machine was smoking white smoke came from under seat area . Looked like it was from voltage reg. The seat was wet dripping good. I pulled neg wire off battery to stop it. Later tried to reconnect ground and it arced (Sparks)
I wonder if the water dripping down on the connections caused the problem. Will start checking connections and look for a bare wire also. Also dry seat out and patch tear. Any ideas?? Thanks

 

Was the ignition on or off when it sparked?

On could mean a short along the owring harness someplace.

Off, means its between the starter selenoid and the battery.

Sounds lke some sort of a short either at a connection or froma wire rubbed through. As you check your connections get a tube of dielectric grease and put it into each connection plug. It keeps them from corroding and helps maintain electrical flow.

Swampy

 

Ignition was off also when I touched the battery with neg cable today no arc . Won't be able to look at it til Sunday. Have it in Garage now -seat drying out in basement. Will clean and dope all connections and check for bare wire before hooking battery back up. Thanks for the prompt reply Swampy.. Ken (hoot)

 

correction- it was a few hours later when I again touched the neg. post that it didn't ark. I am still working on it but very slowly - when I pulled tire off decided to do grease job first. Ran out of grease and all were very hard to do. 1 zert to grease yet than check wires. Will do that now. Just to let others know what is taking place. Thanks again Ken

 

The voltage regulator is fried! All other connections so far are ok. The wires that come out of reg. are all burnt. There was a lot of mud on fins of the regulator which probably were no help.. Hope to have one by tomorrow on its way. Used but should do the trick. Ken

 

Back up and running, used reg I received had one of the ends reversed. Was able to use end off the old reg. Hope this gives me more confidence in my self. Did give myself a scare, put it on had it running. Put rest of machine together then it wouldn't start.. Gas valve still shut!! Thanks Ken

 

Good to hear you got it taken care of. Also, glad to know you are just like the open heart surgeon that gets done and says "where is my watch and why is this man's chest ticking!"

SJ