Check the simple thing first

[ShinobiU]

My 900C electrical system started to act funny the other day. light and idiot lights flickering while idling, everything dimming when I switch the turn signals on, and if I rev the engine the light actually got weaker Of course, because of all the stator issues with 900, that was my first suspect. So I got my trusty voltmeter, check all the voltage and everything, nothing is wrong, charging ok, but freakin' light is still flickering. I was just about to start dismantling the bike when my old man pointed the finger to negative pole of the battery and asked " Is that bolt supposed to move freely like that?" Lesson for today, kids, check the simple and stupid things first, it could save you lots of time and keep you sane little longer

[MFolks]

Also $$$$$ if you had it taken the the shop.

[Kawasaki Noobie]

Same problem....2 6mm bolts on my seat and my negative terminal could have saved me 50 dollars at the shop and a LOT of embarrassment....

[3neck]

What is it they always say about electrical problems, its always the ground and when its not the ground then its still always the ground

[TEMAN62]

I find I do the same thing...jump to conclusions and into the largest project instead of keeping it simple and check the easiest first.

[T Gibbs]

I was riding with 3 other bikes last summer when one of the bikes just cut off at a traffic light. We pushed it out of the road and started taking things apart to see what was wrong. We eventually took the battery cables loose from the battery, scraped them off with a knife, put them back on, and it started up and ran fine.

[Capt_Ted]

My 900C electrical system started to act funny the other day. light and idiot lights flickering while idling, everything dimming when I switch the turn signals on, and if I rev the engine the light actually got weaker Of course, because of all the stator issues with 900, that was my first suspect. So I got my trusty voltmeter, check all the voltage and everything, nothing is wrong, charging ok, but freakin' light is still flickering. I was just about to start dismantling the bike when my old man pointed the finger to negative pole of the battery and asked " Is that bolt supposed to move freely like that?" Lesson for today, kids, check the simple and stupid things first, it could save you lots of time and keep you sane little longer

Bro-thanks for this post. I read it a few days ago and remembered it last night when I went to help a stranded friend on a 1998 Honda Shadow Tourer 1100. He could not start and ran his battery down. Where he had to bike said they would tow it for blocks around after 12 so I had to get going.

First thing I checked was the battery terminals-yep-like yours.

I would have suspected fuel issues as we could smell fuel and thought it was a leak.

This post really helped me out.

[ShinobiU]

U R welcome.