Ok, what could make a " click" sound inside the headlight bucket?

[Captdan]

Twice now my r90/6 has died with no electrical power. Today while on a short local ride I stopped at a local event. When I went to crank the bike no power.. Nothing, no lights, nothing. After getting my trailer and taking it home I once more started to trouble shoot the problem. Both times I've tested the ignition switch by checking power to it, ( ok, got 12 volts), then checking to see if power was coming from the ingition switch when in the on postion ( yes, it does). Both times I hear a click sound each time I cycle the ignition switch. When the click is heard the bike is dead, when the click stops the bike when has power. Try as I may, I cannot locate the click sound or duplicate the problem.... Any ideas?

[Beater]

A short. Open the headlight and leave it open, then have someone try and start the bike per your directions, while you are staring into the headlight bucket WEARING SAFETY GLASSES.

Watch for the fireworks display, and or puff of smoke.

Good luck.

[Warin]

A short should blow a fuse - that is what they are for.

A 'click' may be a relay operating, there should be another 'click' as it 'unoperates'.


" When the click is heard the bike is dead, when the click stops the bike when has power. "

When the click is heard - is there still +12 volts after the ignition switch?

If there then check the power at the ignition coil ... no power there then check half way between the coil and the switch.. trace it through.

Could be an anti theft alarm thingy..

[ozmoses]

It is from the bucket for sure ?

Sounds like the starter relay but that is undertank,no?

[Beater]

Originally Posted by Warin

A short should blow a fuse - that is what they are for.

A 'click' may be a relay operating, there should be another 'click' as it 'unoperates'.
..

True ... However, I have had intermittent ground issues in the /6 and /7 headlight bucket ... that didn't blow a fuse. Either way, I have found that changing your perspective (IE - Getting in front of the bucket and testing the hypothesis) usually reveals a new hypothesis with which to test.

A click can definitely be the starter relay .. And perhaps this is a bad starter. I've known starters to totally short out ... Either way the OP *thinks* it's in the bucket ... and to me ... there's only one way to confirm that.\

Originally Posted by ozmoses

It is from the bucket for sure ? Sounds like the starter relay but that is undertank,no?

+1

[Bill Harris]

Is this the R90/6 that you cafe'd? Which started as a 1974 r75 frame with a 1976 r90/6 engine and trans mounted?

I'd check the wiring, and wiring changes you've made. At any rate, start in the headlight bucket...

--Bill

[alister102]

Usually a loud clicking from the bucket is the mechanical turn signal (large) relay- I've had to re-solder mine twice. The starter wire runs through this relay. otherwise check the starter relay under the tank, the connections often rust there.

[Captdan]

Originally Posted by alister102

Usually a loud clicking from the bucket is the mechanical turn signal (large) relay- I've had to re-solder mine twice. The starter wire runs through this relay. otherwise check the starter relay under the tank, the connections often rust there.

Thanks to all that chimed in. Yep, I thought about the turn signal relay. I unplugged it and thought I could segregate it from the problem perhaps. Didn't tell me a lot when I did ( electrical is not my strong point). Could well be th starter relay I suppose. I've looked at that and did inspect the connections. All seems ok...

Question: could the starter relay ( give it had a problem ) kill the bike when running? Once the problem manifested as I wheeled into the driveway. I thought I mistakenly hit the emergency kill switch, but found I had not. This all started it seems from my repair job on the break master cylinder. While not related, something is amiss from that job or so it seems...

[Steve W.]

Originally Posted by Captdan

Question: could the starter relay ( give it had a problem ) kill the bike when running? Once the problem manifested as I wheeled into the driveway. I thought I mistakenly hit the emergency kill switch, but found I had not. This all started it seems from my repair job on the break master cylinder. While not related, something is amiss from that job or so it seems...

The +12v from the batt is connected to the ignition switch at the starter relay which is just under the aforementioned BRAKE master cylinder. The larger red wire and the smaller red wire are jumped in the special BMW relay. This connection can stop the bike, and is prone to corroding. The proactive fix is to splice these reds together external to the relay to by-pass the problematic connection. Always look the last place you worked. The relay plug was probably bumped.
Cheers
Steve 01GS 78S

[bmweuro]

Headlight relay. Unplug the green wire and see if it stops.

[Captdan]

Originally Posted by Steve W.

The +12v from the batt is connected to the ignition switch at the starter relay which is just under the aforementioned BRAKE master cylinder. The larger red wire and the smaller red wire are jumped in the special BMW relay. This connection can stop the bike, and is prone to corroding. The proactive fix is to splice these reds together external to the relay to by-pass the problematic connection. Always look the last place you worked. The relay plug was probably bumped.
Cheers
Steve 01GS 78S

I think we have a bingo. Today when chasing wires and cleaning connections the red wire(s) that connect to the starter relay came apart in my hands. Seems the wires were not secure in the connection. ( were simply twisted together and jamed into the connector that was too small to accept both wires. Instead of
bypassing the relay ( I may do this later) I got out the solder gun and made the connections secure, then ran another wire of the correct size for the spade connection on the relay. I've rode around now for a few local trips today, stopped and started the bike - no problems. At this point I have to assume this was the problem. I can't see where a complete shutdown of power would happen elsewhere. Of course, I could be proven wrong at a later date. But for now I'm betting in this fix.... Thanks to all that participated. To all that passed your thoughts I have a losing mega- loto ticket!

[Bill Harris]

Oy. No such luck exists.

--Bill

[Captdan]

Originally Posted by Bill Harris

Oy. No such luck exists.

--Bill

Yea, you're probably right, some other problem will show up before long. But no matter how many problems the airheads give me I love the darn things.