'95 Kawa ex500

So I was a n00b and dropped my bike at a stoplight yesterday when I was releasing the clutch. I just gave it too much throttle and it got away from me. I lowsided it, and it seems to have minimal damage.

After letting it sit for a bit, the oil light is still on, and I cant even get it to turn over. I dont even hear the starter solenoid clicking.

I pushed it back to my place last night (it was only like a mile and towing was going to be $100)

My question is...is there a failsafe of some sort that'll keep it from starting if the oil light is on? I admit, it may be slightly low, but I dont think it's any lower than it was before when I was riding it. There's still plenty of oil in there.

Also, my left turn signal is working, but my right turn signal doesnt blink now, it only stays on and it sounds like the signal solenoid or whatever it is just buzzes when I turn the right signal on.

Any ideas on any of this? I'm about to put some oil in and try that but thought i'd get some opinions . I've never had a bike before, but know my way around a car decently.

5/18/2008 4:27:26 PM

Quote :

" My question is...is there a failsafe of some sort that'll keep it from starting if the oil light is on?"

I mean have you at least bothered checking the oil?

5/18/2008 5:02:44 PM

^I mean have you at least taken the time to read my post?

Quote :

"I admit, it may be slightly low, but I dont think it's any lower than it was before when I was riding it. There's still plenty of oil in there. "

BTW, while I was coasting it downhill last night on the way home, I was able to crank it (while it neutral....didnt drop the clutch) and it ran fine. But now that it's sitting level again, it wont turn over.
I didnt notice if the light was off while I was riding or not.

[Edited on May 18, 2008 at 5:17 PM. Reason : .]

5/18/2008 5:16:00 PM

Update: it'll turn over sometimes and crank fine when I'm pushing it...

Bad starter solenoid? I don't see any loose wires.

The oil light is still on but its completely full of oil.

[Edited on May 18, 2008 at 5:54 PM. Reason : .]

5/18/2008 5:52:12 PM

will it not pop start???

5/18/2008 6:05:26 PM

I havent tried to pop start it...

It'll start normally sometimes though when I'm pushing the bike in neutral.

5/18/2008 6:07:18 PM

Sounds electrical. Try dropping it again.

5/18/2008 6:47:11 PM

I don't own a motorcycle so I'm not sure about it, but for the signal problem if the system is anything like a car one of the flasher modules just needs to be replaced for ~5-10 bucks. A hard jarring can break the wire inside, leading to constant on or constant off.

5/18/2008 6:55:37 PM

^^I've actually tried bouncing it haha

5/18/2008 7:20:15 PM

^ Might need to get a little more technical on it and go with a deadblow hammer to individual areas where you think the problem might be.

5/18/2008 8:26:02 PM

I actually DID bang on the starter last night with my n*****knocker Maglight but still no dice.

5/18/2008 8:39:25 PM

why'd u drop it?




Shit happens...take it to somebody

5/18/2008 8:52:34 PM

oops

[Edited on May 18, 2008 at 9:09 PM. Reason : d]

5/18/2008 9:09:18 PM

Definitely sounds electrical. If the bike will start in neutral rolling, its most likely not the starter solenoid or starter. Check the kickstand switch, starter lockout switch, and neutral switch wires maybe? Also, have you tried starting it in neutral not rolling? (As opposed to in gear with the clutch pulled in...)

The oil light will stay on for a bit on an ex500 if you drop it. Just let the oil drain back down for a few mins, then start it. It should go off after a couple seconds. There is no failsafe with regards to the oil light, it will run and start with that light on. In fact, if it wouldn't start with the oil light on, it would never start.

5/18/2008 9:49:34 PM

ihave a hayes manual for that bike i will sell you

5/18/2008 11:21:07 PM

^ I will crash my bike into yours, repeatedly.

5/18/2008 11:28:34 PM

I've tried starting it in neutral, i've tried starting in gear with the clutch pulled.

It doesnt consistently start when i'm rolling it, but every now and then (one out of 7 or 8 tries) it'll turn over while I'm phsyically pushing the bike while in neutral and i push the starter button.

