2003 Aluminum electrical issue

[gfritzmeier]

My bike keeps blowing fuses. The one that goes to the key switch. Uses 15amp and I've been using 20 lately and know that's not right. I've did the best I could to follow the wire to see if I could find anything wrong to no avail.  The battery hasn't been holding a charge also and don't know what the drain is. By hitting the kill switch when stopped for any length of time seems to work and I could live with that. I've always wondered if it has anything to do with the started as every once in a while when started it will go click, click, vrrooom. I put that off as the battery but don't know.  Now just yesterday after starting the started stays on for a few seconds, feels like minutes.  I'd welcome any ideas but got to let you know that I know almost nothing when it comes to electrical.  Thanks in advance.

[oldbike54]

 Do you live in a wet climate ?

  Dusty

[gfritzmeier]

Nope.  Live in southern Minnesota.

[Kiwi Dave]

Does the fuse blow after the ignition is switched on, but before the starter is activated?  The starter itself is not protected by any fuse, but the solenoid is.

[gfritzmeier]

Kiwi,  I'm not exactly sure when it goes but yes the starter is not activated. So are you thinking it has something to do with the solenoid? And could the solenoid also have something to do with starter sounding like it's still activated for a while after bike is running?

[Wayne Orwig]

If the solenoid hangs, that can cause it to blow the fuse.
I think I would have the starter cleaned.

[rodekyll]

Is this a year with the disintegrating magnet starter motor?

[Chuck in Indiana]

Sounds to me like the solenoid is sticking..

[gfritzmeier]

So I replace the solenoid???  Do ya think that could have anything to do with fuse blowing???
 

[oldbike54]

So I replace the solenoid???  Do ya think that could have anything to do with fuse blowing???

 Try giving everything a thorough cleaning , and like Mr Orwig stated , yes it will blow the fuse .

  Dusty

[Chuck in Indiana]

Try giving everything a thorough cleaning , and like Mr Orwig stated , yes it will blow the fuse .

  Dusty

It's a fairly common issue, and normally cleaning will fix it.

[gfritzmeier]

Been on vacation and didn't get to answering the good advice you guys have given me. Now I don't don't know if I should be starting a new thread but I'm not sure exactly what gets cleaned or how to do it. Any advice given would be greatly appreciated.