[AMW]

Hi everyone, I'm a new 2005 Honda VTX 1300 owner and I'm having a major electrical issue. I took it out the other day and stopped for a bite to eat. Once I was done, I got back on, turned the key, pushed the starter button and POP, no electrical power anyware! I then turned the key off and on and got nothing. I got off and waited for about 5 mins and then turned the key back on and the power came back on, untill I hit the starter button again and ZAP, lost all power everyware. Towed it back to the house and now I can't get it to even power up at all. I checked the 30amp fuse on the starter relay and it is fine, I couldn't find any other fuses that were blown. The starter button was pulled apart and it was fine. The battery shows plenty of power on the multimeter. The Rectifier/Regulator is 3 mth's old from Honda. Is there a main power breaker that could of tripped when I tried to fire it the last time it ran? If so, Where on the bike is it located? How would I know its bad and how would I test it. What items would cause the bike to lose all electrical power when the starter button is pushed, only to power back up 5 mins later and then lose all power again (for good) when trying again to start.
Please help! Losing hair by the second on this one.

 

[WoodyZ]

It could be a short in either the kill switch or the starter switch I believe. Someone will come along soon with some answers. Good luck.


It is normal for all power to go out when you hit the start switch to enable the battery to start the bike without all that load on it. But usually it will crank unless there is a short somewhere.

 

[MOJO65]

Id guess the 30A main fuse

 

[hoss37]

Check the wires and connector coming up from the ignition switch to a main plastic connector. On the clutch side of the bike, you'll need to remove seat and left side cover. was with another member on a ride this summer and that was his issue.

 

[Charlie D]

Tighten the battery cables with a wrench or socket.

 

[Donut]

You are suppose to lose power to everything when you push the starter switch - That's Normal. The starter switch shuts off all the power to allow all power to be directed to the starter.

Also check the main ground for the battery behind the bottom left rear chrome cover with the 5 Allen bolts. The ground is just behind the clutch pivot point.

What do you mean everything is dead. When you first turn the key on do you have a headlight. When you push the starter button dose the light (all lights) go out.
Even though the starter switch looks good it still may need cleaning.
********************************************************

Did you clean the starter switch.

You may have to clean the starter switch. It is easy to do, just be

careful because there are small parts that can get lost. That switch

closes the relay and puts power directly to the battery.

Caution when cleaning the switch, there are small parts IE; spring and

contact points and a ball bearing on the bottom side.

Park the bike over a large tarp in case you drop something so you can

find it.
Don't forget to stretch the little spring a little (not the big one)

Just a little. (it's under the little contact).This will help it from

burning up again!!.
[New] Also slide a single edge razor blade under the brass contacts

and so very slightly bend the tabs up just a little.

You can use Vaseline for a lubricant (coat everything inside) for the

switch to prevent corrosion and oxidation.
Use WD 40 to clean it then lube it with Vaseline.

You only have to remove the two screws that come up from the bottom of

the switch - nothing to do with the throttle cables.

Click on the five pictures at the top for a good view of the switch

and housing. Then do the instructions below.

{NEW} Also after doing the above take a single edge razor blade and slide it

under the brass contacts and very very slightly bend the tabs up just

a little (very slightly).

http://www.rattlebars.com/mtz/starter.html

Donut/Doug atriot: Vet.

 

[BigJon]

Have the battery load tested. It may look OK without a load, but could be dying. If a drained battery sits for a while, it will get a small charge. Probably what happened to you.
The 1300s have a nasty habit of burning up the stator connector, then the battery doesn't get charged. Check that too.

 

[AMW]

Thanks everyone. keep the suggestions comming. I'm gonna go screw with it now and see if I can't get this sucker to power up. I'll be back with an update.

 

[jstar61]

Like charlie said, Check your battery terminals and make sure they are tight with a socket. A loose terminal would act as you said, and you could be tearing apart more intricate stuff than needed.
Always check the simple stuff first, not wise just to start tearing apart switches right away just because that happened to be someone elses problem without checking things in a logical manner, simplest first.

 

[Big-X]

Tighten the battery cables with a wrench or socket.

Start there, it's the easiest to check and most likely what's wrong.

 

[AMW]

Nailed it!!! :icon_peacI pulled the battery cables off, took a lil fine sand paper to the top of the battery terminals for better contact and put them back on TIGHT with some Loctite to keep'em from getting loose later on down the road. I also pulled the starter button apart and cleaned up the internal contact points. Turned the key and I "SAW THE LIGHT", headlight that is... and hit the starter button and it fired right up. Runnin great again!!! Thanks again everyone! Great Site! I'm glad to be apart of it! :choppersm

 

[Donut]

Nailed it!!! :icon_peacI pulled the battery cables off, took a lil fine sand paper to the top of the battery terminals for better contact and put them back on TIGHT with some Loctite to keep'em from getting loose later on down the road. I also pulled the starter button apart and cleaned up the internal contact points. Turned the key and I "SAW THE LIGHT", headlight that is... and hit the starter button and it fired right up. Runnin great again!!! Thanks again everyone! Great Site! I'm glad to be apart of it! :choppersm

You can place a lock washer under the heads of the bolts.

 

[WoodyZ]

Glad you got it fixed and it was an easy one.

 

[DBoismenue223]

So glad I found this thread... I was starting to get an eye twitch from going crazy.

 

[jimmymac1976]

Thanks for sharing your solution. I had the same issue. I had used Loctite 242 previously to keep the bolts from backing out. Apparently the Loctite prevented good contact. I filed and sanded the terminals and the connectors and the bike fired up! Now I have to figure out how to secure the cables so the don't loosen. I will try star washers.

 

[VTX1960]

Thanks for posting what fixed it and many thanks to all that taught us about our bikes your great.