What model shadow?

You might want to pull apart your key switch and clean it. Also check the connection on your battery and other terminals.

 

You have an electrical short somewhere. If you don't fix this gremlin you'll be plagued with an unreliable bike.

You'll need an electrical schematic and a multimeter. Go through all electrical connections, fuses, switches, light bulbs and ensure electrical connectivity, tested with a multimeter.

If all the power goes out, I'd first suspect the ignition switch, the battery negative (ground), and the master fuse.

 

You have an electrical short somewhere.

Sounds more like an open.

 

its a 94 honda shadow VLX 600

 

Definettly sounds like a shorted wire if it were an open it would do it all the time, shorts present an intermitent porblem.(I'm a helicopter electrician by trade) Could be a quick simple fix like cleaning the kill switch also check your ground wires make sure they aren't loose start with the basics. If those aren't it you are gonna have to get the multimeter out and look at some schematics.

 

Definettly sounds like a shorted wire if it were an open it would do it all the time, shorts present an intermitent porblem.(I'm a helicopter electrician by trade)

I'm also an AME, E lisenced. In a switch an intermittent open is very easy. Also very common in a broken or near broken wire. A short would blow fuses, or have more power going where it shouldn't. An open would show symptoms like he is showing.

Open and shorts both can be intermittent.

 

Looking at the schematics check the main ground from the battery and the battery connections make sure they are tight. If that checks out clean the switch, Should be it.

 

(I'm a helicopter electrician by trade)

I'm also an AME, E lisenced.

Well I know nothing about electricity, and I say it's gremlins!

Try finding a good gremlin spray and give your bike a once over.

 

Well I know nothing about electricity, and I say it's gremlins!

Ha ha lol :lol:

 

I am unsure as to the difference between a short and an open, but I hunt down both of them with a multimeter. You need to fix this or your ride may leave you stranded.

 

thanks
i am going to check terminals and take key switch off tuesday and try that
it did fine the last 12 miles home so i dont know

 

(I'm a helicopter electrician by trade)

I'm also an AME, E lisenced.

Well I know nothing about electricity, and I say it's gremlins!

This we can agree on :lol: