Any idea's as to what is wrong with the 97

billypf · 09-03-2007, 3:41 PM

So I went to go riding yesterday, but when i got to the end of my court there was a funky smell. So i went back to my house and it was pretty stong, but i dont know how to describe it. My dad convinced me to ride it a little to see if it was just from sitting for two weeks. So I made it the 10 miles to my sister's house. By the time that i had gotten that far, the smell had gone away. I was there for about 10 min. and then started my bike and left. I made it about a block from her house, and stopped because of a car turning left. Then it just died. I go to start it, and the battery is dead. So we jumped it, and then it died at idle. So we jumped it again, and kept on the throttle a little and made it back to the house. My tachometer was also out after it died the first time. I am thinking that it could be the alternator, does that seem logical for a 1997 with about 17,000 miles on it. Or does anyone else have any other suggerstions, or advice ?

ironmike · 09-03-2007, 7:46 PM

Battery, rectifier, alternator (stator)... in that order...

This is the list of the usual suspects, in the order of their inherent propensity for failure... I'd recommend testing in the same order.

garybjpps · 09-04-2007, 7:48 AM

Don't know if this helps but i had a similar problem with my 1997 bb and the smell was the rectifier and it cooked the batery and that was what i changed to get it back running again.....

r2t2 · 09-04-2007, 8:06 AM

I have a '99 and I too had the funny smell... The regulator took out my stator. Give the battery a full charge and follow the electrical diagnostics to pinpoint the bad components.

billypf · 09-04-2007, 6:42 PM

does anyone know of any place that i can get a rectifier cheaper than $100. I found some random website that had it for about that much. please let me know if this is a good price or where i can get a better one.

Taetor · 09-04-2007, 6:57 PM

I just ordered a spare ElectroSport ESR580 one from Amazon for $89, $100.91 inc. shipping. That's the cheapest package price I could find in the 20-30min. I was looking around.

billypf · 09-04-2007, 8:28 PM

I called the dealership by my house, and they have it for $89. So i think that i am just going to get it from them. I am just hoping that the stator didnt get taken out with the rectifier. I am pretty sure that my battery is also in need of replacement. Although i could be wrong about the battery.

AussieOnline · 09-04-2007, 9:07 PM

Well, I don't know if this is good advise. but I have little financial problems as well. If you know the basics of electrical, you could use any rectifier (off another bike, atv, etc) that has three stator inputs and a ground and active output. You might have to do a bit of creative engineering for the cables, but thats what I did and all it cost me was a couple of connectors from Advanced Auto. A mate had a RR off a GSXR, it worked just fine.

billypf · 09-04-2007, 10:00 PM

Well I am pretty sure that the rectifier is the culprit of the problem. I am getting a test done at a dealership on the electrical system while i am at school this week. That way i can get the parts as soon as possible. I know that other rectifiers can work, but either way i would still have to purchase one.

billypf · 09-16-2007, 7:21 PM

Well this little meltdown was a little more extensive than originally thought, but luckly the shop i go to was really good about it. They did a charging system test on the bike for free for me. Then after i got the rectifier from online they went to put it in for free. And then they noticed that the wiring harness was taosted, but a guy there races an XX and had an extra plug and section of wiring and gave that to me. So overall, not too bad.