Hey guys,

I've got a 97 GS that I picked up recently.  The battery was very weak, so I bought a new one and trickle charged it about 6 hours.  Bike started fine.  Twice.  Now, when I put the key in and turn the ignition to 'on', nothing happens, no lights, turn signals don't work, obviously won't start...The first time it happened I let the bike sit by itself for a day.  It started the next afternoon.  Now it's happening again and won't do anything at all.  I've trickle charged the battery some more, and everything there looks kosher with the battery.  Any advice?  Do I possibly have a defective battery?  Some sort of switch or relay?  Anyone have this before.  Now that I'm not working 20 hours a day, I'd like to ride the bike.

HELP!!

Thanks.

Gob

You have the clutch all the way in?  Also, is the side stand coming all the way up?  If it's not, that could be your problem.

Does sound electrical to me, which means connections/switches, battery, starter relay and starter, probably in that order.

I guess I didn't explain myself properly....

You know how when you stick the key in and turn on the ignition, the headlight and idiot lights come on and you can use the turn signals before you even try to start the bike?

I don't even get that...no nothin'.........

check FUSE!

As I don't yet have my owner's or repair manuals, can you point me to the fuse box?  Both manuals should arrive Friday, though.  Why didn't I think of a fuse? Yeesh.

when sitting on the bike.. the fuse is on the right side of the bike under the plastic cover that covers the right side of the bike.

Take off the seat (with teh key in the underseat lock (left side of the bike).

Now yours being a pre2001 bike you will probably will have to pull apart the plastics (on the right side) to get access to teh fuse. there is a few bolts that need to be taken off (top side of the frame connecting to the plastics) and then you can pull the plastics apart to get to teh fuse.

the first one you see (in a slot) is your spare fuse, teh real fuse is in a nice green / red box that says fuse.. replace it and you should be good.

Okay, I'm with you up til the red/green box part....

The fuse is inside, right?  How do you get the box apart without removing all the wiring harnesses from the frame area?

its a clip of sorts.. you just unclip

i have never done it.. maybe in a few minutes when i walk down to the bike i will check on it..

Happened to me two days ago.  When I returned home from a ride I could no longer start the bike - even the idiot lights would not work.  I checked all of the wiring at least three times, including the battery connections.  The problem was that when I checked the terminals I used only fingers and the connections seemed OK. When I decided to remove the battery with a wrench the negative connection was actually loose, so I tightened it and life is grand.

It's probably not a fuse if it occasionally fires up.

Holy Crap!

You guys kick ass.

It seems to be the terminals.  The screws that are in them seem to be too small to engage the threads on the battery terminal.  Is there a particular size they're supposed to be?  Mine are probably one size too small.  I'll see if I can get some slightly larger ones to fit better.  For the next day or two, I'll just check before I ride.

If I ever get to Glendale or Ontario, I'll buy.

Thanks for the help and please excuse my temporary retarded-ness. :nana: