Headlight out, clutch turns bike on... wtf.

[TomL]

Howdy all,

I have myself a '06 Suzuki Boulevard M50 (VZ800).

At work last night, she started fine, with no issue... I turn around to have a puff, I turn back and the headlight is now out, both high and low (but all other lights work fine).
I figure just a fuse blew, and I'd take it safe of the way home.
Just to be sure, I turned the bike off, let it sit for a minute, depressed the clutch annnnndd the engine started again (Usually, as I'm sure you all know, it's clutch in, starter button... not just clutch in.)

Now, every time I pull the clutch, the starter motor kicks over for a second, and the fuel injections whine (that priming sound, not sure the exact terminology) for as long as I hold the clutch.
I managed to get through most of the lights on the way home, so there was minimal clutch action... but it's still a problem.

I've checked all the fuses (all good), and have done a visual check on the majority of the wires (also good.)

Any suggestion as to WHY this may be happening, would be awesome - as I am COMPLETELY stumped.

Cheers,
Tom

[filbert]

starter button stuck in or short in the wiring to starter relay...

check for chaffed cables around the headlight and switchgear...

open up the switchgear then clean and lubricate and make sure all the switches operate smoothly etc etc


my main guess is starter button stuck in though because that will switch off the headlight to allow maximum power to the starter motor.

[GsxInShed]

Check rh wiring harness from bar.......wet/crush/stuck in between forks/steering head....

Was steering lock on when parked??

Headlight switch ...flip and wiggle on/off might just have some crap in it...

If all else fails ....turn all the shit off... disconnect battery earth lead wait 30-45 secs reconnect wait reboot ....wait...
hit ign on check lights......

good luck man.....

[CatiePotatie]

I'm with filbert on this, all the symptoms sound exactly the starter button is stuck on. Headlight turns off to give full battery power to starter, but only activates starter with clutch in or neutral light on so as to avoid lurching forward and causing you to fall off.

[thro]

Have you parked next to a ducati lately?

It sounds like your bike has caught a pretty bad case of Elettronica Italia



(short in wiring loom somewhere, you either have a bunch of time to spend getting familiar with a multi-meter and heat shrink, or a visit to a sparky. or a replacement wiring harness - possibly more reliable than relying on some guy to fix it properly)

[Johnno]

+1 For the starter button being stuck on...

[TomL]

Thanks all for suggestions. Got the day off today, so I'll be finishing my coffee and having a look again - Focusing on the starter button.

Occam's razor, right?

Let you all know how I go.

Ta,
Tom

[TomL]

Well... it was the starter button.

*facepalm*

Thanks again,

Tom

[filbert]

Well... it was the starter button.

*facepalm*

Thanks again,

Tom

feedback is good nice to know if we have been some help, an odd one but not unheard of and you can help the next guy with the problem

[boeman]

feedback is good nice to know if we have been some help, an odd one but not unheard of and you can help the next guy with the problem

Who knows, with a sensible question and great advice given with no piss taking, someone, one day, might even use the search function and find this thread?

[CatiePotatie]

Who knows, with a sensible question and great advice given with no piss taking, someone, one day, might even use the search function and find this thread?

Hey now, lets not get too ahead of ourselves..