Honda VT1100 Common Issues: Weekly Wrench
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- Hey! Wanted to show you all a common issue with the newer style VT1100’s. I was working with a VT1100c3 this week. Not a huge deal when it comes to repairing it but it can definitely leave you stranded if it’s not looked into!
Also couldn’t help but to share a quick Honda part number for the repair as well as some quick links for some things I mentioned throughout this quicky!
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Have a great week everyone, thanks for checking this out! Ride safe 🤙🏻
Same connector problem on my 600VLX, either a manufacturing defect in the original parts Honda used or an improper application of the connector. If it is the latter then replacing the connector with the same type is 'insane', if the former then it should have been a 'Recall'.
Late comment, but can you link us to that wiring kit from Honda?
I cant seem to find it and don't want to hard wire either
I have an 06 Sabre 1100, guess I better check that
Sounds exactly what happened to my shadow 600. just found that plug melted and I wired it straight just to hear the engine before buyin the part, but I had no luck keeps blowing the ignition fuse and wont even make a sound to start. The high beams light shows all the time without using them. Is it a bas stator?? Or the regulator how can I know??
I have a problem with my VT 1100 C from 93 I did all the static checking‘s on the stator and regulator rectifier(they were fine). All the connections were great. When I did The dynamic check on the stator, all three yellow wires give more volts on idle, But all three wires drop the volts when I rev the bike up.
Not very common?!
nice one cody
BTW way....keep walking and talking...LOLOLO!!!!!
since the charging system is 3 phase. does it matter when cutting off the connectors, the wires don't have to be matched to each other when soldering them together.
It seems that a lot of models have that issue with the stator plug melting from a poor connection. I had it on my 750 Shadow, my 1100 Shadow and so I decided to eliminate the plug onmy 1300VTX also. I just cut out the plug completely and soldered the wires together and used heat shrink on them. Now I don't have the problem. I also installed a volt meter to my bikes as well, so I can keep an eye on the battery to make sure it's always charging. I have heated grips, driving lights and a stereo on my bikes, so I like to be able to know how well my battery is doing while I ride. The reason your stators are going out is not only the plug making poor contact, it's also the fact that the Honda stock voltage regulators are also faulty. They are a poor design from the factory. I also switch mine our for a Mosfet style regulator, which runs cooler and sends more power to the battery, even at idle. If you change the stock regulator with a better (Mosfet) regulator, you won't be burning out your stator. Hondas are notorious for this and if it's not addressed when you get your bike, you will be replacing parts (regulator and/or stator) eventually.
Thanks brother. I was asking the question about my 83 model Shadow 500; haveing the same problem. thanks again
But doesn't the connection heat up because of bad stator or regulater? I'm pretty sure a harness with proper connection won't just fry itself. Just askin.
Afternoon all , Have a question.Want to install a momentary starter button on my 86 Honda cmx 450 I don't know what wires or color to look for,Just the wires to start the bike I will connect it on the handle bars.
Ghost in the machine same problem with a 1984 honda 650 nighthawk but bad red wire connectors in front fuse box- poor design by Honda
Great video BUT, Bro you gave me motion sickness. stand still ADD, lol
I had this same issue a few years ago, I put in my own bullet connectors and completely fine! Great video thanks for sharing!
Honda shadow 1100 weakness electrical system.
Now I'm dizzy
Thank's Again Cody 😎👍👍 I watched your Troubleshooting OHM test video and found this exact same thing on my C3, Thinking the Stator burnt also but knowing this help's I'll be Cutting and soldering in some bullet style connector's after retrying the stator test with clean wire's LOL ✌😎👍 Rubberside Down Brother
I have owned 3 of these bikes and put over 100,000 miles on 2 of them. Third one is at 71k. common on all 3 bikes, stators quit at about 60k (all 3 bikes and i replace batteries every 2 years whether or not they test good ) I do not have any aftermarket electrical accessories on any of my bikes , coolant hose from the radiator to the overflow bottle dries out and cracks due to its close proximity to the rear cylinder exhaust outlet. if your engine runs hot and pushes coolant into the bottle it cannot pull the coolant back into the radiator because of the charred hose. all 3 bikes needed at least 2 radiator fan switches each. I do always carry an extra. turn signal relays also fail and are quite expensive at the dealership. have been lucky enough to find them on ebay. engines are bullet proof !!
good vid, stop walking and talking with the camera your shaking the cam like crazy. man you got like 5 aero exhausts on the wall
I have to pace while I am talking on the fly hahaha I do the same thing on the phone. That is not even half of the stock exhaust systems we have.
