just like to say hi and what a wonderful forum you have got.
i have a problem with my xl 1200, when i go to start it i get a huge spark from the negative terminal on the battery, then after that i have no power what so ever, after about a couple of minutes i get power back and go to start it and it does the same thing. any ideas??
looking forward in being part of this great forum and i hope i can help people along they way as well.
cheers mate

 

It sort of sounds like you do not have a very good connection on the battery. Check and clean both positive, and negitive terminals, and try it again.

Bob

 

checked and cleaned both terminals, both tight and still the same....

 

No way it should be sparking at the terminal. Make sure it isn't shorted somewhere. Sounds like a short and breaker trips. After sitting a couple minutes breaker resets and when you try starting is, the short again causes breaker to trip. Check your shorts.

 

ok thought i'd do more investigating, i noticed something weird, when i have the ignition in the off position i have a reading of 13.7v on the battery, now the stupid part when i turn the ignition to the on position (not starting it) i get a zero reading from the positive side of the battery, i mean 0.0v. i have done nothing to the bike at all in past, it was running like a charm.
any ideas on that concept???

 

Have you removed the ignition switch for any reason before this??

Bob

 

no i havent touched anything at all bob, thats whats got me stumped??

 

Maybe the starter is seized. It has to be something drawing a whack of current.

 

Check the Ground Cable as well as the Ground STRAP....

Could be loose, or the strap could have rotted....

 

ok, i took out the battery out of my mates twin cam put it in mine and hey presto, she fired. put my battery in the twin cam and same problem as previous, no go.
so i purchased a new battery and it's starting first time everytime????
so far all is good for now.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR QUICK RESPONSES AND CARE. I AM REALLY HAPPY TO BE APART OF THIS GREAT FORUM.
I HOPE I CAN HELP OUT A FEW PEOPLE AS WELL.
A BIG THANKYOU TO ALL. CHEERS DON