intermittent faults

[Mr Gee]

Don't you just, hate intermittent electrical faults.
Recently developed one and having a nightmare, trying o find it.
While out riding, it cuts out on me or simply won't start.
Get it back in the garage and get the multi-meter out and the damn thing, works every time, it won't go wrong.
    

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Check the micro-switch up at the clutch perch, this one will cause cut outs if the contacts are dirty or wet.  I had this happen after riding through a rain storm, bike just cut out.  A quick wiggle of the contacts and she fired right up.

[KiwiCol]

Take the multimeter with you on the next ride - plenty of room under the seat.

[Hooli]

Cuts out & won't start as in, the engine stops but the bike is on. Then spins over & doesn't fire or the bike totally dead?

I've seen batteries with internal faults cause the latter when they short internally & kill everything electrical on the bike.

[Mr Gee]

Cuts out and everything is on but won't turn over.
Tried the clutch switch; the fuel relay, side stand switch and relay but as I said when I'm in the garage it all works fine and only plays up, while i'm out riding it.
 

[gsxbarmy]

Check the loom coming out of the back of the headlamp and along the side of the headstock - not unknown for small splits / cuts / rubbing to occur causing the loom to earth out.

I'd also check your earth wire is clean both coming off the battery and where it earths to the bike itself, maybe add an additional earth wire https://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=4828.0

[Eric GSX1400K3]

There's a tip over switch located next to the regulator that will also prevent a start if thats faulty, access is from the rhs after removing the side panel and rear brake resevoir out of the way.

[Hooli]

Cuts out and everything is on but won't turn over.
Tried the clutch switch; the fuel relay, side stand switch and relay but as I said when I'm in the garage it all works fine and only plays up, while i'm out riding it.
 

That sounds rather frustrating, I think the others have covered the places to start looking already.

Years ago on a RF600 I had the broken loom issue, they had a multiplug by the headstock & one wire had broke off cutting the ignition circuit so no spark etc. I found that one in the middle of nowhere when the wire finally fell out of the connector block. Lucky for me it was downhill to the next town & I managed to buy some scotchlocks to bodge it for the trip home.

[Mr Gee]

Thanks for all, the advice guys. Much appreciated. However, the fault remains elusive. Guess, I will just, have to keep on looking and riding until I get lucky or it finally, develops big time and packs up, all together so that I can trace it.

[Mr Gee]

Does anyone out there, know if there is a way, to test the antenna for the immobiliser, short of replacing it ? 

[KiwiCol]

Is your bike a K5?   They had an issue with the antenna, but was fixed for K6 onward.   It'd be a very rare thing to have that go bad, never hear of it unless it's a K5, & there was a recall for those affected bikes, fixed FOC.

[grog]

Mr Gee, have you tried your spare key? If no spare some locksmiths can check key signal. When i worked our local bloke did it for me free.That was my job, fixing broken down cars/ bikes. Prefer now, retired👍

[Mr Gee]

Yes, it is a K5, the first fitted with immobiliser. 

I have tried both keys with the exact same result. 

I have tried and tested everything else that I can think of. 

Everything else works perfectly and the bike runs beautifully when it's running but then it will just, cut out. 

Everything electrical still works but the engine will not run or even turn over when it choses not, to work.     

[Andre]

Tried speaking softly to her yet? Usually works well with the ladies.

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Can the immobiliser be removed (after speaking to her nicely), perhaps threatening to remove some parts may help?

Also, the key tumbler does get a lot of crud in there, it can be removed from underneath the head stem, bit of a fiddle and I think you have to drill out two rivets that can be easily replaced with bolts or screws, this allows you to clean out the key tumbler.  alternatively to pulling it apart, spray some contact cleaner into the key slot (cover your tank and front mudguard with a towel), let it sit for a minute then blow it out with compressed air, may dislodge and remove some of the crud and clean the contact ring ? just a thought.