My bike wont start. and more..

[eero]

Okay so this has been happening to me just recently and I'm not sure what's causing this.

Here's the situation:

I put the key in and turn it to the on position, the lights come on just like they are supposed to but when I press the switch and go to hit the starter button the bike won't start. When I press the starter button, the lights immediately shut off. So then I hit the kill switch and then put my key back to the off position, then try the process again.. only this time the lights wont even come on when putting the key to the on position. If I wait about 5 to 10 minutes, then try the process again, the lights come on, and when I press the starter button the bike will start sometimes, but barely.. it seems like it just wants to cut off again. Any help would be appreciated.

[kluge9]

Sounds like a dead battery to me.  Put it on a trickle charger for a few hours and let us know how it works out

[eero]

It most likely is the battery, but it's weird because I just bought the battery not even a month ago, and charged it up. Not sure how it would drain itself in that little of time, could just be a bad battery. I'll put a meter on it to see what it reads, then try charging it again and see if it holds the charge.

[The Buddha]

OK you got a ead short in the wiring, I have a virago that does the exact same thing. In fact it takes ~30 seconds to turn on the headlight, and the headlight comes on gradually. I susp[ect I have a short in the fuel pump circuit, cos that thing also isnt' running.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Worm]

You said you just got this battery a month ago, is it sealed or the type you have to put the acid in?

If it's not a sealed battery, you may want to make sure the acid is full.

[eero]

You said you just got this battery a month ago, is it sealed or the type you have to put the acid in?

If it's not a sealed battery, you may want to make sure the acid is full.

Yeah it's not a sealed battery. When I bought and brought it home to take it out of the box, it off-gassed and did a mini explosion and stuff overflowed out of it..could have been acid or water not sure which one. But then we cleaned up the mess and charged it up anyway and put it in the bike. The bike started fine for a couple weeks no problems, then this past week its having this problem. Im thinking its not the battery, but maybe an electrical issue. I will do some more looking around when I get home.

[dchrist]

you've got a short in there somewhere. I had the exact same symptoms a few seasons ago. mine was a bad side stand relay. do you get a popping sound when the lights short out?