WTF! I hate electricity!

[Robsteeler66]

So I had this problem. Dead battery...So I bought a new one.



I decided to try the starter and see if it would now turn over...Nothing.

I then tried the lights, horn, signals...Nothing.

Checked out the fuse box...I'm no expert, but this looks wrong...



Besides the obvious, I see what looks like a splice in the corner...




Anyone have a next step? I'm going mental!

 

[Robsteeler66]

Ok. Sometimes it helps to sit back for a second and think about the problem.

I tried the starter again. This time I used the key in the ignition.

Yep, I'm an idiot...

Cranks right over. I do, however still have a problem or two. No headlight, horn or signal.
Do I need to replace the box with one of these?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/YAMAHA-XS40...pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item35b9c6fb0b

 

[Maxim-umm]

if you're going to replace the fuse box, do what many have done and change it to the blade type fuse box. I can't remember off the top of my head which one they used, but search the forums and I'm sure you'll find it. it's on my own to-do list.

Found it:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HLA-H84960091/

 

[Greasey Fingers]

+1 on the blade fuse box upgrade.

One of the best upgrades you can do for the electrics and cheap. Soldering beats the old crimping method hands down. Your bikes electrics will be so much more reliable and rock solid. When you think about your whole bikes electrics revolve around the fuse box so its pretty important to have good connections there.

I put in a cheap 4 blade mini box and its like a new bike now Heres the one I put in, really easy to find a mounting spot for it cause its so small. And you will find these on the shelf at your local auto parts store pretty cheap. Heres one on ebay exactly the same as I got:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/4-Way-Mi...46?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item2a1badda92

 

[Robsteeler66]

Thanks guys. I was leaning toward the copies, because they come with the plug in harness. I've never tried soldering before. I guess I could watch it few times on youtube or something. It really makes a difference going from the glass fuses?

 

[Scorpio1963]

Soldering just tales a steady hand,good eyes and heat up the surface you plan to solder.Get you solder on the tip of the gun and get it to flow down around the tip of the wrire that you are soldering.Just pratice in soldering some wires together till you get the hang of it.

 

[Greasey Fingers]

Yeah soldering is easy, and yes it makes a huge difference going to the blades they are just a lot more of a snug fit. I guess that's why nothing modern really uses the old glass ones anymore. But if you go with the copy you keep the original look and it will work fine. But the blades are more of an upgrade as such. I personally wouldn't bother with the old style fuse box but im not going for the original look.

 

[Robsteeler66]

Well I had to kick start it, but...She started!

 

[Greasey Fingers]

Sweet! Btw I had a lot of little niggling electrical problems like you but after I installed the new fusebox ALL my electrics are working perfectly

 

[Robsteeler66]

I just need to change my tires and oil and get a new brake lever and I'm ready to roll! I'll upgrade down the road. I want to get some seat time in first!

 

[JPaganel]

Replacing the fusebox can also be done with crimp-on spade connectors. Those things sticking out the sides are standard spades.

Mainly, the problem with the old ones is that the metal of the clips gets brittle and they lose the springiness, and so contact is bad. Sometimes they fall apart completely.

 

[Robsteeler66]

That's what's happening with mine. The clips are falling apart. I'll have to google crimp on spade connectors. I'm a complete newb when it comes to elekstricities...

 

[TimmyT]

True story... My whole restore came from me purchasing the my bike cheap as it needed a fuse panel overhaul. I should have just changed that fuse and rode away. Perfection breeds procrastination!

 

[Robsteeler66]

Timmy, I'm not following what you're trying to say. Are you saying you had big problems with your bike, or are you saying replacing the fuse box is good or bad?

 

[HoughMade]

Sure, the blade fuses work and are pretty easy....but, this isn't too hard and looks like it was "born" there.

http://www.xs400.com/forum/showpost.php?p=57230&postcount=5

 

[JPaganel]

The fusebox I used takes blade fuses and mounts using stock screws. Fuses are available at any gas station, unlike the glass ones.

 

[Robsteeler66]

JPaganel, which one did you use and if possible, could you point me to a how to?

 

[JPaganel]

This one

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d....oap?ck=Search_N1177_-1_-1&pt=N1177&ppt=C0172

I went one pair of wires at a time and soldered the connections.

You can do that, or use crimp spade terminals.

The fusebox mounted to the original screws with only very minor bending of the bracket. I'll take a picture when I get home.

 

[Robsteeler66]

I've seen those on ebay. I would like to do this but I'm worried that there may be underlying problems which could be why the PO took out a fuse circuit and spliced the wires together. I would hate to mess up the entire bike. Maybe I should leave it alone for a while and work up to that!

 

[HoughMade]

Returning a bike to stock configuration is never a mistake. The PO, at best, put a band-aid on. If there is an underlying problem, find it and fix it. More likely, when the original fuse holders started to get loose and there was an intermittent loss of power though that circuit, he "fixed" it by eliminating the fuse. That's not a repair. It's idiocy in action.

It's amusing that a bunch of self-taught riders believe that their engineering is superior to the well-educated Japanese men who designed these bikes. If you replace the fuse box with blades, that fine, but you are making it work as originally intended. Most of these bikes, people would be amazed if they worked like they did new and in stock condition.

Most "modifications" that are not strictly aesthetic are ill-conceived and more likely to make the bike less reliable.