Triumph Quit Ignoring Your Ignition Problems

[Viewmasters]

Ignition Meltdown

Hi Guys,
well my bike has let me down, on the entrance to the Rock and Blues festival in Derbyshire last month the relay was just clicking when trying to start,
after much head scratching ( and piss taking from all the Harley riders coming in ) I decided to call the trusty AA. The guy was great and put in a hot wire to my starter to get me going again, all be it with no lights, but my weekend was not ruined
Once home I took it Stratstone Triumph in Wolves who did not have a clue, nor did they know anything about a recall or headlight bypass relay system, also could not fit it in for a month ?? Triumph in Stoke workshop guy recommended I buy a Harley !!
undeterred by this setback I though I would have a go myself, traced the problem back to the ignition ( surprise surprise ) which had melted on the contacts which supplied power to my starter relay and lights. Now I am going to take these into Triumph in the morning and ask why they are not at least acknowledging people are having this problem worldwide, ordering a headlight relay kit from elsewhere too.

 

[lionel]

Does this help?

It's for the Roadster - but does acknowledge that there has been switch problems.

.

 

[Trirocket3]

Does this help?

It's for the Roadster - but does acknowledge that there has been switch problems.

.

Sneeky devil

 

[jedarocket]

3 days ago my rocket let me down, ( switch meltdown ) luckily I was 1 block from home. I called my dealer and told them about the problem and asked them to call triumph to see what they might be willing to do. Surprise, surprise, there is no problem with ignition switch, but they will gladly sell me a new 1 for $175.00

 

[Viewmasters]

ignition problems

Thanks Lionel, that could come in useful, my bike does not come in the range of vin numbers for a recall, but obviously needs one.
My dad had an S7, the sunbeam factory was only 2 miles from where Iive, even though the later bikes were made in Redditch most of the parts came from the Wolverhampton factory, sad that it is all gone now, along with Norton Villiers Triumph

 

[lionel]

Thanks Lionel, that could come in useful, my bike does not come in the range of vin numbers for a recall, but obviously needs one.
My dad had an S7, the sunbeam factory was only 2 miles from where Iive, even though the later bikes were made in Redditch most of the parts came from the Wolverhampton factory, sad that it is all gone now, along with Norton Villiers Triumph

Nearest I have been to Wolverhampton is the Black Country Museum. They have a motorcycle shop there now, filled with Sunbeams?

Read it somewhere, but not been back to see, they were building a motorcycle shop last time I was there.

Have you been there recently?

Is Sunbeamland in Wolverhampton? Does part of the building still stand?

 

[Viewmasters]

Lionel i am ashamed to say I have never been to the Black Country Museum, i will now i know they have some Sunbeams in Part of the old factory still stands on the 449 Penn Road junction with the ring road, looks a bit sad and boarded up now.Someone has superimposed that Sunbeamland sign on to show how it once looked.
Sorry to you other guys if we strayed off topic but i am quite passionate and proud of old British motorcycles, don't get me started on Brough Superiors and Vincent's, blame my dear departed dad for owning them.
Anyway after talking to the Triumph dealers in 3 local locations they denied any knowledge of an ignition problem and wanted £127 for a new ignition and £34 for a starter fly lead which i had cut into to get me home when the switch decided to melt. So i thought stuff them, this is my bike now and i will modify it anyway i like, having noticed the remote key and RFID modifications on this forum i decided to do away with the ignition switch altogether, just put it back in place for the steering lock and have fitted relays and a toggle switch under the seat for now, will fit a wireless remote or RFID when i decide which i prefer, all for a third of the price Triumph wanted to charge me, as i just made my own fly lead too, happy days i am off for a blast now

 

[lionel]

Moved these later comment to here -

http://www.r3owners.net/bearclaw-corner/16457-old-british-motorcycle-companies.html#post211254

 

[Bobs05]

Here's another, my 2005 Rocket.

Well, I don't know whether I jinxed myself by wearing a BMW Motorcycles shirt yesterday when riding the Rocket, or acknowledging the Eastern Beaver Relay without knowing anything about it, but the bike would not start to get me home from work yesterday. It appears that I have all the symptoms of the dreaded ignition swithch failure.

Yesterday morning I rolled the bike out, turned the key and there was nothing. I turned it off, changed the position of the handlebars, turned it back on, and it started right up. I should have been suspicious right there. After work, it was much worse. The gauges would only do their activation sweep and return intermittently, and there were more times when nothing would happen. When it did look right, the gauges would flash off quickly before the neutral light would stay on. Pressing the starter button did nothing. I could hear a faint click down on the right side, under the cover, assuming that is where the starter relay might be. Horn worked, even when the gauge lights were off. Played with the key, exerted different pressure, moved the wires coming out of the bottom of the ignition cylinder. Could not maintain a solid connection. Numerous repetitions of the same, even tried bump starting it after pushing it up a loading dock ramp. Couldn't engage the starter at all.

Roadside assist from Foremost covered $250 of the $300 tow charge to get me home last night, and the Rocket is in the garage today. Good thing I have the BMW as backup!

This morning, I have found two threads that contain similar stories. I'm going back to resume at page 2 of 10 in the common issues forum about the Ignition switch failure. If I can figure out the bypass fix, I might be able to ride it to the dealer, or hopefully be able to fix it myself. Wish me luck.

 

[idk]

Go to this link and fit a keyless ignition system.