negative screw hole was all bored out as well, must have been loose for a while.

 

I think a leatherman is in my future.

 

+1 on the leatherman. I'm going to go get one tomorrow. Been meaning to and this thread just reminded me. Nice to hear that so many people were willing to help you out.

 

Check your voltage regulator and Stator/rotor output also.

 

Could those have been damaged from running a loose ground? Or check it as a reason the old battery didn't charge?

 

There are still a lot of good folks,,,
riding today, my son & I stopped to help another alone the roadside. we passed them and went back, we don't carry tools but at least have c phones.. as it turned out, he only needed gas, said he put on new petcock and reserve didn't work and his friend was on the way. they thanked us, and off we went..