Electrical troubleshooting makes my head asplode.

[boomshakalaka]

I got caught in an epic late night thunderstorm a week ago. Bike started to run like crap, but I was able to nurse it home. I managed to get it started the next morning, but it wasn't running well-- wouldn't hold idle, etc. Pretty much, water got everywhere.. in the carbs and subsequently into the cylinders, into the points housing, and worst of all I forgot to put my breather hose back on... so ya, in the motor via that or past the rings, not sure which.


Before realizing there was water everywhere I had tried to start the bike. When I got done chasing the water out of everywhere, I went to start the bike and the battery was dead-- I had left my headlight on the whole time.


After charging it I can't get spark. Here are the notes I took.


Battery (when disconnected from harness): 13.4v


-Points open-


Battery (when connected to system): 13.4v, 1 resistance to ground
Ignition system 13.4v, 1 resistance to ground


-Points closed-


Battery: 0.5v, 0.45 resistance to ground
Ignition system 0.5v, 0.45 resistance to ground




When I disconnect everything and check individually if it's arching to ground when it shouldn't be, it all seems fine, points (when open), coil leads, condenser.


Are my batteries toast? Is there a short to ground that I'm missing? Is it normal for the ignition system to be weakly grounded when the points close? Thanks in advance for any help.. and sorry if I provided non pertinent info, as I said, electrical stuff makes my head hurt.

 

[Tim]

Sorry, I can't respond as my head just asploded too.

 

[crazypj]

How long was the battery on charge, and, what rate did you charge at?
There is a thing called 'surface charge' where only the outside of battery plates are charged,
battery will show good voltage but 'dies' under load.
Try it with just a 60w headlight bulb and jumpers, should maintain over 12v for at least a minute or so. (unless it' real small battery?)

 

[danmpls]

Checked fuses?

 

[boomshakalaka]

I finally figured it out.

It was two things actually. For one the batteries were flat out dead, but were holding a surface charge. And two, the points were not grounding out when closed from the water that had gotten in there. Also the kill switch was being weird, but I'm not sure if I rewired it in correctly.. so I'm running without it for now.