Short / low current issue after sitting: where to start diagnosis?

[jamesfacts]

I have a CB550 that's been sitting (covered, but outside) for a couple months. Ran more or less ok in the fall. Battery has been indoors on a trickle charger, under a year old.

I went to go for a quick spin this afternoon to circulate the fluids, and the bike seems to have developed an electrical issue. The headlight is extremely dim under 3,000 rpm, but does seem to flicker when I give it a little throttle. At idle the headlight is totally dead. Next issue: after running about 2-3 minutes, the main fuse pops. Tried replacing it several times, kept dying again after 2-3 mins.

Pulled the wiring in the headlight bucket out and verified all the connections are good. I'm confused what issue would cause both low current (presumably that's why the headlight is dim) and pop the main fuse. Where do I start in looking for this issue?

Thanks!

 

[dualitymike]

I've got two of these beasts. Every time I've had a problem with the main fuse popping, it's been due to a buildup of tarnish on the brass connectors. At the very least, you should clean all the brass blades on the fuse block with a good metal polish. If you want to make sure you've solved the whole problem, and you have some time and patience, clean all the bullet connectors on the bike. Yes, all of them. Also clean all the oxidation off of the blade connectors inside those plastic gang connectors under the left side cover. And then use a dialectric grease when you put them back together. It also helps to put enough dialectric grease in the plastic gang connectors so that its squishing out when you plug them in. If you decide to clean the bullet connectors, make sure to pull on the connector, not the wire. Use needle nose pliers if you need to. If you pull on the wire to disconnect them, you'll break at least a few of them and it takes days for them to arrive in the mail once they've been ordered.

 

[jamesfacts]

I've got two of these beasts. Every time I've had a problem with the main fuse popping, it's been due to a buildup of tarnish on the brass connectors. At the very least, you should clean all the brass blades on the fuse block with a good metal polish. If you want to make sure you've solved the whole problem, and you have some time and patience, clean all the bullet connectors on the bike. Yes, all of them. Also clean all the oxidation off of the blade connectors inside those plastic gang connectors under the left side cover. And then use a dialectric grease when you put them back together. It also helps to put enough dialectric grease in the plastic gang connectors so that its squishing out when you plug them in. If you decide to clean the bullet connectors, make sure to pull on the connector, not the wire. Use needle nose pliers if you need to. If you pull on the wire to disconnect them, you'll break at least a few of them and it takes days for them to arrive in the mail once they've been ordered.

Thanks very much, that's a good place to start. I wouldn't have guessed it's a good idea to use metal polish—why is that better than just using a scotchbrite pad or something similar?