I have a problem with the starter relay. I was on a weekend adventure that I go to every July and when I got to the gate the bike stalled and didn't exactly sound right when I restarted it. I then went to my camping site and the bike wouldn't shut off, even with the key in my pocket the started continued to engage so I took off the seat and removed the ground cable from the battery. swore afew times thinking this is going to cost me. I had numerous suggestions on what to do, the one that worked was that I took a screwdriver and placed it between the two posts and gently tapped it, put on the ground strap and away it went. Then I shecked the oil level for some reason a few minutes later and I barely had a speck of oil on the stick, put come oil in and had take some out later because I kept getting different readings, anyways it was at the top of the hash marks when I left and when I got home there was and is oil leaking from the bike and i have no idea where its coming from.
I also borrowed a friends bike to go find some Amsoil which is rare in them parts, because of the storm that went through there was no power in most of the stores, at least the ones that carried oil. I went to a Yami dealer to check on a starter relay, it didn't look like the one I got off ebay so I said Later! So now I'm waiting for a starter relay and I'm goingto wipe around under the bike swing arm where the oil ended up at to see if I get a hint as to where it came from.
I would also like to know how do people know if a Warrior starter relay is better than the original that came with the bike, even the dealer here asked me how do these peoople know its better to have the warrior relay....my answer is I have no Idea !! So how do they know ??
So after etting I sawthat I lost half of my flowering crab apple tree and almost lost a chunk of my leg with the chain saw, went through my jeans and marked my leg like a scratch but didn't break the skin..just luck!

you put to much oil in, 4 litres not a drop more. there is only one way to check the oil properly, someone else will chime in i,m sure, mort. off to the dentist

Its not the to much oil but more info on whats what with starter relays. I never had too much oil to start of with, I usually only fill to about 1/4 in down from top of hash marks. I guess its a question of where would the oil on the swing arm be coming from, any return oil lines coming or going from that area??

There is a specific way to check oil because this bike uses a dry sump. Checking the way you did will give a false read. 4 qts and that it, don't worry about the .3 qts less.

As far as how we know the Warrior relay is better, tell the moron at the dealer to look in service manual at starter relay specs all the info is there
our relay rated at 100amps warrior relay rated at 150amps
the difference is the thickness of metal of the internal contacts.
It's the same as wires, the bigger the ga wire the more amps it can carry, but also as important is the number of wire strands as an example
4ga wire made with 1000 strands vs 4ga with 2000 strands, the 2000 strand has the capability to carry more amps in the same distance of wire.

The warrior relay tho if used, you will need to cross the battery and starter wires because the fuse is not on the same side. so with wire from battery goes to left post, starter wire goes to right post

what happens with starter contacts is they start to build a carbon deposit and stick together, since the relay is a direct connect to battery and does not go thru a fuse, when the contacts stick, only way to shut it down is to pul neg battery cable

If you want to improve the starting and the life span of the relay, get a set of Erbs Full Flow Power Wires. The biggest destroyer of contacts in switches and relays, is low or insufficient amperage. That's what helps with the premature failure of the stock starter relays, (besides the fact their undersized)and even the Warrior relays.
http://roadstarclinic.com/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,187/func,view/id,662705/catid,50/limit,10/limitstart,0/

As far as the chainsaw goes, don't repeat whatever it was the almost got 'you' sent in for repairs.

Only put 4 quarts of oil back into the bike after draining the oil and filter. If it's not burning it or leaking, that'll last until the next time

SKWEARpeg wrote:
If you want to improve the starting and the life span of the relay, get a set of Erbs Full Flow Power Wires.

+10!

I made my own 4 ga starter wires last year but couldn't source the appropriate lugs. They were an improvement over stock, but my bike was still a little tempermental (HC pistons need more power, and although I have the Thunderfire starter, if it isn't getting juice, it makes no difference.)

I have the Warrior relay and Erbman's cables. Now - BOOM! One touch and off we go. One of the best mods I made to the bike, and Erb's cables are IMPECCABLE quality. Highly recommended.

I also find switching to Iridium plugs made a difference.

George

Thanks for all the info guys. And thanks to Erb for the relay info, I'm going to the shop with the info and to pick up the starter relay I had ordered even tho its the standard R* one. Also the DI*K is charging me $12. more than what it was 25o miles away. Hes the only one in my area!

Put my new (standard) starter relay in last nite, realized the one that I previously installed was from a Warrior because the wires were crossed and not thinking I put the new one in and it didn't work till I uncrossed the cables. I also think I found the cause of the engine light being on all the time. There was a small wire disconnected, probably done it removing the side cover. Anyways...live & learn. I still have to clean the bike and see if I can figure out where the oil drip from swing arm area came from. As for starting I have Max Air 4ga. cables and 310 cranking amps and now a new relay from Yamaha.
Hope its restored to a good running condition.

Your oil leak is an oil vent tube that run down the frame just in front of the swing arm. Don't use the dip stick to monitor your oil level or you will end up over filling you oil every time because it never reads the same. As long as you have no leaks showing on the ground you use 4 quarts when you change the oil and filter and forget it until next oil change time.

Curt wrote:
Your oil leak is an oil vent tube that run down the frame just in front of the swing arm. Don't use the dip stick to monitor your oil level or you will end up over filling you oil every time because it never reads the same. As long as you have no leaks showing on the ground you use 4 quarts when you change the oil and filter and forget it until next oil change time.

good advice.I too just learned this the hard way, by checking the oil too many times and overfilling for the prob 3. time. Until learning my lesson I know... my stupid ass....
I'm gonna totally forget about the stick now.. I put in about 3,5 liters and forget about it.
I'm aint even gonna ask how to check. I've tested all those methods described. never get the same reading anyhow. Now I abused my love for the last time by getting oil all over and choking one cylinder in the process..

I too learned some things now about compression and starting issues etc when having HC pistons and cam. Just wish I knew all that before doing everything wrong now I've ordered starter relay from warrior 1700, irridium plugs to try out, not that it was the plugs, but I really wanna try Irridium, and a more powerful battery is on the list next time.
btw is the big crank battery the right stuff for a HC engines or mabey those Lithium like this:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shorai-Li-Battery-Duration-Fits-Yamaha-XV1600-Road-Star-1999-2003-LFX27L3-BS12-/330955597065?pt=AU_Motorcycle_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d0e7da509&vxp=mtr

sorry for hijacking