Electrical Problems with K1

[SteveMKentucky]

Just introduced myself on the front porch so moved right on to posting in the hopes of obtaining some advice on a K1.

As background, the bike belongs to a friend who wants me to buy it.  The bike had a few issues, but I agreed to keep the bike for a while and to attempt to straighten out some of its problems.  The friend is at least the second owner.  I suspect that there have been more than two.  He has done nothing to the bike so has no real background on its technical history.

The first issues have been resolved.  The bike sat a long time, was difficult to start and smoked a little once started.  Draining the old fuel, fueling with fresh alcohol free fuel, adding some injector cleaner and putting about one hundred miles on it have the bike starting easily and running very, very well.  It runs so well and rides so well that I am growing dangerously fond of it.

The remaining problems are electrical.  As indicated, the electricals to the engine are apparently working fine.  The speedometer works, the tachometer works, the turn signals, turn signal indicator and all exterior lights work well.  The ABS light continually flashes, the low fuel light stays illuminated and neither the fuel gauge nor the temperature gauge work.

I've removed the seat and the fuel tank with surrounding trim pieces.  In examining the electrical system, I've looked for poor grounds and for dirty/bad electrical connections.  The main grounds look good.  The wiring harness to the fuel gauge and temperature gauge look good.  All electrical connectors look good with two small exceptions.  There is a disconnected pair of wires on the right side that I think may be rear ABS.  The wires are blk/grn and grn/white (or light gray).  They are located on the right side, a couple of inches below the rear of the tank.  The other problem, which I do not think is a problem, is that two wires to the fuel gauge have apparently been broken in the past and repaired with solder.  They were simply insulated with electrical tape, but look like they are making good contact and not an issue.

Anyway, I intend to continue to troubleshoot.  The plan is to work on the ABS light first (disconnected connector?), then move to the low fuel light, then the fuel gauge and temperature gauges.  I know the gauges could both be bad, but am suspicious since the low fuel light stays illuminated as well.  I'm hoping that in the process I will find something amiss and the whole system will magically begin working!  Hey, it's happened before.

Any ideas or thoughts?

[kioolt]

The connector that you found may be the high altitude plug.  It should just have a dummy plug in it for low altitude and a jumper plug in it for high altitude.  For the ABS problem, have you checked all of the fuses?  I've had the ABS light flash on my K100LT before and was able to reset it with instructions on this website.  http://www.ibmwr.org/ktech.shtml

[Scott_]

Drake probably knows for sure but I don't think that the 1100 series motors with the Motronic fuel control had the "high altitude" plug option. I know that neither of my bikes have it.
I think that was only on the earlier Jetronic fuel control systems for the K75's and K100's.

[kioolt]

I thought K1's were K100's.  Are they not?

[Scott_]

I thought K1's were K100's.  Are they not?

Yep, they are 4V100's after all. I learned something too.
But they did come with the later motronic fuel system.

http://www.motobrick.com/index.php/topic,313.0.html

[SteveMKentucky]

I appreciate the replies. 

I don't think the connector has had a dummy plug in it.  There is a corresponding mating plug just under it with the same wire colors.  It's logical that they were previously mated.  My concern is that someone disconnected it intentionally in the past as they tied one end out of the way with a zip tie.  I have to cut the zip tie to reconnect them.  I'm expecting that I'll find out why they disconnected it.  The strange thing is that the wire color codes don't match any that I can find in the wiring diagrams.  A mystery for now.

I have checked the fuses; at least visually. 

I appreciate the ibmwr link.  I read the article on the electrical 'tune-up' and think I'll start with doing that.  Perhaps there's a corroded connector somewhere or corrosion in the handlebar switches.  I'll start with the ground then proceed to all connectors, the handlebar switches and then the fuses.  I think I'll save the relays for last in the event that nothing else turns up.

Will let everyone know if I find anything or make any progress.

[SteveMKentucky]

I inspected, cleaned and lubricated all of the connectors that I could find under the tank and elsewhere.  I also connected up the mystery connector in question above.  I put everything back together and all indications are the same.  I did notice that in addition to the ABS light flashing, the caution light light flashes in sync with it.  Also, the gear indicator reads 3 in first, 2 in neutral and blank above neutral.  The ABS light still flashes, the low fuel light stays illuminated, neither the fuel gauge nor the temperature gauge work at all.  My next attempt will be to clean and lubricate all connections in the hand grips.

Here's a picture of the K1:

[mystic red]

Did you check the gaps on the ABS sensors? Good strong battery?

When you do the reset on the ABS, be advised that it could take multiple attempts :dunno do get it to work. It took me a good 15 tries when I did it.

[SteveMKentucky]

Did you check the gaps on the ABS sensors? Good strong battery?

