Newbie stuck in Wales without a sidestand!

Message

bikefish · #1 Post by **bikefish** » Sun May 03, 2009 11:16 pm

Hi All,

Nice to join the community and my favorite Aprilia site. Had my 2000 Falco since March and enjoying more with every ride.

But the inevitable happened with the bog standard sidestand. After a ride yesterday, it came loose and when I tried to kick it up it just dropped down, it had also snapped the wiring to the stand. I had no socket or spanner in my toolkit to screw the bolt back in and it was stuck. Fortunately a Mille rider gave me some cable ties to hold the stand up so I could ride home.

So now the sidestand light is permantly on, but the worrying thing is that since the incident when I stop the bike I get a little white smoke, not lots, and a burning smell. Again this is only since the sidestand cable snapped. But now I am wondering if this is caused by the sidestand wiring or maybe co incidental and something else entirely?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Bearing in mind I am totally useless with the mechanical side of bikes beside changing an oil filter or wheel.

Falcopops · #2 Post by **Falcopops** » Mon May 04, 2009 2:47 am

Greetings Bikefish,

Unusually that doesn't sound like the typical side stand issue (seems as though you just lost your springs), although the light staying on does suggest the plastic pin is a goner. I'm assuming it's a std Aprilia stand.

I'm surprised that the bike runs with the stand light on as the circuitry should cut the motor if you try to ride off, so it looks like a bit of investigation is needed.

I'd suggest that you take the sidestand switch off by disconnecting the white connector (follow the wire) then connect the two outside terminals in the switch to simulate the stand up conditions. This should eliminate the possibility of any other electrical gremlins while you get it all sorted out.

Is the white smoke and burning smell coming from the electrics or the exhaust?

If it's the electrics the above fix should cure it for now. If it's the exhaust I'd think it's unrelated, but can't suggest a cause other than water in the cylinders.

Hopefully others will be along in a mo with even greater wisdom and less doom and gloom.

Aladinsaneuk · #3 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Mon May 04, 2009 7:24 am

what he said

i suspect that the snapped cable is earthing through the frame and possible that is causing the electrickery smell ?

i believe a cunningly bent paperclip works as a temporary bridge for the switch

if you get hold of a firestorm stand and switch that will fit straight into the wiring loom, and you just have to change the firestorm leg for the falco leg

bikefish · #4 Post by **bikefish** » Mon May 04, 2009 9:30 pm

Hi Falcopops,

I will have a go at your suggestion.

The white smoke seemed to be coming from just underneath the petrol tank area, not the exhaust. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that the guy who helped me twisted all the broken wires together from the broken sidestand lead. Would this cause problem?

Thank you Aladinsaneuk maybe the best thing to do is carry out your suggestion and replace the whole thing. The plastic pin does appear to have snapped off or disappeared. Will the replacement VTR stand come with its own one?

Falcopops · #5 Post by **Falcopops** » Mon May 04, 2009 9:48 pm

bikefish wrote:Maybe it had something to do with the fact that the guy who helped me twisted all the broken wires together from the broken sidestand lead. Would this cause problem?

I should coco! Big hand to the bloke for helping a brother out and perhaps I'm being overly critical, but you'd think he'd do a decent bodge. 1st thing you need to do is find the connector and disconnect it.

Since the wires are broken you can use them to make the correct connection (Brown/Green joined to Blue/Green, solder if you can) and insulate it well, also cut and insulate the Brown/Black wire. Then reconnect and tape/zip tie out of the way.

I'd reckon that'll cure the smoke and make things safeish as there won't be any cut out if the stand is left down.

bikefish wrote:The plastic pin does appear to have snapped off or disappeared. Will the replacement VTR stand come with its own one?

If you get the switch with it.

Aladinsaneuk · #6 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Mon May 04, 2009 10:06 pm

with the switch - yes

the vtr wiring plugs straight into the falco loom btw

(It will not work beyond the light however.... as in the light comes on to show the sidestand is down but that is it - ie no cut out or all that jazz!)

Fausto · #7 Post by **Fausto** » Tue May 05, 2009 2:03 pm

Aladinsaneuk wrote: the vtr wiring plugs straight into the falco loom btw

I should point out that this is not always the case. Mine didn't. However it was easy enough to get round.

bikefish · #8 Post by **bikefish** » Tue May 05, 2009 7:34 pm

Guys thanks again for your help some great pointers, really appreciated.