Complete electrical failure - intermittent

[metalflake11]

An earth from the cowl to the frame  wont do any harm, and might indeed cure the problem.

I really would put a fuse in though Wortluck, for now one between the battery earth and the frame earth. (I always use 10 amp fuses.)

Hope you get there, but if you get really stuck I do mileage like Wakefield before breakfast most weeks!

[Slippery Sam]

Errr wot fuse holder???

By the way, I've pulled out an old mutimeter which I've never used so I've looked up some instructions.  It's very simple but, according to the instructions, to test continuity I set the switch to the lowest ohms setting and hook it up to the circuit I want to test.  If the reading is low, continuity is there, if it's high, there's a problem - does this seem right to you?

Yip - low resistance = continuity (connected) and high resistance = open circuit (not connected).  Somewhere inbetween could suggest a partial short or partial open circuit depending on what you're expecting.  Mind on the lowest ohm setting a reading might be miniscule resistance so could still be a decent connection.  I use the scale one or 2 up from lowest (usually about 0 to 200 ohms).
I was just about to suggest a new loom - at £50 and about a couple of hours to fit - it could save a lot of heartache - but if that's already been done - you will almost certainly find something simple and easy to fix.
Remember trust nothing, check, clean and test everything - that's less than a couple of hours work end to end and worth it.

Keep patient and stick in.
Raymond.

[Worty]

Cheers gents, much appreciated - wish I had time to get in a bit of riding before breakfast though (would do a smiley but friggin' MS Edge won't let me for some reason!)

I've got a 200 ohm setting so I'll use that.  I'll also stick in an cowl/frame earth and fuse as metalflake11 suggests.  I'm guessing the fuse locates between the positive terminal on the battery and the earth on the frame.

As always, thanks for taking the trouble!

[Greybeard]

...would do a smiley but friggin' MS Edge won't let me for some reason!...

Yes, that's what I discovered when I tried using it.

[BSA_54A10]

Errr wot fuse holder???

By the way, I've pulled out an old mutimeter which I've never used so I've looked up some instructions.  It's very simple but, according to the instructions, to test continuity I set the switch to the lowest ohms setting and hook it up to the circuit I want to test.  If the reading is low, continuity is there, if it's high, there's a problem - does this seem right to you?

Not good advice but 0 Ohms = complete circuit
Infinte ohms = open circuit.
I generally set it high as you can generate resistance simply by poking the probes hard against the terminals, it is called the piso electric effect.
Set to a very low level you can actually end up reading the resistance of your skin.

[Worty]

Well bsa-bill, weird things are happening as, following your post, my smileys seem to have started working 

As for the electrical problem, it seems my nice, new Westco battery is the issue - working intermittently  .  When I attach wires with a small bulb attached, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and sometimes is very dim - a bit like the rest of the bike electrics  .  Incidentally, as suggested by metalflake11, I've now run an earth from the cowl.

I going to pull in a refund for the battery as it's only six weeks old and done less than 300m.  Can anyone suggest a (preferably) sealed battery that can withstand the vibration 

Apologies for all the smileys (if they work) but I'm making up for previous posts

[Slippery Sam]

Not good advice but 0 Ohms = complete circuit
Infinte ohms = open circuit.
I generally set it high as you can generate resistance simply by poking the probes hard against the terminals, it is called the piso electric effect.
Set to a very low level you can actually end up reading the resistance of your skin.

Not sue if a high resistance setting is best for this application as you'll see nothing inbetween (partial short or a resistance when there should be none).
Also any slight reading on a low setting will not be a piso (Pieso) electric effect.  That is something completely unconnected and is a charge generated by a mechanical pressure - like a clicky cigarette lighter which crushes a crystal to generate a spark.

I'm looking forward to finding out what's causing the problem now.
Raymond.

[Worty]

It looks like the battery, Slippery Sam, didn't suspect it at first as it's only six weeks old and covered about 300m.  When I attach a small bulb to the battery, it has three modes - not working, working and working a bit.  Battery was from BatteryPitStop and I'm working with them for a return/refund/replacement  .

Any suggestions for a sealed battery that can take the vibes?

I like my new found smileys - no idea how they suddenly started working    I'm on Edge Win10 Acer laptop

[metalflake11]

Give the battery terminals a good clean Wortluck? It might just work as it should then.

[Worty]

Will do pal, but I'd be surprised if it made much difference as the battery's virtually new.  By the way, what sort of item do you use/can you recommend.

[metalflake11]

The terminals can get a coating on them, give them a bit of a tart up with some wet and dry or a small wire brush.

[Worty]

I'll give it a shot, cheers.

[Worty]

Complained about the 'failed' Westco battery and was told to dispose of the old one and they'd send a new one out    Hopefully, this one won't be the abject crap that the first one was, otherwise it'll be a proper rant on the phone.  I can't see any other problems with the electrics other than the battery not performing  Also, when I was doing my tests, I found a sharp tap on the battery brought it back to life again 

Any recommendations regarding batteries?  Always used to use Yuasa on the japanese bikes of the past but the A10 is a completely different beast.

[Greybeard]

I bought this one from Paul Goff; WESTCO 6V AGM BATTERY it lives in a fake lead acid battery case. I am very happy with it.

[Worty]

It's the same as mine Greybeard, just hope the replacement is as good as yours.

Cheers