You got a stock exhaust for an 03 1100 Sabre? I'm not in love with these Cobra slashcuts the PO put on this bike.
I can check! I wouldn't doubt it
Similar issue with Mercury outboards 40A stator with twin 20A charge coils and rect/regulators. Besides the wiring and bullet connectors burning up the regulators would actually catch on fire. The fix was. new bullet conns and dielectric grease. The nice thing about the twin reg's was, if one reg or wiring butnt and shorted, you had the second one that would still offer a suitable charge to the battery. Good post man, I'll be looking at my shadow's stator connector.
First and foremost, like to thank you, Cody, for the many Shadow vt1100 videos that you've done. Those videos have helped me a lot on my sons and my 98 Spirit. You always point out things that others, including the manuals, seem to leave out. Sooooo helpful! Thank you!
I am assuming, without knowing, that the repair kit you reference in this video is just a way to replace both the male and female 3-wire connectors with, what appear to be, identical to the ones that melted. You say you never had a comeback and I certainly believe you but I'm wondering if you have any thoughts as to why the replacement three-way connector didn't also melt. And yes I did have the melting connector issue. When that happened, it zapped the regulator/rectifier, which I replaced with China's best LOL. I believe it's male connector because it has the male spades.... At any rate the connector that is part of the regulator/rectifier.... And then used three insulated female crimp Spade connectors (blue, FYI)... And positioned the connector assembly over the air filter so hopefully it gets air constantly moving over it and should not overheat.
The other thing I wanted to mention is that I have recently purchased from Amazon two different smart chargers for about $30 each, which have multiple modes, including a repair mode which pulses current. I have found this works quite well to rejuvenate batteries that have sat in a state of discharge for many months. No guarantees, but so far so good! Thought you might like to try one of those if you haven't yet had the opportunity. Much better than putting it on 800 milliamp battery maintainer or a higher amperage charger.
Again, thank you for all your great videos and sharing your vast knowledge and expertise, with those of us who don't have it. Even though I've been wrenching for 60 years! Please keep up the Great work, and I wish you all the best. David
The reason the original melted and the replacement ones didn't is because the original wiring was not done correctly and eventually the poor connections caused enough heat that it melted the plastic connector. When Cody replaces them, he makes sure the connections are done properly. Rick Nelson who used the bullet connectors did the same thing and thus, he had no problems. Basically, the problem is poor workmanship.
Hi Cody, again an excellent video - thank you for sharing.
I met this problem on my vt 1100c shadow of 1994. Not knowing the kit I performed a traditional repair. Does the kit work on my model?
Thank you again a future subscriber. Ride SAFE !!!
can you get to the point faster
this sounds exactly like what my 2002 vt750 ACE is doing. would this be the same fix? just replaced the battery too and now its doing the same thing. just dying...
Nice work on the 400. Please keep us up to date with the stator issue. It's been sitting in the back of my mind bothering me since I watched that video. Good luck with it.
Nasty plug developments on the VT. That could have been so much worse than it was.
Hey if all 3 colors are yellow on both plugs, is it ok the put the bullet connectors in any way ?? any yellow with nay yellow? thankx not good at all on electrical issues.
Bought my 06 honda shadow 1100 and put 600 miles on it no issues. Then it would randomly spit and sputter then die. While I'm coasting to a stop I can get it going again and take off after about 10 seconds after it died. But would happen again 10 or 15 minutes later. Took to mechanic. Drove it 50 miles and nothing happened. Changed the fuel filter and I got it back and drove it 200 miles and nothing happened until then. Then it started dying again. I use premium non ethanol fuel and have gone through a few tanks now. I havent ever seen this with a carb issue but I dont know m any help would be great
Honest question;
when I ride my shadow VT 1100 tourer, it sounds like the front piston is knocking a bit...
I've checked oil...
Radiator fluid.. etc...
All seems fine..
How can you tell if the oil pump is bad?? Or is this something worse..?
Please advise...!!!!
R U Serious?
I'm starting to think these V twin Hondas don't deserve the reputation for reliablility they have.
I love my inline air cooled twins which are designed right. This whole V engine with water cooling seems like a very bad design.
All that heat back there with no place to go but right up into y0ur cr0tch.
Thankyou for the heads up.I am looking at purchasing a 1998 vt1100.
If u would not move around when u making this video will be better.
U r making me dizzy with your background keep moving around.
Same exact thing happened to mine! Died going 70 after that. Afterwards I could jump it and drive it in first gear but as soon as I would try shift to 2nd it would die? I just spliced the wires together and haven’t had any issues since! I saw another video that said water gets under the seat there and causes that…
“The AC voltage goes to the battery…” makes sense. And how did you determine that rectifier wasn’t fried sir?
