Weird electrical issue

[c_dug]

Over the last week my bike has developed an odd electrical fault. It took a couple of times for me to nail down what was happening, I think it happened 3 or 4 times in total last week. It has been very cold and damp in the mornings so I'm not sure if that has contributed.

I park with my front wheel to a hedge, so the first thing I do is get on the bike, key in ignition on. With that the headlight, dashboard and Neutral light all come on. I then start to paddle the bike backwards by around a foot or two, the backwards bit may or may not be relevant but I thought I should mention it.

While paddling backwards everything electric dies for about half a second. No lights on anything. Clock resets (Time not Odometer). It then all comes back on. I think it makes a sound a lot like a starter solenoid clicking as the power comes back on, I've not identified where the click is coming from.

- The bike starts up fine and there are no issues at all on the way to work.

- The issue only seems to happen first thing in the morning.

- I don't think I am pressing the starter button or anything like that which might somehow trigger everything to die.

I have never replaced the battery and I have questioned it's health in the past, it is just about at the top of my replace list for when I have the spare £££, but to me the issue doesn't seem like something that would be caused by an unhealthy battery? It still shows 12V.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Copycat73]

worn ignition lock or contacts .. try jiggling the key in the lock when it goes off and see wot happens.
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[c_dug]

I don't really have time to, by the time I've noticed it has gone off it flicks on again. I've had a fiddle with a few bits but I can't seem to force it to do it.

To be honest if it was something loose and moving I would expect it to happen while riding along.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[map]

Can you confirm the bike, not clear from your tags line, is it the XJ900?

One thing I can think of related to going backwards (and I'm not exactly sure if there's one fitted) is a tilt sensor being dodgy.

Other than that I'd go with looking at the contacts in the ignition/key area. Or maybe kill switch electrics being pulled/shorting with backwards movement (so ok when ridden forwards).
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Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[c_dug]

Yep sorry, diversion 900.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[iooi]

Moisture getting into the switches maybe.

Get some WD 40 or such sprayed into the switch clusters.

Or park the bike the other way round
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[WD Forte]

Intermittent faults can be a sod to pin down
It sounds like a bad connection
(or possibly a wire breaking at the headstock?)
If you have time I'd suggest one morning just turn it on but
dont move the bike.
Tap around and nudge stuff with a screwdriver handle to see if you can replicate/localise the fault.

It could just be the weathers got in and you need to open check clean all
connectors and squirt some electrolube or ACF50 in
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[Suntan Sid]

I had a similar problem with my DRZ400E, turn the ignition, sometimes it worked, sometimes completely dead.
Turned out the main fuse holder and wiring were a bit dodgy.
The fuse was situated on the frame just between the seat and side panel. The position of your backside, on the seat, or how hard you brushed the side panel with your boot, last time you used the bike, determined the availability, or lack of, electrickery, when turning the key!
What, if any, wiring is under your seat?
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[stinkwheel]

Solenoid-type clicking noise shortly after turning on the ignition says fuel pump to me.

Does it have one? If it does, I'd look here first, even if it's just to confirm this is the source of the clicking.
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[map]

If we're admitting to weird electrical faults of our own bikes the old GT550 had one. Could I find it, could I heck.

Then one day looked at what appeared a good solid earth wire from battery. Gave it a little pull and it just crumbled to dust. Totally gone. A fresh piece of shiny (insulated) copper wire and all as good as new (well as good as for a 20+ year old bike).

So, on topic, checked a good earth connection?
____________________
...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[monkeybiker]

Sounds like a bad conection so where, try cleaning the battery connection.

[c_dug]

Just mulling over on this.

For it to reset the clock every time I presume it must be one of the main power connections, pretty much every other component on the bike is switched with the exception of the clock. The only reason the clock would reset is if it lost power.

So it can only really be one of the main connections to the battery?

Or am I way off?

I'm not ignoring any of the above suggestions for the record, I'll have a look tomorrow when there is less rain.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[monkeybiker]

Yes I would have thought a bad battery connection like you say because of it resetting the clock. Could be also be problem at the fuse box but I would try the battery connections first.

Might be loose and just need tightening up or connection could need cleaning.

[chris-red]

I had something similar, however it would happen when I press the starter, everything thing would die then come on again and be fine. Turned out to be the starter solenoid.

If you want to try sorting it with spending money take the seat, tank and airbox off and take apart and clean every connection you can see especially the battery and solenoid connections. Also try wiggling cables with the igntion on see if you can force it to do it.

I would replace the solenoid, if there is still no joy, but that is based purely on my replace experiences.
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[stinkwheel]

[chris-red]

[c_dug]

I had a look today, the positive battery terminal was a tad loose, I could just about indo it with my fingers, wasn't much movement in the connection though. That was the only thing I could see wrong, cleaned up the terminals on the solenoid and battery anyway but to be honest I've seen way way worse still functioning fine.

I'll just have to keep an eye on it for the next couple of weeks and see if it repeats.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Ribenapigeon]

From what you said in the original post I take it your switching on the ignition but not starting the bike til, you've paddled back, right?
if that's the case I think your battery has low power or a bad connection. Its just charging into the coils then running low on power and conking out for a moment. This might explain why the bike behaves the rest of The day. You could try charging the battery over night see if that cures the problem first before buying a new battery.