Electrical
"Tune up" for the LC Intruder
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Cleaning
and servicing your charging/starting
system for optimum performance.
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The Intruder LC operates at the very outer limit of
its own electrical capabilities, therefore it is
absolutely critical that ALL electrical components be
providing 100% of their capacity at all times.
Any amount of corrosion anywhere in the system will
reduce the charging efficiency of your bike by just
enough to leave you stranded. Your bike is not equipped
with moisture proof connections, and they are very
susceptable to corrosion, over a short period of time,
regardless of the weather you ride in. There are three
areas that should be tended to now, if you haven't done
so already.
1.) Battery
Terminal Service
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| Even if they look clean, disconnect both
battery terminals and clean them and lube them
with di-electric grease (ask for
it at your local auto discount store). And while
you're down there, remove the negative cable from
the starter housing, and remove any paint from
its mating surface and use the same lube there
also. |
2.) Regulator/Rectifier
Connection
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| Remove the large chrome engine
cover from the left side of the engine (the one
with the little scoop vent molded into it),
disconnect the large regulator/rectifier plug
that connects the main harness to the rectifier
and spray it clean with electrical
contact cleaner spray (ask for it at
your local auto discount store), then lube each
one of its pins with di-electric grease. |
3.)
Speedometer Console Connection
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| Next time you have the speedometer console
off, do the same thing with the speedometer base
plug to prevent irratic problems with guages and
panel lights.While not considered a part of the
Charging/Starting sytem, neglect here can have
some annoying results with irratic guages and
panel lights. |
Consider the purchase of a Battery tender or
Battery Tender Jr. or other "smart"
type trickle charger to keep the battery at its highest
capacity when the bike is not being used regularly.
Even though these gel cell type batteries may show a full
charge, they may lose the cranking amps that are required
for this bike over a period of time, and generally after
three years use, these batteries can lose enough of their
cranking amp capacity to let you down at any time.
The use of Decompression valves in the starting system
enables the LC to be engineered with the smallest and
lightest components, and keep the overall cost of the
bike down, but the down side of that is that they must
all operate at 100% efficiency.
Clean the connections, charge the battery, and if it lets
you down again, it's likely time for a new battery.
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