Hey so my 96 vt1100 shadow, the temp light is flashing. Coolant is full. Any ideas
I believe some Honda Goldwings also have the same problem, I know my 1200 has toasted the alternator plug
Correct! The repair kit is actually an updated part for the GL1200
After I found mine burned up and made the repairs I had my tail light go nuts. In the beginning both tail lights were in the brakes are being applied mode. This got me looking and that's when I found the connector burned up. Repaired it then one tail was out and the other one still bright. Continued tracking the wire out to find the front brake light switch burned up. Replaced with a new one and no change in the tail lights. Continued tracking to find my horn connection melted at the horn. I'm like WHAT THE HELL is going on. All of these items were fine before the original tail light fiasco. Everything changed again after I fixed the burned up connector. It starts fine and battery now holds a charge. I was a master electrician for 42 years so no I didn't wire it wrong. I guess my question is, would one of these 3 yellow wires allow a power surge to go through this closed loop system and fry everything when in that loop ? I've looked at the wiring diagram and found all of these are tied into the same loop including the tail light.Why would these items not have been protected via fuse ? I have a 2003 Shadow Spirit VT 1100c
I have a 92 Honda Shadow and I replaced the clutch and it's still you drop it and gearing is still don't move can anybody give me an idea what is going on I would appreciate it
I have an 85 Honda Shadow VT500c. I’m getting a click when I try to start the bike from the (name ?) starter relay, located under the seat, but the bike will not turn over. I have the right Battery and it is new and good. All fuses are good, unless there are fuses I am unaware of.
Anyone have any ideas???
Grow lights?? Lol. think you may have helped me with my issue. Ty
Any video for 04 Sabre VT1100 headlight hi/lo beam switch cleaning or replacement? High beam intermittent/not working, low OK, bulb bench hi//lo test ok. Thanks from Portsmouth.
I did heat shrink bullet connectors to replace my fried plug. Seems to be working fine now. Do you answer any questions cuz I just bought a 94 shadow vt1100c and I have a few questions
Same problem on a 93 1100 shadow.
The problem is the crimped connections in the connector, they become loose, and then they arc. There is a lot of power going through that connector, and a loose connection will cause a very hot arc that melts the entire connector.
Either solder the wires inside the connector (instead of crimping them), or take the connector out of the equation, and just solder the three wires from the stator to the regulator/rectifier. Note: Any of the 3 wires coming from the stator can be soldered to any of the 3 wires going to the reg/rec, no need for any order.
To save the reg/rec from damage from future failure a 30 amp DC breaker (or fuse) can be put inline. Instead of blowing a reg/rec costing big bucks, you only blow a cheap fuse, or have to flip a breaker.
2002 Honda Shadow Saber 1100.... New battery, new stator, new voltage regulator rectifier, all within the last week. Since putting the new stator in on Friday, put out 18+ volts, runs fine all day, then sits for a few hours while at work, then voltage plummets while riding home (hour and a half away) dies by the time I get less than 5 miles from home. AGAIN....... Please help me, I just want to ride 😭 I've had the bike 2 months and already put over a 1000 miles on her.
I have a 94 honda vt1100c rode it home got home wired in some load resistors for my led turn signals went to start it and it started to turn over then it stopped and now it won't do anything at all all the lights come on but it won't try to turn over
Before I finish this video, im about 4 minutes in and this might be my issue. My bike has been giving me an intermittent problem... last week it completely died on me at the light... tried to start it back up and NOTHING.... no lights, sounds nothing. I pull the side cover and once I put my fingers under the tool box and tugged up on it, all my lights came back on... i got a few days of work commute and about 2 to 3 hours of riding on wednesday... today I get to work with zero problems. When I got off and hit the road to get home, she started giving me problems.. im going about 70 when I the tach just shuts off and comes back on, on and off on and off... it was turning off and on over again so I pulled over... I take off normal again and keep it below 50, shes doing ok, good. Once she got me home she started hurting hard... temp light was coming on and off but Im assuming thats because it was trying to cut off I guess... Its late so I didnt get in there to see but this is the first thing Im going to check... I have a 2 year diehard gold agm battery in it so that might be causing the issue
Just solder the wires and be done with it
Do it!
Don't cut it back too far ! if it happens again once or twice you won't have no wires left to hookup to! and you'll be digging into the bike to find extra wire..... is really nice to have extra length wyer.
Hey man how do i connect the fuel pump relay to an after market pump on my 1987 VT700C i am using a Mr. Gasket pump lol
Same issue I've had with the Yamaha xvs1100, I cut out the bit entirely seven years ago and have had no issue since.
