Is it actually a main fuse or worse?

atomic01 · 11-02-2011, 03:29 AM

Long time reader, first time poster ...

I have a 2007 GZ250. A few weeks back, I was riding it every day to work with absolutely zero issues. One night I rode over to a buddy's house and let him and another friend (both motorcycle riders) drive my bike 2 blocks up the street and back. Once again, zero issues. We parked the bike to go inside and check on the burgers. We came out 10 minutes later to see who's bike had the best high beams. Problems began ...

The GZ would NOT start. No clicking, no nothing. The checklist: plenty of gas, plenty of battery life, kickstand up and all the other stuff people forget sometimes. We DID however get the bike to push start. The engine sounded like a machine gun going off, highlight barely lit, and when I tried putting it into first it would just lurch a few times and die.

Any ideas? The more I read, the more I think it could be the main fuse and I can certainly replace the fuses. CDI? Starter relay? If it was the main fuse, how did we get it push started?

Any help would be more valuable than you know! Thanks in advance.

JWR · 11-02-2011, 05:50 AM

Sounds like a side stand switch or clutch switch.
Either of these would give you a zero start.
Could also be the rocker kill switch.

As far as the bike push starting and running bad, my guess would still be the side stand switch.

I could be totally wrong but that is where I would start.

Water Warrior 2 · 11-02-2011, 12:22 PM

Can you remember if you turned the headlight to high beam before turning the key on and trying to start the bike ?? If so then I would be looking at the high beam wiring in the head light bucket and any wires leading to the switch. If not then start at the battery for loose connections and follow all the wiring and look for a bit of insulation worn through. Electrical gremlins like to come out at night or so I'm told.

alantf · 11-02-2011, 04:01 PM

So that's when a gremlin bell would come in handy? :crackup

atomic01 · 11-02-2011, 11:02 PM

I definitely check the side stand switch.

I did make one rookie movie and forgot to add a fact. When I put the key in and turn the bike to ON, the headlight didn't even come on. That had me thinking maybe a broken piece in the ignition or something like that. I'll check the SS switch, and the fuses

mrlmd1 · 11-02-2011, 11:46 PM

Check your battery connections to see if they are clean and tight. A bad or loose connection can give you the problems you describe and sometimes the screw on the battery terminals can vibrate loose.
What is the voltage at the battery terminals when you say you have "plenty of battery life"?

11-02-2011, 03:29 AM	#1
atomic01 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Beach Posts: 3	Is it actually a main fuse or worse? Long time reader, first time poster ... I have a 2007 GZ250. A few weeks back, I was riding it every day to work with absolutely zero issues. One night I rode over to a buddy's house and let him and another friend (both motorcycle riders) drive my bike 2 blocks up the street and back. Once again, zero issues. We parked the bike to go inside and check on the burgers. We came out 10 minutes later to see who's bike had the best high beams. Problems began ... The GZ would NOT start. No clicking, no nothing. The checklist: plenty of gas, plenty of battery life, kickstand up and all the other stuff people forget sometimes. We DID however get the bike to push start. The engine sounded like a machine gun going off, highlight barely lit, and when I tried putting it into first it would just lurch a few times and die. Any ideas? The more I read, the more I think it could be the main fuse and I can certainly replace the fuses. CDI? Starter relay? If it was the main fuse, how did we get it push started? Any help would be more valuable than you know! Thanks in advance. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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11-02-2011, 05:50 AM	#2
JWR Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Louisville, TN Posts: 1,413	Re: Is it actually a main fuse or worse? Sounds like a side stand switch or clutch switch. Either of these would give you a zero start. Could also be the rocker kill switch. As far as the bike push starting and running bad, my guess would still be the side stand switch. I could be totally wrong but that is where I would start. __________________ Jerry Truth is there are lots of great bikes available and not nearly as many good riders out there riding them... "A man's got to know his limitations..."
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11-02-2011, 12:22 PM	#3
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	Re: Is it actually a main fuse or worse? Can you remember if you turned the headlight to high beam before turning the key on and trying to start the bike ?? If so then I would be looking at the high beam wiring in the head light bucket and any wires leading to the switch. If not then start at the battery for loose connections and follow all the wiring and look for a bit of insulation worn through. Electrical gremlins like to come out at night or so I'm told. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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11-02-2011, 04:01 PM	#4
alantf Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tenerife (Spain) Posts: 3,719	Re: Is it actually a main fuse or worse? So that's when a gremlin bell would come in handy? :crackup __________________ By birth an Englishman, by the grace of God a Yorkshireman.
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11-02-2011, 11:02 PM	#5
atomic01 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Beach Posts: 3	Re: Is it actually a main fuse or worse? I definitely check the side stand switch. I did make one rookie movie and forgot to add a fact. When I put the key in and turn the bike to ON, the headlight didn't even come on. That had me thinking maybe a broken piece in the ignition or something like that. I'll check the SS switch, and the fuses Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

11-02-2011, 11:46 PM	#6
mrlmd1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Crawfordville, Florida Posts: 2,853	Re: Is it actually a main fuse or worse? Check your battery connections to see if they are clean and tight. A bad or loose connection can give you the problems you describe and sometimes the screw on the battery terminals can vibrate loose. What is the voltage at the battery terminals when you say you have "plenty of battery life"?
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