Hito

I just got a 85 Honda CB650SC Nighthawk.

I was replacing the turn signal stem in the front. To get to the nuts hold them inplace I needed to remove the headlamp. So I did that, disconnected the turn signal, 3 wires: a ground, one to the blinker, one to running light I figured.

Replaced the stem,

reconnected the wires for the turn signal matching the wire colors, made sure things are connected tight. Reconnected the headlamp. Turn on the ignition, then hit the starter switch.

Bike starts for a moment like normal, then dies completely.

Now I have no electrical system at all: No lights, no instrumentation, nothing. Checked all the fuses, they're all okay. Checked the connections, they all seem okay. Didn't see anything shorted or grounded.

Any ideas what I need to do?

threeleggedrat

Did you wrap em right so they dont touch? Or use connectors, I know its a silly answer, but it happen to me.

Real Random

yeah something is grounded
backtrack and look very carefully
or your battery crapped out on you, check it

Hito

Thanks for the replies.

There are connecters and they're all protected, checked the wires for nicks and frays as much as I could, didn't see anything.

Just took out the battery, checked the charge, its low, but not dead. Put it on a trickle charger. I noticed some charring and a small melted spot on the + terminal, if that means anything.

Hito

Put the battery back in, now everything's working fine and dandy.
also found a loose washer in the steering column behind the headlamb box, pulled it out

it was also drizzling earlier in the morning while I had the headlamp box open.

possible Causes of earlier problem?

The washer? not likely, but I guess still possible?

the humidity shorted something out? Possible, but wouldn't that cause a blown fuse somewhere? I also made sure everything was dry before I closed it up.

The battery connection was loose? Seems most likely, given the soot I found around the + terminal when I took it, out and the spot of melted metal on the terminal.

Any thoughts? Also any measures I can take to weather resist/proof the electrical system?

Cheers!

skr00zloose

something shorted and popped the main fuse. that fuse isn't in the fuse block, it's usually attached to, or near, the starter solenoid. usually a 30a fuse.

fix whatever shorted, and replace the fuse, and you'll probably be good to go.