Newbie here, love my Spyder but died this morning, any ideas... THANK YOU

[laser1972]

Bought a 2009 Spyder a little over a month ago, did the general stuff to it when i bought it, had the tires changed, oil change, had the seal on the water pump fixed..

Never had one issue since i have took it out various days and weekends..

Today, took the wife out for a cruise this morning, started right up, we were maybe a few miles into our journey and noticed a red flash on the cluster, didnt think much about it, then at the stop light, it completely died, no power to the cluster, no power at all.. We had to push it out of traffic and my friend came to assist us with his trailer.

I thought it was the battery (hence the red icon flash was indeed the battery icon), i used my tool kit to remove the panel to access the battery, he tried jumping it but it came on for a second and then nothing.. We pulled the battery and he took it to 2 different auto places and they said battery tested good.. They didnt have another battery in stock, so we loaded it on the trailer and got it home

I charged the battery for a few hours, installed it and now it works like it should, full power and starts ..

My question (sorry for long right up), should I be concerned now?-- I ordered a new battery anyway just to be on the save side, battery inside was 2018, so was not super old.. I took out the relays and fuses that correspond to the problem and seated them back in..

Any ideas?-- I am glad we didn't get stranded further out than we did, just would like reassurance that I have the problem fixed

Thanks for all the help and suggestions, I have been riding for 12 years and finally got back into it and this is only the 2nd time ever on multiple bikes i have been stranded.

[cptjam]

Double check the battery terminals, and add a star washer. A simple loose connection causes that.

[SportsterDoc]

1. Loose terminals is a good possibility. If terminals loose and jumpers attached to battery posts, there may have been serious voltage drop to the system.
2. A charging system issue is another, but dying so soon is not as likely. Nonetheless, what is battery voltage with engine running. 13.8-14.8?
3. After charging, what is battery voltage after sitting overnight? AGM battery should be 12.8.

I did a check on my new Ryker. After only a couple weeks, I found less than snug connections to
+ post
- post
Line side of starter solenoid

[laser1972]

the connections were snug, they were not loose at all..

[laser1972]

I will do this tonight and post the info tomorrow, thank you for the reply~

The connections were not loose, very snug, glad to hear it wont be the charging system, but yes just died and no lights, no cluster, nothing..

[cptjam]

More common than you would think. Amazing what a 1/4 turn of a wrench will do!! We found a guy, dead bike, in Alaska. Middle of nowhere(actually miles from nowhere!) and same problem. Tightened his connections, gave him a jump, and on his way!! His wife was so happy! Make sure that those are tight!!

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

#1. Spyders draw a lot of juice when starting so although the battery may test OK, it may not have enough juice to start it .... Spyders seem to have a higher than normal " parasitic draw " ..... ie. they use juice not even running or on ..... I always have my RT on a batttery " maintainer " when not in use ..... and the pre 1330 engine / alternator set-up used a Magneto to re-charge .... problem with that was, it only re-charged above 4000 + RPM's .... below that it wqas drawing jiuce from the battery ..... good luck .... and I agree STAR washers work ...... Mike

[Rd_Runner]

Two things:
1. Recommend you buy an on-line service manual (if you prefer doing your own maintenance).
2. Find all of the ground points. There are more than one. Remove the cables and clean the connectors and the frame surface and use a good conductive grease etc. to help prevent future corrosion.

Good luck and hope you can get your bike setup so it runs reliable.

Mike

[ARtraveler]

All good advice above.

[laser1972]

More common than you would think. Amazing what a 1/4 turn of a wrench will do!! We found a guy, dead bike, in Alaska. Middle of nowhere(actually miles from nowhere!) and same problem. Tightened his connections, gave him a jump, and on his way!! His wife was so happy! Make sure that those are tight!!

I think the battery is not good.. charged it last night and bike started up everytime... Went to look at it the morning, and it turned on, cluster came on, but when i pushed the starter, it went blank again, no power..

Battery has already been ordered, I will install it and see in the next day or two if the same symptoms happen or if it starts..

Thanks for everyone's help

[pegasus1300]

Best farkel you can buy for your Spyder and most cost effective. Star washers, easy to install and last the life of the vehicle. Always look good, and little to no upkeep.

[Hammer]

Star washers? Are they lock washers. Never heard of star washers

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Went to look at it the morning, and it turned on, cluster came on, but when i pushed the starter, it went blank again, no power.

Sure sign of a bad battery. If the voltage drops below 10.5 when you hit the starter the cluster will blank out. The days of starting a bike with a weak battery that barely cranks the engine doesn't apply to Spyders.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Star washers? Are they lock washers. Never heard of star washers

The sharp edges of the prongs bite through corrosion and bite into the nut and base of the connector to help prevent the nut from turning loose.

6809040-23.jpg

[bmccaffrey]

I think the battery is not good.. charged it last night and bike started up everytime... Went to look at it the morning, and it turned on, cluster came on, but when i pushed the starter, it went blank again, no power..

Battery has already been ordered, I will install it and see in the next day or two if the same symptoms happen or if it starts..

Thanks for everyone's help

Agree. Change battery and make sure connections are tight!!

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

The sharp edges of the prongs bite through corrosion and bite into the nut and base of the connector to help prevent the nut from turning loose.

6809040-23.jpg

..... but I prefer the ones that have the teeth on the inside edge ..... Mike

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

..... but I prefer the ones that have the teeth on the inside edge ..... Mike

I didn't realize so many variations of star washers existed until I did the Google search to find a photo! This is the one I'm most familiar with.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I didn't realize so many variations of star washers existed until I did the Google search to find a photo! This is the one I'm most familiar with.

I have encountered NUTS that were quite small ..... they would barely contact the teeth ... and sometimes the STAR washer you have at hand may be a little to large .... so the washers with the inside teeth will still work ..... Mike

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I have encountered NUTS that were quite small ..... they would barely contact the teeth ... and sometimes the STAR washer you have at hand may be a little to large .... so the washers with the inside teeth will still work ..... Mike

Makes good sense! I'll have to be on the watch for the kind you like!

[laser1972]

Agree. Change battery and make sure connections are tight!!

Now I am perplexed , i got the new battery, did the install, powered on just fine, then hit start and nothing (blank cluster) etc

I have the battery on charge now.... Any ideas out there?

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Now I am perplexed , i got the new battery, did the install, powered on just fine, then hit start and nothing (blank cluster) etc

I have the battery on charge now.... Any ideas out there?

Maybe the battery wasn't charged when you got it. Where did you get it? Was it one with acid in a separate bottle? If so you need to prep it for a day or two.

[SportsterDoc]

When start button is pressed, what is voltage to load side of starter solenoid?

[laser1972]

Maybe the battery wasn't charged when you got it. Where did you get it? Was it one with acid in a separate bottle? If so you need to prep it for a day or two.

No it was ine that was charged ready to use, i charged it, put it back in, cluster came on, hit the start and clicked and does nothing , no power, no start..

Thinking now maybe and solenoid of kill switch is bad?

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

No it was ine that was charged ready to use, i charged it, put it back in, cluster came on, hit the start and clicked and does nothing , no power, no start..

Thinking now maybe and solenoid of kill switch is bad?

Does the cluster stay lit or not? If you hear a click it's not the kill switch. In kill position nothing happens when you hit the start button.