Looks exactly like our old VT1100R. Same color and everything. Keep up the great work!!!
911 if you have one of these bikes I would definitely go in and clean the connectors crimp them a little bit whatever you have to do to make sure when you plug it back in they are very tight and that you have a perfect connection that way you can stop the problem before it ever starts with the original connector Maybe
PLEASE stop walking around as you talk! Great information, but we're getting seasick out here!
Hey doctor man maybe you can help me out with a carburetor issue. 2000 Honda shadow aero vtc3. Used a sync pro to even out both carbs and adjusted the mixture screws and tried everything. It’s running rough and popping at idle and decelerations. I don’t know the parameters for the bike. But here is the thing, I turn the sync screw between the carbs to give the low end circuit more airflow that’s the high end and it smoothed out. I know it can’t be right though. it doesn’t make sense that if the carbs are balanced that they make the bike run poorly. Can you help me please? There are no vacuum leaks at all I tested all the areas with carb cleaner to no avail.
Question? Let's say this exact thing happend on 99 shadow the guy snipped the clips and just twisted shit together no wire nuts, phase tape, toilet paper nothing covering the wire twists. But my concern is do certain wires need to be pairs or can you just twist any wire from one clip to any wire on the other clip end? Cause he claims to not know what wires were paired together and this bike is paper weighting my driveway like a mf rn. If I'm not making sense I can better explain another way. Just need some answers soon to get this shit gone
I have a 2005 vt1100 shadow sabre will this issue cause my rear cylinder not to fire
Also. The connector ends up burning out when the stator ends up shortening out. So stator and rectifier still need to be tested.
I have a 2007 Shadow 1100. Wires are melting and mechanic thinks I need a new stator & rectifier $500. Is this connector all I need?
Do you know where I can get a fuel tank for the VT1100 Honda shadow preferably for 1994 and 4 gallon
Probably a good video and info but couldnt watch with so much spinning around..was making me dizzy..
Nice video. Is that wiring standard Honda quality?
So would this be something that would cause what appears to be misfires? Massive loss of power followed by increases.
The smoke issue is what I had and I will be checking that connection soon.
But, I did get 100+ miles in on new years day.
My 2000 Honda Shadow Arrow 1100 is having problems with the speedometer. Its working intermittently for example it works for the first 5 Km, then stops and then starts again at some random point. I am suspecting its because of the speed sensor, what are your thoughts? I have also tried to purchase the following part but I am not having any luck, any ideas where I can get it from? Part # 37700-MBH-003
My Honda 1100 1999 I pull in the clutch and try and put it in gear and it shuts off can you help me
I have a 2004 Honda Shadow it shuts off when you riding if you wait 5 minutes it will start and go again
Hey I don’t know if any of y’all can help me I just got a 1985 Honda shadow vt1100 and the ignition switch is broken and I have tried to find a replacement but I have had no luck because every place that I talked too told me that they didn’t have the part couldn’t find the part or that they discontinued to make that part so I was wondering if there was a way to swap it out with something that’s compatible with itBecause I just got this and I don’t want to have to get rid of it if I can’t find any of the parts for it but it has so many problems with it somethings draining the battery even when it’s off it’s slipping out of third gear and the ignition switch Hass to be fixed so I could even start it it doesn’t even want to crank but if any of you have any ideas of what I can do I would really appreciate your help
Hey man great video once again! A question: I have a VT1100 c2 with the same issue, wires are very hard around the connector. When I measure resistance in the stator plug it's 0.8 on all combinations... could it still be a connector issue?
🙂 thanks for the tip broh, i will bookmark the video
I had the same problem with mine. I ordered a connector from an aftermarket place. I put dielectric grease in the inside of the terminals. The dielectric grease helps or may prevent the arching spark inside the terminal. It has been several years since I don't have thus problem.
Wish I could figure out why my wiring harness melted on my 2000 Shadow Ace Deluxe 750. I ordered a new harness with start button and on/off switch but it keeps popping the ignition fuse. At least it hasn’t melted my new harness yet.
My fiance has a 95 shadow vlx600 has put a new carbs because the last one was no good and had been sitting plus the diaphragm was tore. So he rode it hoping it would solve its problem. It will start up just fine but as soon as he gives it gas it stumbles and sputters and has no acceleration. Fresh fuel filter fuel lines he doesnt know what the problem is can you give any advice please he says its probably electrical because he was touching some wires while it was idling and it caused the bike to idle differnt i dont know
Excellent and understandable and in layman’s terms. Instead of on and on and on. Good basic troubleshooting steps I apply towards my atv.