When you do the reset on the ABS, be advised that it could take multiple attempts :dunno do get it to work. It took me a good 15 tries when I did it.

I did not check the ABS gaps.  Wasn't aware that there was a tolerance there.  The battery is quite strong.  The owner kept it on a Battery Tender and the bike turns over strongly.

Good advice on the ABS reset.  I'll keep that in mind.  Still doesn't explain the lights and gauges not working though.  I still think there's an electrical anomaly somewhere in the system.

By the way, I think I found the connector with the dummy load attached.  It's on the left side just behind the coils.  It still has the dummy load in the connector.

[SteveMKentucky]

A little success yesterday!  The ABS reset did work.  The flashing ABS light and the caution light are now out.  I think this problem was because of the disconnected lead to the rear ABS.  Once re-connected the reset worked.  The temperature gauge now works as well.  I'm chalking this up to cleaning connectors.

The remaining problems are: fuel gauge/low fuel light still on; gear indicator still displaying wrong gears (3rd in first; 2nd in neutral; blank for all others).

I'm going to keep at this until I get it all to work!

[kioolt]

It sounds like you may have individual reasons for each problem on your K1.  I believe the IBMWR K-Bike tech page I gave you before has information on how the gear indicator works and how to troubleshoot it.

[mystic red]

From the Lieberry....

Have you looked at the fuel gauge sending unit in the tank? Float not floating?

[SteveMKentucky]

It sounds like you may have individual reasons for each problem on your K1.  I believe the IBMWR K-Bike tech page I gave you before has information on how the gear indicator works and how to troubleshoot it.

Will check that out.  The process for resetting the ABS on that site worked.  The only nuance was that my cable with the blank connector was on the left side of the bike; not under the seat and the center wire was a different color than the one cited.  It made me a little reluctant to try it but I did.

Have you looked at the fuel gauge sending unit in the tank? Float not floating?

Haven't tried that yet.  It's next on my list.

 :mbird

[Scott_]

You might also check for skinned wires for the fuel light and gauge circuits, a ground on them will leave them messed up.
Each one is a separate wire to the tank.

[SteveMKentucky]

OK.  So today I removed the fuel cap and checked the fuel float.  It was sitting on the bottom of the tank despite the tank being half full of fuel.  I haven't removed it yet, so not sure what the problem is.  If it's hollow it appears to have leaked.  If it's solid, it looks like it's absorbed enough fuel to sink.  Either way I think I'll be looking for a replacement.

[Scott_]

Check and see if the arm will move and register on the gauge and turn off the light. Chances are you just need the new "ping pong" ball on the end of the arm if everything else checks out.

[SteveMKentucky]

I verified that the gauge works when the float is raised.  I e-mailed 'Kbikeparts' last week to locate a float but received no response.

Does anyone know a good source for the floats?

[johnny]

i would look to these folks...

i would call a & m... i betts they have 1 laying around...

j o

[noppo]

So, SteveM, what's the verdict on the K1?
You gonna get?
The pic doesn't show a seat cowling.
Does it have one?

[SteveMKentucky]

So, SteveM, what's the verdict on the K1?
You gonna get?
The pic doesn't show a seat cowling.
Does it have one?

Noppo, it doesn't have a seat fairing.  I'm looking for one.  I think I am going to buy it. I'm getting very fond of it. If not, I'll let you know.

[Scott_]

I e-mailed 'Kbikeparts' last week to locate a float but received no response.

His Dad just passed away, so I imagine that he's been thinking of other things for a while.

[SteveMKentucky]

i would look to these folks...

i would call a & m... i betts they have 1 laying around...

j o

Tried calling A&M twice during their business hours.  No answer.  Will see if I can get them to answer an e-bay request.

Sent an e-mail to kbikeparts as per their website.  No response after two weeks.

These parts seem more difficult to obtain than I thought they would be. 

[noppo]

Give it a little bit more time. i've ordered quite a bit from it, and got it all.   He's good about checking emails.  Worked very well for me, and it's a great resource for parts.

[noppo]

SteveM,
On 6/8 i'll be going to a K1 Club of Japan spring meeting in Central Japan.  If you want, i'll ask those boys during dinner time if anyone has a spare red one, and if so, if they'd be willing to ship to the US.  Will also have to ask about how they wish to be compensated for the item, given that it would be an international transaction.  Shout if you want me to ask.

[SteveMKentucky]

SteveM,
On 6/8 i'll be going to a K1 Club of Japan spring meeting in Central Japan.  If you want, i'll ask those boys during dinner time if anyone has a spare red one, and if so, if they'd be willing to ship to the US.  Will also have to ask about how they wish to be compensated for the item, given that it would be an international transaction.  Shout if you want me to ask.

Noppo,

   I may take you up on that.  I received a message back from A&M via ebay.  Their answer:  Sorry, no help.