Beautiful Ride then she Died

[Lechy]

That battery to frame ground cable causes most of the problems encountered on Intruders. Pull it off and give all connecting surfaces a good clean especially the battery terminal. As always it is a good idea to fit a star washer on the battery bolt. Give the cable a very close inspection at the battery end, if it is swollen or stiff make up and fit a new one.

[surass]

That battery to frame ground cable causes most of the problems encountered on Intruders. Pull it off and give all connecting surfaces a good clean especially the battery terminal. As always it is a good idea to fit a star washer on the battery bolt. Give the cable a very close inspection at the battery end, if it is swollen or stiff make up and fit a new one.

I did clean the batt side cables but I just tightened up the frame side neg. I will have to take a look at that. Thank You!

Still no lights or guages coming on when I turn the key. The batts good and I have continuity between pos and neg batt cables. I am starting to suspect the ignition switch?

[surass]

This is a mystery....might have to take it to the shop after all.

[navigator]

You can put a meter on the back side of the ignition switch.
Pull every fuse, inspect and reseat them.

[FallenAngel]

I did clean the batt side cables but I just tightened up the frame side neg. I will have to take a look at that. Thank You!

Still no lights or guages coming on when I turn the key. The batts good and I have continuity between pos and neg batt cables. I am starting to suspect the ignition switch?

Did you test it after cleanning the battery and tightening the ground to frame

This is a mystery....might have to take it to the shop after all.

You mentioned you have a good ground at the block but not the frame??
If this is still is a symptom
With the ignition on
Take a wrench or a peace of wire and ground the block to the frame
Or better ground the battery to the frame
Check the lights

[surass]

You can put a meter on the back side of the ignition switch.
Pull every fuse, inspect and reseat them.

Where are the fuses? Thank You!

[surass]

I did clean the batt side cables but I just tightened up the frame side neg. I will have to take a look at that. Thank You!

Still no lights or guages coming on when I turn the key. The batts good and I have continuity between pos and neg batt cables. I am starting to suspect the ignition switch?

Did you test it after cleanning the battery and tightening the ground to frame

This is a mystery....might have to take it to the shop after all.

You mentioned you have a good ground at the block but not the frame??
If this is still is a symptom
With the ignition on
Take a wrench or a peace of wire and ground the block to the frame
Or better ground the battery to the frame
Check the lights

I tested after cleaning with no change to result.
Ground is good as long as it is on a bolt as the paint is pretty thick and will insulate I have discovered.
Tried a piece of wire technique sadly no change either. This is very frustrating.....

[FallenAngel]

I tested after cleaning with no change to result.
Ground is good as long as it is on a bolt as the paint is pretty thick and will insulate I have discovered.
Tried a piece of wire technique sadly no change either. This is very frustrating

The bolt is grounded but the frame is not?????
Then you found your problem
YOu need a clean contact at that point

[surass]

I tested after cleaning with no change to result.
Ground is good as long as it is on a bolt as the paint is pretty thick and will insulate I have discovered.
Tried a piece of wire technique sadly no change either. This is very frustrating

The bolt is grounded but the frame is not?????
Then you found your problem
YOu need a clean contact at that point

I don't understand ....please explain....the bolt goes through the frame so isn't that the same as the clean unpainted part of the frame? Thank You!

[FallenAngel]

I don't understand ....please explain....the bolt goes through the frame so isn't that the same as the clean unpainted part of the frame? Thank You!

Not if it is insulated with rust
You have a good ground at the bolt??
But not at the frame???
Then the bolt is making good contact with the cable but not with the frame

[surass]

I don't understand ....please explain....the bolt goes through the frame so isn't that the same as the clean unpainted part of the frame? Thank You!

Not if it is insulated with rust
You have a good ground at the bolt??
But not at the frame???
Then the bolt is making good contact with the cable but not with the frame

This gives me a good idea to check! Thank you FA! could this happen so suddenly? I had just finished a 88 mile ride with no issues until the very end. This is very confusing.

