ready aim...

[montmil]

According to the NWS, my village has received almost three inches of rain in the past ten days. Soggy.

And Mike, I'm really not driving her nuts. Honest. She just sends me out to the shop.
Although I'm not too thrilled about the camp cot she tossed in...

[Patrick_Krivacka]

I beginning to think it'll take the intervention of a higher power (someone smarter then me) to solve this. I went out this morning and I'm back to zero. No lights no nothin'. The Battery is charged. I'm determined to figure this out. Any help is appreciated.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

I-Man, without going through this thread, have you been in touch with Rick at Motorrad elektrik http://www.motoelekt.com/?  He has a book, now in DVD form on airheads.  He's your go to guy.  He may not be immediately available though if he's going to the national rally next weekend.  Give him a call first thing Monday and see if he can suggest anything.  I feel your pain.

[Patrick_Krivacka]

it is pretty annoying. I felt like I was on the brink last night. Now, .....i really don't want to take it to someone, even if I could find someone to work on such a hack job of a bike. I can't even image how much that would cost.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

OK, now here's my alternative plan.  Load up your bike in your truck, drive to Monte's house and then you can both drive his wife nuts!  I'd even bring the Shiner Bock to see that.
 [smiley=3stooges.gif]
But seriously, you'll find Rick to be a very helpful guy.  He's always taken time to help me sort through issues, and his manual/dvd should be very helpful.  You'll probably find it to be something very elementary like a bad connection somewhere, usually an improper ground.

[Patrick_Krivacka]

ok. went out side and turned the key. nothing. then I notice that the head light was on . the blinkers work. so not nothing. I grabbed one of the relays and really mashed it in. All the dash lights came on. Hit the starter. turned over. green wire with blue tracer doesn't have a mate. hook it up to the coil cuz it was hooked up to the coil on the old wiring harness and the wiring diagram says that it goes to the coil, so what the hell. Hit the starter and it starts and runs like I last ran it yesterday. I'm more confused then happy.

[montmil]

Hit the starter and it starts and runs like I last ran it yesterday. I'm more confused then happy.

Bengt Bad Connection Mike is likely close to your problems. You seem to be getting closer and closerer. Keep pitching.

Rick Jones at Motorrad Elektrik http://www.motoelekt.com/index.html offers a BMW electrical self-help text http://www.motoelekt.com/chassis.htm that is loaded with clearly written info.

Or you can order his T-shirt with the BMW wiring diagram printed on it. I get confused wearing it and working on the R65 at the same time... everything is upside down!

Monte

[Patrick_Krivacka]

after I posted last night, i went out and put my gas tank back on, planing to see if I could take it for a spin. got it all hooked up, but when I turned it on.....no dash lights. No matter how much I mashed the relays, I couldn't duplicate what happened earlier. This morning I took the metal casing off the starter relay and forced the contact together and it cranked, but no spark. does this tell us anything? I'm pretty sure at this point that it's the starter relay. anyone else agree?
also, I still have a lot of loose ends (wires without mates) assuming the bike runs like it did, can I just cap these and forget them?

[montmil]

... I still have a lot of loose ends (wires without mates) assuming the bike runs like it did, can I just cap these and forget them?

Probably. I once helped a guy un-wire a little Yamaha enduro bike bought for his daughter. We started up the bike and began unplugging wires, one wire at a time. Mostly lights and stuff on the handlebar clusters. If the engine quit, we'd plug that particular wire back in.

There's a couple go nowhere wires on both my R65s.

Monte

[Patrick_Krivacka]

go no where wires? do tell.

[montmil]

go no where wires? do tell.

As I recall, they look like your plastic capped, single wire, no mates.

[Patrick_Krivacka]

I think it's over! new starter reply (not needed) new used wiring harness (needed). finally got time to dig into it deeper and discovered the kill switch wires were pretty much fused together. cut, solder reconnect, and I'm back in business! no time for a shakedown ride, but I'm feeling like this is it. started right up, and no amount of giggling of the harness could get it to stop. Boy, i need to ride. i miss it so.

[montmil]

How about that! I guess now we all look like experts since each of us have said to you, at one time or another, "It's bound to be something simple." Thanks, buddy, but just how do I find something simple?

Good on you, i-man. Now get busy and mate up all those other loose ends. It's bound to be something simple.

[Patrick_Krivacka]

If by mate up you mean cover with electrical tape and forget it, then that's already been done! But seriously, that's my plan at this point. what do you (y'all) think of that?

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Firstly, congratulations on ending a long frustrating search.  Have a Shiner on me and then have one on Monte.  But is your plan to wrap it up in electrical tape and move on?  Uh, no, we won't allow you to do that.  Electrical tape won't hold up in any kind of weather and you're just asking for trouble if you leave it like that.  Since you're dealing with a Frankenbeemer anyhow, don't hesitate to find a way to waterproof the wiring, using shrink sleeves or maybe even find a switch from another bike that is functional.  But really, congratulations!