Now What??? HELP!!!

[skipa82]

Hey Vision Owners,

  Got a problem, and looking for some possible answers.
The problem: 1st the bike idled and rode fine, then DIED as I was Riding. Jumped the battery and she               
                   fired right up. Died a few more time while down shifting. Each time she started with a jump.
The Fix:  Bought a new battery, charged it and rode for about 60 miles. Parked her for 2 days (Darned           
             rainy cold mornings). She started and Idled great, Rode about 2 blocks and she died again.
             Pushed her home, jumped her off again. Let her Idle for about 5 Min's. still hooked up. Removed 
             cables and she promptly died. Hooked her up again; started; idled; unhook; die... Did this for
             about 3 or 4 more times. All to no avail.
So whats up with this? Anything that anyone might be able to tell me would help. 

[kiawrench]

take your fuel cap off-- run the bike without the cap --- if this fixes the trouble rebuild the cap!!

  these things wont run if the fuel can not get from tank to carbs,,, and trust me,,, this happens!!

[kwells]

when the bike is running check the voltage at idle then rev up and watch the voltage.  Most likely you have lost your stator and the battery is going dead.

[skipa82]

Kwell> Thats what I am thinking. (DAMN) >:(
Kiawrench> Makes a little sense except She Does Start and Idle while hook up to the Jumper cables.

[Tiger]

 :) I'm betting on a new stator and/or R/R... :-\ Do the FULL Electrex test...

http://www.ridersofvision.net/Technical/fault_finding.pdf

                 8).......TIGER....... 8)

[skipa82]

Whats the R/R?

[kwells]

rectifier/regulator

[skipa82]

thanks and where is that located on the bike? Sorry by this is all very new to me. That is working on Motorcycles.

[kwells]

you may want to contact Lucky, a member here, for a CD that contains a wealth of info that will help to answer many of your questions.

The R/R is located between your battery and coolant bottle...it has fins and wires on it. You will need to go through the proper electrical checks as mentioned above to diagnose your problem fully.

[skipa82]

thanks guys, thats where I will start.

[CasaJones]

Don't know if you found out the answer to your issue.  I am new to the Vision as well.  I bought one from a friend of mine a few months ago after he got it running.  All was great until it started dying for no apparent reason.  The problem came down to the 3 wires that run from the stator to the RR.  They were too close to the exhaust and got melted and shorted out.  After fixing the wires we ran them in a piece of 1/2" gas tubing as insulation and ziptied it to the frame on the left side of the motor.

Don't know if that is your issue but it was mine.  Now my Vision is clear and she runs great. 

Happy riding

[Rick G]

I seriously doubt that  the wires being too close to the exhaust, was the cause of the melting. The problem was more likely that of internal resistance , caused by the failure of the multi plug at the stator wire , RR junction. This is very common. The solution is to solder the wires directly  and to insulate them with shrink tubing. Electrical tape is not really the answer in this application.
You may have a stator replacement in your near future! :(

[Night Vision]

Rick; in a stock situation, I agree... stator wires melted by the exhaust is improbable...

a replaced stator and/or relocated R&R and/or bad house keeping could have the potential for melted wiring