[surass]

Anybody know how to get to the fuses?

[sgtcall]

Left side under the side cover. BTW there are also leads there to to hook up your battery tender so you don't have to go straight to the battery.

[FallenAngel]

I don't understand ....please explain....the bolt goes through the frame so isn't that the same as the clean unpainted part of the frame? Thank You!

Not if it is insulated with rust
You have a good ground at the bolt??
But not at the frame???
Then the bolt is making good contact with the cable but not with the frame

This gives me a good idea to check! Thank you FA! could this happen so suddenly? I had just finished a 88 mile ride with no issues until the very end. This is very confusing.

Yes it can
If your ground strap or cable is loose it will arc while trying to make a contact with the frame
Try this
Loosen the bolt to the frame Back the bolt out a couple turns then re tighten the bolt
"Then the bolt is making good contact with the cable but not with the frame" should have been a clue that the bad ground is at that connection. Right???

Now Im not saying that this is your problem But it is about the only thing you found wrong so far

[The1Chef]

Have a look at the wires going into some of those plug connections they fall apart fairly easily.

Also hate to say it have a look for broken or mashed wires up near the headlight. That happened to mine way back when .

[surass]

Left side under the side cover. BTW there are also leads there to to hook up your battery tender so you don't have to go straight to the battery.

Thank you I'm going there next!

[surass]

Have a look at the wires going into some of those plug connections they fall apart fairly easily.

Also hate to say it have a look for broken or mashed wires up near the headlight. That happened to mine way back when .

I will look there too Thank you!

[surass]

I don't understand ....please explain....the bolt goes through the frame so isn't that the same as the clean unpainted part of the frame? Thank You!

Not if it is insulated with rust
You have a good ground at the bolt??
But not at the frame???
Then the bolt is making good contact with the cable but not with the frame

This gives me a good idea to check! Thank you FA! could this happen so suddenly? I had just finished a 88 mile ride with no issues until the very end. This is very confusing.

Yes it can
If your ground strap or cable is loose it will arc while trying to make a contact with the frame
Try this
Loosen the bolt to the frame Back the bolt out a couple turns then re tighten the bolt
"Then the bolt is making good contact with the cable but not with the frame" should have been a clue that the bad ground is at that connection. Right???

Now Im not saying that this is your problem But it is about the only thing you found wrong so far

Will double check Thank you!

[Designer]

I don't understand ....please explain....the bolt goes through the frame so isn't that the same as the clean unpainted part of the frame? Thank You!

Not if it is insulated with rust
You have a good ground at the bolt??
But not at the frame???
Then the bolt is making good contact with the cable but not with the frame

This gives me a good idea to check! Thank you FA! could this happen so suddenly? I had just finished a 88 mile ride with no issues until the very end. This is very confusing.

Yes it can
If your ground strap or cable is loose it will arc while trying to make a contact with the frame
Try this
Loosen the bolt to the frame Back the bolt out a couple turns then re tighten the bolt
"Then the bolt is making good contact with the cable but not with the frame" should have been a clue that the bad ground is at that connection. Right???

Now Im not saying that this is your problem But it is about the only thing you found wrong so far

Will double check Thank you!

What FallenAngel says is good advice. If I may add my experience, if there has indeed been arcing/rust/oxidation, be sure to clean the backside of the Wire Terminal ( that makes contact) to further ensure for a long-lasting, and good electrical conductivity.

Also,....your charging system might be at fault,...not keeping things fully Up To Snuff.

[Stretch]

OK, so I had a really similar experience here with my '95 1400. 80+ miles into a 100 mile commute, and everything went dark. No power, no crank, no lights, nothing at all. I am not sure who first pointed out the ground cable, but after a week of trying to trace down the problem, they were correct (if only I had found this forum then...). Ground off the Neg. terminal had arced out. After a new battery, checking countless connections, etc. that was all it was.

Sorry if this is obv. or repetitive...just been there before.

~Stretch