^^how much for the manual?

Also, the oil light is still on over 24 hours later, but it's full of oil. Someone on EX-500.com said something about a bubble in the oil pump or something? And that I should loosen the oil filter slightly while its running and that should take care of the bubble. I'll try that later on this week.

5/18/2008 11:43:45 PM

Wlectrcianalll. Did you understand that?

5/19/2008 12:01:56 AM

^x5 had it right. With kawasakis, if the ignition is ON and the engine is NOT RUNNING, the oil pressure light is always ON. When the engine starts, then it should go off. The oil light is on because the electrical sensors are on, but the oil pump is not on. Therefore it thinks the pressure is too low (it is, instead of 60psi, theres 0, because its off).

Use this website: http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Troubleshooting

the ninja250.org FAQ and forums are a HUGE resource. i know you have a 500, but for this basic troubleshooting, it should be the same. do a google search for a 500 forums/club site if none of these work. its probably something more complicated.

what I would suggest is to check your battery. get a multimeter and check its values at a bunch of different conditions (check that faq for what to do, might have to hunt around). make sure the cables are on and making a good connection. that could cause the bike not to start if it isnt getting a good spartk.

then check your airbox, make sure it isn't knocked out of alignment or something obvious.

if you dropped it on the right side, then your blinker is broken. simple as that.

when it doesn't start, does it sound like there isn't enough choke (like when its cold) or is it more just a "click" and no cranking?

oh, and make sure there is gas in it. turn it to reserve and check the tank. if it looks a little low, go put some in and try reserve and on. if that doesn't work, you could try draining the tank. there might be water at the bottom and if theres a lot (1995, could be) then it may not start at all.

try this website as well: http://www.totalmotorcycle.com there are quite a few people there and they are very friendly and helpful. large range of bikes.

good luck and keep us posted.

edit: oh, if you are going to do anything complicated and need documentation, get the kawasaki service manual and supplement for your bike for the right year. kawa dealers and online have them. its better to be safe and use an official source rather than risk having any errors in a 3rd party manual. They run 30-35$ a piece, so 60-70$ for the pair, but they are worth it if you need them.

[Edited on May 19, 2008 at 8:08 AM. Reason : .]

5/19/2008 8:05:40 AM

he said he low-sided it. check the neutral safety switch.

5/19/2008 8:12:04 AM

It's definitely electrical...IT WONT EVEN TURN OVER most of the time.

When I do get it to TURN OVER it cranks right up and runs just fine.

I'm thinking a hung brush in the starter, bad solenoid, loose wire somewhere between the start button and the solenoid...i dunno.

5/19/2008 8:24:45 AM

check your relays under the seat near the battery, there is a main ignition, starter and turn all fed from one large power wire and fuse from the battery, since everything is all right there together, i'd be willing to bet you just knocked somthing loose, or being a 95, that a wire was corroded and broke

5/19/2008 9:51:10 AM

if something was corroded and broke, then it wouldnt EVER start with the start button, right?

The start button works 2 out of 10 times or so when I'm pushing the bike in neutral and it cranks up just fine.

5/19/2008 10:09:32 AM

It could be corroded and almost broke. Hence the somtimes start, sometimes won't.

Get a hammer.

5/19/2008 10:19:37 AM

I need to get a rubber hammer.

[Edited on May 19, 2008 at 10:40 AM. Reason : .]

5/19/2008 10:39:30 AM

the intermittant starting in nuetral is a weird one, but i would also check your clutch and sidestand switches, do you always have to pull the clutch in to start it? or just when its in gear with the sidestand down?

with my brother in law's suzuki, you always have to pull the clutch to start, and when he dropped it and broke the switch, we had to just disconnect it and splice the two wires on the clutch switch together to get it to start

5/19/2008 11:28:43 AM

those bikes are notorious for electrical issues.... roommate has one & he has resorted to simply push starting it all the time (and has been for ... oh... atleast 6 months now?) He's tried doing it himself off the internet wiring diagrams, and each time something new goes wrong. anyway...

