Honda Question
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 659
Likes: 2
From: Lansing
I had a 1100 honda shadow a few years ago. I thought I had a bad battery as my bike would not turn over. As it turned out the starter was worn out (7000) miles. You see the starter sits atop the motor in a pocket that holds water. There is no seal other than the seal around a shaft ( Iam a little foggy on the details) but the short answer is the starter had cheap unlubricated bearings. It is a weak design, very cheap. I sold the bike and will never ever buy a cheap *** honda piece of **** ever again.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 266
Likes: 3
From: Marion, OH
I used to ride a VTX 1300 and a common problem was the cables loosening up the fix was to remove the cables and add som dielectric grease the the termanals and the cables then snug everything up good problem solved. My symptoms wer identical to yours.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,716
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,599
Likes: 7
From: Hoffman Estates, IL
I have to admit - I had a Sabre for a while and the only problem I can think of that ever happened with it was those damn terminals... I'd bet you didn't even need a charge - Probably just needed to loosen, wiggle and tighten the terminals (one might still not be getting good contact, which could explain your speedo issue).
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,162
Likes: 1
From: Just South of Detroit, MI
I had a 1100 honda shadow a few years ago. I thought I had a bad battery as my bike would not turn over. As it turned out the starter was worn out (7000) miles. You see the starter sits atop the motor in a pocket that holds water. There is no seal other than the seal around a shaft ( Iam a little foggy on the details) but the short answer is the starter had cheap unlubricated bearings. It is a weak design, very cheap. I sold the bike and will never ever buy a cheap *** honda piece of **** ever again.
Anyway, not to hijack this thread, but I would charge that battery, clean and tighten the terminals and you should be in good shape. I've heard of people frying their stator from jumping a bike from a car, but I've never seen it first hand. Good luck.