Now it looks like the problem was electrical

nortonmargie · Apr 11, 2023

I went for a run around the neighborhood two weeks ago. The bike repeatedly died -once in the middle of a right turn on a busy street. I was able to restart the bike enough times to get it to the edge of my driveway - by that time the battery had run out of juice. I pushed it the last 20 feet. Not a happy experience. Friends thought the problem was vapor lock, so I cleaned out the vent in the cap. I was going to go for another test ride - but blew the fuse. Will replace fuse and check the wiring tomorrow.

Yakatak · Apr 11, 2023

My 2p: Intermittent dead short to ground. Usually short enough to just kill the ignition. Finally long enough to take out the fuse. All you have to do is find it.

With the bike idling, I'd jostle the wiring...particularly around the headlight.

KiwiShane · Apr 12, 2023

nortonmargie said:
I went for a run around the neighborhood two weeks ago. The bike repeatedly died -once in the middle of a right turn on a busy street. I was able to restart the bike enough times to get it to the edge of my driveway - by that time the battery had run out of juice.

I would definitely look at load testing the battery also... to rule that out of the mix...

L.A.B. · Apr 12, 2023

Yakatak said:
My 2p: Intermittent dead short to ground. Usually short enough to just kill the ignition. Finally long enough to take out the fuse. All you have to do is find it. With the bike idling, I'd jostle the wiring...particularly around the headlight.

Even a momentary dead short to ground should have been enough to blow the (assuming it's the correctly rated) fuse.
It's more likely to be a poor contact somewhere in the ignition system my opinion as this Commando has already had a number of electrical problems in the past due to loose/poor electrical connections.

Is there a nice clear diagram of the underside of the Mark III ignition switch?

I rewired the headlight shell and the blinkers work, the bike starts,and the neutral light goes on, BUT the headlight doesn't work and neither does the alternator light. I think I might have put the spade connectors on the wrong prongs.

www.accessnorton.com

KiwiShane said:
I would definitely look at load testing the battery also... to rule that out of the mix...

Assuming the starter motor was used to restart each time it stalled could rule out a dying battery causing a problem when just powering the ignition and lights and repeated use of the electric starter in this situation would flatten even a good battery.

KiwiShane · Apr 12, 2023

L.A.B. said:
Even a momentary dead short to ground should have been enough to blow the (assuming it's the correctly rated) fuse.
It's more likely to be a poor contact somewhere in the ignition system my opinion as this Commando has already had a number of electrical problems in the past due to loose/poor electrical connections.

Is there a nice clear diagram of the underside of the Mark III ignition switch?

I rewired the headlight shell and the blinkers work, the bike starts,and the neutral light goes on, BUT the headlight doesn't work and neither does the alternator light. I think I might have put the spade connectors on the wrong prongs.

www.accessnorton.com

Assuming the starter motor that was used to restart each time it stalled could rule out a dying battery causing a problem when just powering the ignition and lights and repeated use of the electric starter in this situation would flatten even a good battery.

As I don't have a starter motor I have neglected that point (run out of juice) and the amount of drain that would have on the battery.....
Not familiar with the Pazon unit..but if it had a Boyer fitted.. I'd be checking the wiring from the pick up plate back up to the main loom...from what you have mentioned

L.A.B. · Apr 12, 2023

KiwiShane said:
Not familiar with the Pazon unit..but if it had a Boyer fitted.. I'd be checking the wiring from the pick up plate back up to the main loom...from what you have mentioned

A Pazon needs the same checks as the Boyer. Not just the pickup wires but also the power to the box (and earth/ground).

The Mk3 kill switch contacts also the pins/sockets of the switch cluster multi-pin plug (with the white and white/yellow wires inside the headlamp) are barely up to the job when in perfect condition and would be things I'd want to check.

nortonmargie · Apr 12, 2023

L.A.B. said:
Even a momentary dead short to ground should have been enough to blow the (assuming it's the correctly rated) fuse.
It's more likely to be a poor contact somewhere in the ignition system my opinion as this Commando has already had a number of electrical problems in the past due to loose/poor electrical connections.

Is there a nice clear diagram of the underside of the Mark III ignition switch?

I rewired the headlight shell and the blinkers work, the bike starts,and the neutral light goes on, BUT the headlight doesn't work and neither does the alternator light. I think I might have put the spade connectors on the wrong prongs.

www.accessnorton.com

Assuming the starter motor was used to restart each time it stalled could rule out a dying battery causing a problem when just powering the ignition and lights and repeated use of the electric starter in this situation would flatten even a good battery.

the Previous electrical problems were with my OTHER (Red) Mark III . Those problems are all fixed. The current problems are with my WHITE Mark III.

Now it looks like the problem was electrical

nortonmargie

Yakatak

KiwiShane

L.A.B.

Moderator

Is there a nice clear diagram of the underside of the Mark III ignition switch?

KiwiShane

Is there a nice clear diagram of the underside of the Mark III ignition switch?

L.A.B.

Moderator

nortonmargie

Is there a nice clear diagram of the underside of the Mark III ignition switch?

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