Motorcycle Repair: Electrical Failure, yamaha v star, repair suggestions


Question
QUESTION: I have a 2001 Yamaha V Star Custom with the 1100. I came home from a night time ride and barely made it home. All the lights suddenly became very dim, the speedometer dropped to "0", no odometer readout, total loss of engine power, would not idle, accleration was poor. Got into the driveway and waited a few minutes, battery was too weak to turn it over.

I purchased the bike used over a month ago, this was my first night time ride , switching back and forth from low to high beam.
As well I have replaced the stator with an aftermarket rebuild. I will check all my connections again tomorrow. Why the sudden loss of power? Why isn't it charging the battery? I'm praying I don't have to get back into that stator. Any help or repair suggestions are appreciated.

Thank You,

         Greg

ANSWER: Check your battery connections and make sure they're all tight and clean. Also make sure your connections on the stator didn't work loose. Then before you pull the stator again pull your left bar switch housing and make sure the wires inside the housing are not grounding out or shorting. Look for any melted wire coating or black spots on the handlebars. Also look at the Hi/Lo switch itself and clean it if possible. Do the same along the bars anywhere wires touch metal look for any chafing or arcing. If you dont find anything, take the battery out and have it charged and load tested to make it hasnt failed as well. I hope that helps.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dave,

Thank You for your feedback. I believe I answered and partially solved my own problem. I will out of curiousity go ahead and check the switch assembly.

I checked the stator connection at the factory quick disconnect. The connector was partially burnt. Due to saving a buck. I went with an aftermarket stator. The downfall is the wires coming off the new stator are of a smaller gauge in thickness as compared to the stock wiring.

They use a male/female electrical connector. I would prefer to use something else if that kind of resistence and heat will be going through that connection. To change the wire to the stator is more intricate than I wish to get into. What kind of connector(s) would you suggest?

Again, your feedback is appreciated,

Thank You, Greg

Answer
Sorry for the slow response. Go to any auto parts store and look for a solid core male, female plug. Look at the amperage rating on the package and make sure they can handle at least 50 amps. That's a high guess but for the year and electronics on the bike that has got be be about close to what the stator is putting out. Also use heat shrink around the connection. That way once you have it plugged in you can guarantee that it wont come loose or get dirty. Thanks