Honda CB500T died after bumping?

[Helve]

So I've posted over at Honda Twins but haven't gotten very far, figured I'd ask here. Had just gotten my carbs cleaned, synched and was ready to take her for a test spin. Got to the end of the driveway, stalled (clutch needs work), decided to bump it as my driveway exits onto a hill. Kick it into 3rd, bounce on the seat and drop the clutch. I hear a clunk from the front of the bike, presumably where the starter motor is, and she's done. Cylinders are moving, theres nay a spark, nor headlights nor turn signals or tail light. She's dead. Walk back up the hill, get my fuse kit and voltage meter along with some wrenches. Fuses are fine. Battery is at 11.95v, figure it could be that but I would think there would still be lights. Pull the battery, give it a charge for a few hours, get it back in the bike and still nothing. At this point, I'm stumped. Someone on the HT forums asked if I could have shorted my battery with the seat pan, I figure that's highly unlikely as the battery is easily an inch or more below the pan and I'm a fairly lightweight guy. Curious if you guys have any thoughts on what it might be, and where to start looking if you don't. Thanks!

 

[Redliner]

The most straight-forward test for any sort of continuity is to put the key in the park position, the one that annoyingly and uselessly leaves the brake light on. That position creates a path straight from the battery to the tail light and then to the common ground. Nothing else in the way, except of course the fuses you've checked.

Just pull out the wiring diagram and trace wires. First check that the common ground (green) is getting to the negative post of the battery. This works no matter the key position. Check that the common has continuity with the engine and frame.

Once you've established your negative, start following the positive.

I recommend while testing you unplug the red/white wire from the battery post, just to eliminate the whole charging system from the circuit.

OH, and since it's a CB500T, I will mention a specific problem I had with one of these.

Was working on one and everything's fine, then suddenly everything cuts off. No lights or anything. I'm testing all over, shaking and jarring all of the connections and NOTHING. Turned out that the blades that hold the fuses were all corroded to hell and I spent a whole night shining them up with a bore brush.

The way to check your fuse box is to unplug the molex connector that goes to it and check for continuity at the blades in the connector with the fuses in place. Check that resistance is very low, probably should expect no more than 0.1Ω but 0.0 is ideal.

 

[Helve]

Stupid 6 pin that was supposed to be connected to the ignition bumped clean away! Jesus I didn't realize these things rattled enough to break themselves but I do now!