Strange Ignition Failure

 Spent the weekend in Sequoia Natl. Forest and put on maybe
650-700 miles of mixed dirt, backroads and super slab. Got
home last night with no problems. Went out to start the bike
at noon today and had no spark.

After some troubleshooting, I determined that the Hall sensor
had gone out. Spent a couple hours finishing up an ignition
canister that I had set aside some months ago and hadn't
finished. Swapped the canister into the bike and it started right up.

Seems really odd to have an electronic component fail on a
parked motorcycle. I'm delighted that it waited until it was
parked in my driveway to crap out, but can't figure out why it
would fail. About the only possible cause that comes to mind
is that the engine was pretty hot when I parked and when I
stopped, there was no more cooling air over the component.

Really scratching my head on this one.

I've probably put on about 1500 miles over the last two weekends and
hope to put on another 600-800 this weekend. Crossing my fingers that
the bike stays glued together. In the last 10,000 miles or so, I've
had
to fix a speedo, alternator, transmission problem and now the ignition
sender. Next month, I need to tear into a carb. With just under 200k
on the bike, I guess this is just a bunch of high mileage components
throwing normal failures at random intervals.

 On Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:18:08 -0700, Rob Kleinschmidt wrote:


I have just had a similar experience with a computer psu that seems to
have committed suicide whilst sitting unused.  It was working perfectly
last time it was used.  Switched it on a couple of days ago and the psu is
completely dead - but no sign of any overheating or other damage and no
blown fuse.

With your bike, it is likely that a connection or component failed during
the contraction from the hot state.  Given that the contents undergo a
heat-induced expand-contract cycle every time the bike is used there are
going to be mechanical stresses that can eventually cause failure if there
are any weak spots.
  
Alternatively, there may have been a power spike of some kind when you
switched off and that blew it.

--
Tony
'04 Ducati ST3, '08 DL650GT,
97 TW200, '87 semi-rat LS650, OMF#24

 
After inspection, I think it was old insulation that finally allowed
contact
between two wires. Come to think of it, I had a similar experience a
couple years ago, when a pinched wire finally made contact to ground
while the bike was parked.

I think you're correct about expand/contract mechanical stress cycles.

 wrote:


Well, if you happen to break down anywhere near Bakersfield, you can
always depend upon your so-called "friends" in London or Utah or
Canada or Michigan or Tennessee or Arkansas to lend you moral support.

But don't ask krusty kritter to come to your rescue with his pickup
truck and tools.

You've burned that bridge in front of yourself.

 
That's a sad, sad attitude.  I'd try to help most anybody - even those I
disagree with if for no other reason than to send them on their way.

Oh! I see.  You're in California .....