When I tried to find you Pro Carb tips, it said the video doesn’t exist.
its been good info bout the tech bike man, can i be ur apprentices.
Why does a bike run ok but suddenly die when clutch is pulled in to turn a corner and downshift unless I feather the throttle 1100 ace
Carburetor needs cleaned most likely
Had similar somewhat of an issue the same on my 81 gs550l died on the freeway no juice I was wondering why my one of my battery would charge sometimes and sometimes it wouldn't turned out the stator was was shot in Georgia right regular rectifier replace those is still having an issue with one of the fuses not getting juice to both sides of the fuse so I decided to go ahead and replace the harness and I'm currently I have juice on both sides of the one fuse but I have no cluster lights and my turn signals won't work I'm not all that familiar with the ohmmeter in the settings I've done a continuity test on the harness everything turned out good but I do a jumper wire on the relay turn signal relay and harness but I don't know if I knew more about that what settings to use on the ohmmeter to try and track it down but I did what do you think I should do where would be a good place to start
Lads anyone know what a 96 1100 shadow wont start have gas and spark but just wont start
So one of those three stator wires burned up on my 88 but about 2-3 inches out of the case Do you know what would be the cause of that? I’m just curious bc where it happened was nowhere really near a connector
Please mount the camera. I got seasick watching and I need to watch it.
A 2 hour explanation and 5 minute fix !
Ive seen them melt and all weld together and still work
Love your vids. Very helpful. What would be the equivalent part for a 2007 Honda VT750 Aero? Or would this part work on my 750 too? Thanks
Should work replacing connector on my 750 with wagons same issue on most Honda shadows
I really like the cover on the tank of the C3 and I can't find it anywhere.
Well we'll well this the same thing that happened to my aero C3..
Good to know! I have a 1 owner 86 vt1100c with only 24,000 on it and 0 problems in 34 years.
I also own a 86 vt1100c. I bought mine off of a guy who had just had the motor redone by a Honda motorcycle tech , and Man does that thing run GREAT ! I took out the baffles in the exhaust , and took out the Welsh plugs in the carburetor and adjusted because it was running lean , and my friends cannot believe how good that thing sounds... They say they cannot tell the difference from it or a Harley-Davidson coming down the road ! I also have a 86 vt700c, it's all apart right now, but it was too small for me anyways , but it ran real smooth ! I never got to ask the guy what that honda-tech did to that motor , but by the way this thing runs he was an experienced veteran of many years I can assure you of that !
Great video!! Your videos are so helpful! I do have a question though. Would a low/bad battery or charging system component cause the motorcycle to not perfrom, like loss of engine power? I know you said the owner pulled off the road, but was that because the bike died or the engine couldnt keep running once it was started? Thanks!!
Opinion needed I bought a 02 Honda shadow Sabre 1100 the guy I got it from he said he noticed after he parked it for winter which wasn't long it bogs when you accelerate kinda hard I have put two cans twice in fuel fill up still does it is there a easy fix without taking carbs out
Doesn’t sound like it man!
Are u stoned stay on track of the video..u lost me a duh duh duh
I can race my bike up and sounds fine but going thru the gears at about half throttle it cuts out bad input new carbs had them jetted for my Vance n Hines slingshot pipes what would u recomend
So where’s the results video?🤦🏻♂️
What if mine don’t look burnt
I have a 2002 honda shadow spirit vt1100c2 and on my negative wire on starter is sparking what do I do to fix it
I am trying to replace a pulse generator on a 84 shadow vt700 how big of a kid is that to do and tips or tricks I am hoping that is don’t have to pull the motor to donit
Okay, so is this a problem with the design of this connector, or a problem caused by corrosion, or what? Can it be preempted with some electronic grease? Or is it better to just go ahead and install the GL1200 connector and get it over with? When you say "newer" VT1100's, are there a certain years that experienced this issue? Thanks for the video.
1970's CB750 had the same problem
If tests for the stator and r/r check out and I replace this connector but it melts again, where should I go from there? Having this issue with my Suzuki and thinking I might replace the r/r with a mosfet one but that is a pile of cash!
If's don't prove anything until its done! I would start easy. Replace the connector with a good quality connection. The connection fails because of a bad connection in this case. Not because of a bad charging system part. On the flip side, I have heard good things about the mosfet! Never done one but the company seems to be worth the money.
@@TheMotorcycleMD thanks man!
Great informational video, 🇺🇸
Thanks Doc another happy patient.
Wonder what it charged at voltage wise after?
I have a 1100 vstar '04 just replaced battery and ignition switch, now motor turns but won't start. Checked spark at spark plug and nothing. Any ideas would be nice.
Honda's attempt to make the bike more like a Harley.