The way the turn signals are mounted on that bike (even more so than others) they're guaranteed to break when dropped... he's gone through atleast 3 sets of turn signals now. You can pick up a cheap set of them at cycle gear for around $20 (if I'm remembering correctly).


pwnt

5/19/2008 11:32:49 AM

Well, I dont have to hit the clutch when i'm starting in neutral.

Also, the lights themselves arent broken. They still work and light up just fine. Something's wrong with the flashing unit or something because the right side wont flash, just burns constant and makes a buzzing noise at the relay.

5/19/2008 11:50:12 AM

Hey ncsukat Ima need a couch next week. Got one???

[Edited on May 19, 2008 at 12:22 PM. Reason : .]

5/19/2008 12:22:17 PM

replace teh relay on the blinker, and get a new bottle of fluid.

5/19/2008 12:25:18 PM

I've heard j-spec blinker fluid is teh best. What do you think?

5/19/2008 12:42:29 PM

you can pull the starter out and rip the turn signals off and call it "race-spec"

5/19/2008 12:51:27 PM

ahaha. This might actually become a race bike once I upgrade in a year or two.

Were you in E101 back in fall of '03? I think you were in my class...you used to rock a skateboard to Dr. Yim's class

5/19/2008 12:57:59 PM

what I would suggest is to check your battery.

When a bike falls completely on it sides it could be possible that some of the battery acid might leak out of the battery, giving you a less charge. That is why if you are rolling the bike it has less friction to start and requires less power from the battery.

This happened with my 85 nighthawk, of course all the problems ended up being that the night hawk stater wouldn't charge the battery.

5/19/2008 2:45:36 PM

^^that i did. Hanya was in that class too i believe, she rides SV650 and works at cycle gear these days.

i had an ex500 for my first jap bike as well, it held up very well. i think the only think that i ever had to replace was my stator/flywheel, and that's because my '89 had a 3-piece magnet and one of the pieces cam loose. your 95 shoudl have a 1-piece, so that will not be an issue. that's how i got a hold of the book btw

^[NO] He said it sill start just fine sporatically and push starts every time. sounds like a loose connection somewhere in the starter switch loop or faulty relay

5/19/2008 3:01:00 PM

Quote :

"those bikes are notorious for electrical issues.... roommate has one & he has resorted to simply push starting it all the time (and has been for ... oh... atleast 6 months now?) He's tried doing it himself off the internet wiring diagrams, and each time something new goes wrong."

Never heard that one... the 89-93 bikes had lots o problems in general. This is a 95 tho, anything 94+ will have most of the general issues fixed. It sounds like your roommate just managed to fuck his up...

5/19/2008 4:16:01 PM

Well, it started up 3 times back to back today when I got home from work.

Just took it out for a quick spin (my first ride since the accident) and it runs fine, but I stalled it on a slooooowww uphill into my apartment complex and it wouldnt start again until I started to push it again...then the starter button worked and I was able to ride to my parking spot.

This is super gay. I'm just going to tear everything down tomorrow after work and see what's up.

Oh, and I saw Hanya at Cycle Gear a few weeks ago and THOUGHT I recognized her from somewhere but couldnt place it. Good call, Igor.

Maybe it IS a dead battery. I guess I should bring it inside tonight and charge it and see if that helps the situation.

[Edited on May 19, 2008 at 6:59 PM. Reason : .]

5/19/2008 6:58:19 PM

are you pushin it by the bars? could be a pinched or loose wire where the handle bar controls plug into the main harness near the triple tree, pushing it may move it or something

5/19/2008 9:21:54 PM

are you pushin it by the bars? could be a pinched or loose wire where the handle bar controls plug into the main harness near the triple tree, pushing it may move it or something

5/19/2008 9:22:20 PM

Quote :

"Might need to get a little more technical on it and go with a deadblow hammer to individual areas where you think the problem might be."

haha, that's how they fix jets in the military sometimes

technical tap
mechanical agitation
kinetic reprogramming/kinetic calibration

5/19/2008 9:33:16 PM

^Definitely not limited to military jets.

Pilots even shoot holes in ours once in a while.

5/19/2008 11:04:45 PM