ST1100 main Switch flickering

Switchum

Switchum

Joined
Oct 14, 2020
Messages
14
Location
Wichita KS USA
Bike
'97 ST1100
I apologize if this was repeatedly discussed. I tried to search related threadsbut couldn't seem to find the same problem as mine. It's a 1997 ST1100 with tons of milage but taken good care of.
One day I turned a key on my ST and there was no power whatsoever. I thought blew a fuse or something so later in the week I was going to take a look. The bike turned on and ready to go. I was confused. I turned it off and attempted to turn back on, there was no power.
I was hoping a loose connection at battery or something so I opened the bike up checked connections and fuses. Clean them as I check. They seemed all fine. But it got flickering now. I had read about ignition switch going bad on ST1100 so I took it off to clean it. The problem still persists.
I was hoping you guys can tell me what I should take a look next to fix this. I would appreciate any help and thanks for your time

Moto
 
If you turn the key slowly and get an intermittent connection before it actually "locks" into the ON position, it is bad contacts in the ignition switch mechanism. Despite you cleaning it, if the contacts are worn such that they fail to keep connected when the switch is fully ON, you need to replace that part. Happened on my '95 1100.
 
I have just dismantled a '98 and have a spare ignition switch available if you narrow the problem down to the switch itself. PM me if you're interested.
 
Bush said:
If you turn the key slowly and get an intermittent connection before it actually "locks" into the ON position, it is bad contacts in the ignition switch mechanism. Despite you cleaning it, if the contacts are worn such that they fail to keep connected when the switch is fully ON, you need to replace that part. Happened on my '95 1100.
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Hello Bush, appreciate your reply. Fortunately it wasn't the case for me. ( Just looked up how much the OEM switch cost) The switch clicks fine and in decent shape. I cleaned crap out of it and check the springs and put dielectric grease. It seems to be working.
 

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Pull the left side cover and check the starter relay. It is just to the left side of the battery. It should have a green 35 amp spare fuse tucked away in the rubber cover. If it looks melted, do a search for "red wire bypass". Several 1100s have had this problem. It is the result of a poor quality crimp. High resistance cause the heat to melt the connector.

Red Wire By-Pass Mod ( ST1100 ) *

Red Wire By-Pass Mod ( ST1100 ) *
www.st-riders.net
 
Here is the Red wire Note in the second picture there is corrosion on the wire and signs of heat discoloring the red insulator.
What I did is to put solder flux on the wire to clean the copper and then soldered this connector.
 

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Ron said:
Pull the left side cover and check the starter relay. It is just to the left side of the battery. It should have a green 35 amp spare fuse tucked away in the rubber cover. If it looks melted, do a search for "red wire bypass". Several 1100s have had this problem. It is the result of a poor quality crimp. High resistance cause the heat to melt the connector.

Red Wire By-Pass Mod ( ST1100 ) *

Red Wire By-Pass Mod ( ST1100 ) *
www.st-riders.net
Click to expand...
I appreciate the input. I read about the red wire bypass in the past. Fortunately mine is 97, Honda seemed to fixed the issue by then. I also went thru the starter relay and the fuse, clean the connections.
 
Slydynbye said:
Here is the Red wire Note in the second picture there is corrosion on the wire and signs of heat discoloring the red insulator.
What I did is to put solder flux on the wire to clean the copper and then soldered this connector.
Click to expand...
I appreciate your reply. I will double check the wire to be sure.
 
If I understand your posts the problem you're having is with the ignition switch itself, not the starter, correct?

I think the red wire bypass doesn't come into play unless you're having issues with the starter, but good that you cleaned everything up in that area as well.
 
dwalby said:
If I understand your posts the problem you're having is with the ignition switch itself, not the starter, correct?

I think the red wire bypass doesn't come into play unless you're having issues with the starter, but good that you cleaned everything up in that area as well.
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The reason for my post was my experience was basically the same including being a '97 but an ABS. Headed to breakfast with the group. No problem. After breakfast, no start, nothing. Pushed bike to the back of the parking lot and started poking and prodding with very few tools and no meter. Went on line with a buddy at home (before smart phones were financially available) and read up on red wire by pass. Auto parts store across the street got a $10 or so purchase and I was back on the road. an hour later.
 
I had that issue. The problem was tracked to the harness that connects to the red connector shown in @Slydynbye 's post.
All of the copper cores inside that harness were blackened and not conducting properly. It was a good way up the harness before I found some decent copper to splice into. All of the wires were affected. The red wire bypass, even if I had known about it then, would not have fixed this.
 
Appreciate all the reply and input, folks. I did went through ground as Bikeric suggested. Like a few of you guys suggested, I checked the the red wire, which was intact. I cleaned all connectors with contact cleaner and put dielectric grease on them.
As I was dicking with the bike, turning on and off. I was losing the charge slowly. Then I noticed it stopped flickering. There was no lights. So I charged the battery then turn it on; it started to flicker again. Realized my battery is 4 years old. Everytime I check, it always had 12.5V or above. I am starting to think my battery lost the ability to hold the charge all of sudden when I turn it on.
I hooked up my portable jump starter on the battery and all the lights came on super bright and was no flickering at all.

Kinda embarrassing and feel dumb if it was only the battery's fault. But I have ordered a new battery.
 

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Electrical problems are the most difficult things to diagnose, so don't feel dumb if it takes a while to find them. Batteries lately seem to be rather unreliable, intermittent behavior like you are experiencing is rare, most of the time they out right die. Happy riding.
 
St-Gerard said:
Electrical problems are the most difficult things to diagnose, so don't feel dumb if it takes a while to find them. Batteries lately seem to be rather unreliable, intermittent behavior like you are experiencing is rare, most of the time they out right die. Happy riding.
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No, it's Intermittent Electrical problems that are the hardest. ;)

I'm wondering if the low voltage under load caused the relays to bounce, and then, which relay.
A good description of which lights were flashing would give some clues
 
Slydynbye said:
No, it's Intermittent Electrical problems that are the hardest. ;)

I'm wondering if the low voltage under load caused the relays to bounce, and then, which relay.
A good description of which lights were flashing would give some clues
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Agreed ,intermittent electrical problems are the hardest ,even worse when a computer is involved.
 
Thanks, ST-Gerard and Slydynbye. I did read somewhere that relays are acting up to cause electrical issues. I sure hope the new battery will fix the problem and be able to ride my ST again. I will keep you guys posted.

Again, thank you all for your replies.

Moto
 
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