I've got zero power...electrical help, please.

[MotoFoo]

Hey, All!

This is my first post and just want to say I'm glad to be on the board. By the way, I've got a 95' VF750CD.

Let's see...this a long story so I'll try to make it concise. Yesterday, I had an after market (halogen) running light burn out. I kinda had to manufacture a new bracket for it, so while it was apart I replaced both lights with new. I tinned the wires and put on crimp-on barrel connectors and then soldered the crimps for good measure.

I finally got done around 8:00pm turned the key on and off a few times and both lights worked fine and all indicator lights where lit.

I hate the way the brake light bounced around (looks cheap to me), so I decided that I would use some spongy, sticky-backed weather striping to stiffen it up while still providing some cushion. I got done with that about 9:00. I hooked up the trickle charger to the battery and called it a night.

I had a Hospice Poker Run this morning and was running a bit late. I showered, geared-up, grabbed my key, and pushed the bike out of the garage. It was 8:45, the registration ended at 9:00 and it was about 15 minutes away...just enough time! I put the key in and turned it...ziiiiiip, dunk. All the indicator lights went dead. For some reason, I tried to start it anyway and it fired right up.

The 15 amp fuse was toast. I replaced it, turned the key and it fried again. I figured it was the replacement running lights so I disconnected them entirely. I replaced the fuse...ziiip, dunk...it fried, or so I thought.

Then I checked the brake light area under the fender and, "Ah Ha" there was a problem. A previous rewire to add some LEDs to my brakes had pulled loose and there was another connection where the black tape had "melted" and pulled away. So I figured those two where touching. I tinned the brake wire, crimped on a new barrel connector and hit it with some solder. I put new and better electrical tape around the exposed connection.

I replaced the 15 amp fuse, turned the key...nothing. Now, the starter's not getting power. I double-checked the 15amp fuse and it was fine. I replaced it anyway and tried again...dead.

So, I figured that there's a main fuse somewhere. I checked the manual and found it behind the battery on the left side. I've tried and tried and I can't get the connector off to get to it. It has those clips that you're supposed to squeeze and pull up on. I basically ended up breaking both of the little clips off, and as far as I can see, nothing else is holding it in place, and I still can't get it apart. Does anybody know how to do that?

Also, do you think I'm on the right track?

Does it sound like the main fuse? If so, I don't know why a short in the brake light caused the 30amp fuse to blow before the 15 amp. I mean, the 30amp is mainly there for things like a short to the starter, isn't it? Also, if I just replace the 30amp and it wasn't the brake light it's just going to blow again.

The weird thing is that I was able to start it and now everything is dead.

I hooked the battery up to the Battery Tender and it's indicating that the battery is still fully charged.

Any idea what I should do from here?

Thanks for the help!
MF

[Chokse]

When I put a "chopper style" HID Xenon headlight on my 95 Manga, I also had a power outage the first time I started it up.  Turned out to be the main fuse.  I agree that the cover is a PITA to get off because it is sort of under the frame, but it does come off.  Just keep lifting straight up.  I used one of those rubber things you can use to help open jars, and that helped get a little more grip on it.  Once I replaced that fuse, everything worked again, and has continued working since.  Hope that helps.

[MotoFoo]

Thanks, Chokse!

I'll give that a shot and see what happens.

[MotoFoo]

That did the trick! :)

It got the main power back online. I haven't put the PIAA-like lights back in the mix yet. I took a little test ride and went to buy some more 30amp fuses before I try the lights, but all the auto parts stores were closed.

Thanks, again!!