Bad Start/Ignition Cure

Recently a member Pete (Petetesch) had an issue with starting his bike, I recently had the same issue as he has described further down the page.
The issue is simply to do with the key area of the Ignition & the contacts being made or not as the case maybe. This is due the dirt/bad contacts, allowing some parts to make a good contact, while restricting others.
Remember, it don't take much shite to bollox up an electrical connection.

Petetasch wrote:

When trying to restart the bike, turning the key there was no ignition or oil light, in fact nothing apart from parking and hazard warning lights. After turning the key a few times and checking that the kill switch was in the correct position and every thing else that I could think of eventually the speedo lights came on and she fired up.

So here is what I have done to cure the issue as described by Peter above.
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You will need to remove the seat/seats.
You will need to undue the bolt securing the tank & pull it back slightly. After removing the right-side neck cover this will expose the rear of the key ignition barrel, which needs to be removed.




The exposed rear (above) is removed by using a star T20 security bit, due to the raised bobble in the center of the star.

Here is the T20 bit needed:



Firstly you will need a 10mm socket or spanner, to undo & remove the bar that is in the way of accessing it. shown properly below:



Below is the rear of the key ignition barrel when removed.




This removed, will now expose the contact area.



Having exposed this contact area, now gently pull it out. Shown below, photoed both sides:





Now wipe everything clean and smear everything with Vaseline.
Put it all back together and happy starting, as the issue has now been cured as described at the top of the page.

Time to do, 30 minutes.

Good write up as usual davey, nice one.   

Nice comprehensive write up Dave, A job well done 

Now that's something I may well do when I take my tank off next week, well done Dave so simple but so important!!!

The way I see it, it needs to be done. If nothing else it is preventative medicine. It don't take long to do, or anywhere near as much effort as pushing a heavy home when the bike doesn't start.

Sounds like a good plan for anyone on any bike will look at doing mine

Mr Intruder wrote:

The way I see it, it needs to be done. If nothing else it is preventative medicine. It don't take long to do, or anywhere near as much effort as pushing a heavy home when the bike doesn't start.

 Definitely something worth doing while the tank is off  I had a similar problem with my SV1000 (further down the line where the ignition leads plugs into the loom) but still the same symptoms, scary stuff when your doing x amount of mph and you have a complete electrical failure 

Very good thread of description, seems worth doing for anyone.

Dave I don't like fucking about coz something always goes wrong, will you do mine over the summer at some point please 

Top tip Dave - looks like a rainy day job  Cheers

Did petetesch's ignition in the week just gone, that should be him sorted as well. 

Yes and thanks Dave. The list is getting shorter all the time.

I very rarely press the starter button and the bike doesn't start, at a guess once in every fifteen or twenty times or so. I quickly flick the kill switch back and forth a few times, before turning the key ignition off and on again a few times. The bike will always start after doing both, one or two times. I have never been left stranded. Could the article as described at the top, possibly solve the issue?

Sounds like it will sort it, nothing to lose mate.

I will do it then, thanks.

I did my annual service on my bike . 2005 C1500 intruder she ran great for about a month then I took it too inspection for new TUV they said the idle was too high . When I got in my garage I idled it down and was going to take it for a spin . then when i was was taking off it died and would not restart .
( at first there were lights to speedometer but no start no crank) then  no lights too speedometer no turn signals.

I have battery power across the power fuse and battery voltage to the ignition switch. Once the switch is turned on battery power disappears. All fuse's have continuity in the fuse box and the ignition switch passed the continuity test plus continuity through the ignition wiring harness plug in the schematic shows relay FE249JR ( turn signal side stand relay) is this relay also connected with the ignition circuit?  Too prevent the bike from getting power though ignition switch and fuse's, 
and speedometer ? What do you know ?

Ken1964 wrote:

I very rarely press the starter button and the bike doesn't start, at a guess once in every fifteen or twenty times or so. I quickly flick the kill switch back and forth a few times, before turning the key ignition off and on again a few times. The bike will always start after doing both, one or two times. I have never been left stranded. Could the article as described at the top, possibly solve the issue?

My 2006 VZ800 has just started doing this. Sometimes gets through half the start up sequence on the speedo and lights and then just goes dead.