Lost all electrical

[DC Smith]

Went for a short ride yesterday and after I had to stop to pick up my right side cover, I tried to start it (2000 Magna) and when I hit the starter everything went dead.  No running lights, no horn, no idiot lights.  Checked the battery connections, and after getting her home, checked the ground connection, still nothing.  Any ideas?

[drkngas]

Did you put a volt meter on the battery?  Can you push start it?  Mine died like that a while back and I found out that the battery is not charging below 5000 rpms.  I set the idle up, push started to get home.  It's probably the regulator on mine but I'm waiting till that thread gets to page 30 before I read the whole thing to get the final solution.    For now, I leave it on a battery tender at home at least once a week and if travel, I carry a solar charger.

[Charles S Otwell]

You might keep in mine that not all R/R problems are with over charing, when mine went out it just stopped charging and my battery went dead.

[Curtis_Valk]

Make sure you're getting voltage through the kill switch.  Rock it back and forth a few times.  If it seems to be your problem you may be able to take it apart and clean the contacts.  I believe these frequently give problems on the Valks and I think it is the same design.

Curtis

[L J VFR]

Could just need a plain ol' new battery..

[Jester]

have you checked the main fuse?  you have to remove the seat and the left side cover,to get to the fuse box

[DC Smith]

Battery is OK and R/R was replaced last year (was undercharging).  I could push start it, but would only idle and would not take throttle.  Also no lights would work.  Will check the kill switch.  Can't remember, but do you have lights with the kill switch on?

[Greg Cothern]

Should have lights with key on and kill switch off.

Remember the power goes through the headlight, without the headlight my Project 96 would not turnover. 

However I would check the rocker switch, they are non to need periodic cleanings.

[Magnum Magna]

I could push start it, but would only idle and would not take throttle.

A battery can have 12 volt and be bad.  " would not take throttle".  Can be battery.  What type of battery.  If water type did you check your water levels?

[DC Smith]

OK, here's the answer.  I got tired of looking so I hauled it to the dealer.  He found a loose ground wire (not the battery ground) and the battery would not take a charge.  Put in a new battery, checked the charging system output and charged me $10 labor and $60 for a Honda battery.  WOW, I think that is a great deal, and I can ride this weekend.  Thanks for all the help.

[drkngas]

$10 labor and $60 for a Honda battery.

What dealer was this at?  Can't imagine the dealer by me being that generous.

[TLRam1]

Yep, get the guys name, hang on to him.

I have had this happened but it was a bad connection on the battery. The connection was tight but turned a little more and nothing, checked with a voltmeter with little voltage on the battery cable, cleaned the connection and all was good.

It's good most of our fixes are simple, if not we would be in real trouble!

[DC Smith]

Sorry, forgot to give the guy's name.  It's Howard at E&H Honda.  Unfortunately I have moved to Forest City NC, and he is the local dealer.  Ya'll come see me and we can ride the Blue Ridge Parkway.  It's only 45 miles away.

[Damn Yankee]

Has a similar situation where I hit the start swtich with lights on and...nothing. Biker friend suggested checking the wire leading to the starter...when I removed the rubber cover, I found some white deposits around the lead, much like you find with the battery.

After taking after that with an emory cloth, cleaning the battery leads/cables and changing the fuses on the starter relay for good measure, Maggie fired up like nothing happened.