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+--- Thread: Smoked the bike (/showthread.php?tid=5198)
Smoked the bike - 1100rider_imp - 05-07-2018
I was replacing my battery in me 2013 and was connecting the positive leads to the battery when I received a puff of smoke in the space above the battery. Scared the crap out of me not knowing what I did wrong. I looked and could not find any obvious damage and everything is working on the bike. Do not want to ride to avoid any possible further damage to the wiring. Any suggestions on what to do?
RE: Smoked the bike - DJS_imp - 05-07-2018
https://www.throttlexbatteries.com/battery-installation
https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/how-to-remove-and-install-a-motorcycle-battery
If you fail to disconnect the negative side first and do accidentally bridge that gap, you’ll likely pop a fuse and burn yourself and hopefully that’s all. If you are working on a bike that’s not fused properly, though, you run the risk of starting a fire.
RE: Smoked the bike - max - 05-07-2018
We were discussing this a few days ago and warned against connecting the positive with the negative already connected, you seemed to have confirmed that this can have a negative effect.
It seems counter intuitive and you are not the only one to do this but here is why ;
The correct way to connect a battery is to turn the key switch to off ( thereby isolating all the expensive electronics ) and connect the positive first with the negative lead tucked away so it cannot make contact with the negative terminal whilst you are working on the positive lead.
this way the bike is not energized with only the positive terminal connected.
once the positive is connected and the red plastic protection in place over the top of the terminal the negative can be connected safely and contact with the frame is not harmful because the cable is already connected to the frame.
Try connecting the battery this way and ensure ( and measure if you can ) that the polarity ( + and - ) is positioned and connected the right way
( +to+ and - to- ).
In your case tap the negative terminal briefly before committing to connect to see if any smoke signals are still present.
Good work djs!
RE: Smoked the bike - Tim_imp - 05-07-2018
Simply put as I have read above in a couple posts is that working with batteries you always do the following:
1, Disconnect the NEGITIVE wire first.
2, Disconnect the POSITIVE Wire second.
3, Insure that the negative wire can NOT touch the battery post in any manner.
4, Reconnect in the reverse order. {Positive first, then negative}
You should not encounter any more issues as you did today.
RE: Smoked the bike - Townie_imp - 05-07-2018
All good advice, and for a bit more protection, tape up your tools with electrical tape. If you're using a screwdriver to screw down the battery leads onto the battery terminals, tape up the shaft of the screwdriver so only the tip is exposed. If you are using a ratchet + socket to secure the terminals, tape up the socket, extension, and ratchet handle.
And just leave the tape on the tools when you're done, then they're ready for next time.
RE: Smoked the bike - 1100rider_imp - 05-10-2018
Thanks for the info
RE: Smoked the bike - Rocky_imp - 05-10-2018
(05-07-2018, 10:20 AM)Townie_imp Wrote: All good advice, and for a bit more protection, tape up your tools with electrical tape. If you're using a screwdriver to screw down the battery leads onto the battery terminals, tape up the shaft of the screwdriver so only the tip is exposed. If you are using a ratchet + socket to secure the terminals, tape up the socket, extension, and ratchet handle.
And just leave the tape on the tools when you're done, then they're ready for next time.
Just yesterday, I was putting the battery back in my vintage BSA, but as careful as was, I touched the shaft of the screwdriver to a bare bolt and had a spark for a nano-second. I didn't blow the fuse but replaced it anyway.
I then taped up the shaft of the screwdriver and taped over the nut.
All is well and the old girl started on the third kick after resting for six months
