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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: manofthefield on September 15, 2006, 07:56:45 PM

Title: Ugh... GS stranded me on the interstate in rushour
Post by: manofthefield on September 15, 2006, 07:56:45 PM
Comin home on 35W, where 62 is temporarily merged with it and my bike began loosing power.  Thought I was having fuel starvation so I flipped to prime (like I sometimes have to do) but it kept loosing power.  shaZam!.  So I flip my blinker and cross a lane or two to get to the shoulder.  My phone battery was dead too (who knew I would break down today)  I pushed about a quarter of a mile, crossing one on ramp to get down the next exit.  I found a house and borrowed a working cell phone to call Brandi to come by as soon as she could after work.  Had to leave a message.  While I was waiting I determined that my electric system is the problem.  Turned the bike to on and the oil and neutral lights come on, but headligh, tailight, blinkers and starter don't work.  Brandi got there within a half hour, then we parked my bike on a side street so I could come back and get it with my truck.

I'll take it apart tomorrow, but I have my suspiscions (dun dun dun... Goats Syndrome)
Title: Re: Ugh... GS stranded me on the interstate in rushour
Post by: scratch on September 15, 2006, 10:04:34 PM
Oh no!  Hope for the best (like just something came loose)!
Title: Re: Ugh... GS stranded me on the interstate in rushour
Post by: ukchickenlover on September 16, 2006, 05:28:33 AM
Just a guess but maybe you should check the connectors for the right handside switch controls.
Title: Re: Ugh... GS stranded me on the interstate in rushour
Post by: coll0412 on September 16, 2006, 09:50:49 AM
Bummer to hear man, let me know if you need any help.
Title: Re: Ugh... GS stranded me on the interstate in rushour
Post by: manofthefield on September 16, 2006, 10:26:35 AM
I just took the battery out to put it on the charger... The first thing I noticed was a broken Black w/ white stripe wire to the negative terminal.  I'll go take pics....
Title: Re: Ugh... GS stranded me on the interstate in rushour
Post by: manofthefield on September 16, 2006, 10:51:19 AM
Yup that was my problem... I went back out and the battery was fully charged (15 minutes later).  So I stripped the end of the broken wire and touched it to the negative terminal and she fired right up.

Here's a pic of the broken wire:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/manofthefield/Brokenwiresmall.jpg)

Any recommendations on the best way to reattach it?  It is broken right where the end is crimped into the ring terminal connector for the battery neg. terminal.  I'm thinking solder the crap out of it which won't work to well without being able to twist it with anything.  Or I could attempt to open up the ring terminal crimp and strip a new section of wire to crimp in there.  Neither of these Ideas seem ideal to me
Title: Re: Ugh... GS stranded me on the interstate in rushour
Post by: coll0412 on September 16, 2006, 11:31:45 AM
I would solder it back on, clean the wire and where ever you are going to attach it, use some flux, and finish with some electrical tape  and should be good enough untill winter.

Title: Re: Ugh... GS stranded me on the interstate in rushour
Post by: manofthefield on September 16, 2006, 01:54:53 PM
I just bought some terminal ends, I'm going to attach it directly to the battery with its own ring terminal
Title: Re: Ugh... GS stranded me on the interstate in rushour
Post by: ducati_nolan on September 16, 2006, 01:59:36 PM
Sounds like the best idea for a fix. Glad it was simple  :thumb:
Title: Re: Ugh... GS stranded me on the interstate in rushour
Post by: manofthefield on September 16, 2006, 02:06:15 PM
Me too... I'm just surprised that the wire even broke.  seems like something that should happen on an old British bike :icon_rolleyes:
Title: Re: Ugh... GS stranded me on the interstate in rushour
Post by: ducati_nolan on September 16, 2006, 02:10:15 PM
Vibration, it's a Buddha Loves You.
Title: Re: Ugh... GS stranded me on the interstate in rushour
Post by: Kasumi on September 16, 2006, 03:36:38 PM
Quote from: manofthefield on September 16, 2006, 02:06:15 PM
Me too... I'm just surprised that the wire even broke.  seems like something that should happen on an old British bike :icon_rolleyes:


We make good bikes thankyou very much!
Title: Re: Ugh... GS stranded me on the interstate in rushour
Post by: The Buddha on September 16, 2006, 05:03:44 PM
The Auxillary ground stikes again ...
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: Re: Ugh... GS stranded me on the interstate in rushour
Post by: CirclesCenter on September 16, 2006, 05:12:43 PM
What btw is Goats syndrome?
Title: Re: Ugh... GS stranded me on the interstate in rushour
Post by: manofthefield on September 16, 2006, 09:07:56 PM
What is Goat's Syndrome? (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=13606.0)

Named after Goat who had the first known case.  Basically it's when your alternator magnets break loose and fly off and break apart.  Then the bike makes no charge and the magnet shrapnel gets in your oil and therefore everywhere in your engine.  Seems to me that it's triggered by the crankshaft getting hit in an accident, knocking the epoxy off the magnets and possibly loosening them.
Title: Re: Ugh... GS stranded me on the interstate in rushour
Post by: annguyen1981 on September 16, 2006, 09:49:38 PM
Quote from: manofthefield on September 16, 2006, 09:07:56 PM
What is Goat's Syndrome? (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=13606.0)

Named after Goat who had the first known case.  Basically it's when your alternator magnets break loose and fly off and break apart.  Then the bike makes no charge and the magnet shrapnel gets in your oil and therefore everywhere in your engine.  Seems to me that it's triggered by the crankshaft getting hit in an accident, knocking the epoxy off the magnets and possibly loosening them.

If this happens, does that mean your engine is toast?
Title: Re: Ugh... GS stranded me on the interstate in rushour
Post by: manofthefield on September 17, 2006, 07:44:54 AM
Could be, but I think those who've had it have recovered from it
Title: Re: Ugh... GS stranded me on the interstate in rushour
Post by: The Buddha on September 17, 2006, 11:29:53 AM
se7enty7 and I recovered from it quite easy. I just changed the oil every 200 miles for about 1000 miles. he had a cracked case that was crooked and got the rotor and stator hitting each other. I believe he also changed the oil a few times.
Starwalt and goat did what is almost a full rebuild.
Cool.
Srinath.