Sparks shooting out of the clutch cable. HELP!

[Odeaten]

I'm having the strangest problem........i have no idea wtf. ok the bike is rapid clicking when i try to start up like the battery is bad but i charged it and its still doing the same thing. so i was doing a wiggle test and when i push in the clutch lever and try to start it.........sparks shoot out of the clutch cable. the bike turns over too. but yeah its melting the cable internally. i followed the cable and there are no wires touching it or anything. im lost. maybe theres a bad ground somewhere and the current is going threw the clutch cable???? idk that doesn't sound possible. ill make a vid if i have to [confused]

[kab]

Make a video, this sounds very interesting. What year model bike?

[RT Performance]

definetly a ground issue it's trying to ground the motor from the clutch cable

[ct1200]

Sparks are coming from the clutch lever or output down at the trans?

Yes Vid plz, gotta see this.

[Odeaten]

ok its a ground issue. if i touch a jumper cable from the clutch cable to the ground strap it turns over well if i touch it to just about anything north of the rear section ie. headers, gas tank, rear swing arm. i think im missing a ground can anyone show me all of the ground points?

[Odeaten]

its a 03 xb9s

and out of the lever

[Rays]

Yep, heard this one a few times - check the engine grounding strap that runs from the upper engine mount to the frame across the upper tie bar. You will need to remove the airbox and airbox base to access this.

This is the high current grounding path from engine to frame - have you had any work done in this area?

[c818919]

Rays is right on....+1

[Sirius815]

[up] very sound diagnosis.

[loose1]

Check the ground wire behind the headlights attached to the headlight modules too.
Matt

[CowboyKS]

POST PICTURES! I gotta see this!

[user_deleted]

think this has been established now but it is absolutely a ground problem...broken ground. toyota hi-lux and early tacoma pickup trucks did this from mid 80's thru mid 90's. the truck would attempt to use either the speedo cable or the auto trans shifter cable as a ground and would burn up those cables. look at steering neck cable, frame cross cable at rear of air box, and the one in front of battery tray. you'll find it.

[anrkizm95]

look at steering neck cable, frame cross cable at rear of air box, and the one in front of battery tray. you'll find it. [up]

[BuellRiderX]

What Rays said [up]

I had the same exact problem on the blast I used to have.

[Odeaten]

yeah it was the top of motor to frame ground. it was broken i guess from the crash, hmmm i think after this im going to do a grounding kit. thanks for the help guys.

oh and for those of you who wanted pics sorry but my clutch cable is already messed up from this so i wont be doing it anymore. but if you want feel free to remove the ground on your own bike and observe.

DANGER! HOT SPARKS SHOOT OUT! wear ansi approved safety glasses ;)

[Sirius815]

Glad you got it fixed with no hassle. May be time to replace the clutch cable just for safety's sake?

[unionthug]

From the crash??? Nice.