R1100GS battery / wiring problem?

[repomanbe]

Bike is anniversary R1100GS. Serviced MOT'd August 2010 no issues found by dealer.
Here's the preamble.
Friend has been borrowing bike.
Didn't ride it during the bad weather, when he came to start it found flat battery.
Neighbour has a Jag and offers to jump it for him, they use pair of jump leads found in back of his car.
When applying them to bike leads get hot and smell of burning plastic smelt with Jag engine running and bike ignition on but engine not running (obviously). He pulled jump leads off and decided to take battery out. This he did but didn't take the air inlet pipe off and slide battery out, he lifted up tank as far as he could pull it and pulled battery out the top. He charged battery and replaced it in same manner he removed it.

Here's the symptoms.
Now here's the problem. Ignition is switched off at this point. While connecting the battery the battery light on dashboard comes on and after 10 seconds light wafts of white smoke come out from under tank (high up near centre). Needless to say didn't attempt to reset alarm or start it but disconnected battery and have removed it from bike.

The only historical incident that may be germane is about 2003 the fuel pump stayed on after the ignition was turned off. That was found to be an abraded alarm wire. This is not happening here, fuel pump is not running.

I hope it's going to end up being a moment as I can't afford it to be too expensive

Cheers
Mike

 

[Steptoe]

Being 60 miles away and not having the bike in front of me at the moment and not being present when the attempt at jump starting took place, i haven't a clue.

So for that reason, i'm out.

 

[repomanbe]

So for that reason, i'm out.

Thanks Theo, actually the bike is in Highgate, N6.
PM'd you.

 

[davegs]

Wiring

You obviously have a serious short somewhere under the tank, do NOT try connecting the battery but take off the tank and check for the fault. Connecting the battery or jumping it could easily set the bike on fire!
so don't mess about take of the tank and have a good look.
dave GS.

 

[repomanbe]

I have thanks, the battery is no longer even on the bike. I only went down to London to pick it up after being assured it was fine, just needed the battery put back in.!!!

I think I shall ask Mr Step toe to take it in and nurse it back to health. First time it has failed to start since I bought it in 1997 and its lived outside the entire time, so I shouldn't complain too much.

 

[Pauly S]

If i were to hazard a guess

It would be, you put the jump leads on backwards and fried the alternator.
Which is now smoking probably about 10 bensons a minute.

 

[davegs]

It would be, you put the jump leads on backwards and fried the alternator.
Which is now smoking probably about 10 bensons a minute.

Thats what I wondered, esaly done if doing it o the bike all fits so check this first.
Dave GS

 

[Steptoe]

It would be, you put the jump leads on backwards and fried the alternator.
Which is now smoking probably about 10 bensons a minute.

You wish it was the alternator.

It's usually the loom that's toast. A much more serious problem £££££

 

[repomanbe]

Thanks for all the comments, persuaded the chap who borrowed it that it is his responsibility to get it sorted out. After he's failed I will have to probably