Up in smoke

[graham]

Hi all
Just been in the garage and knocked the bike's handle bars and set off the alarm,(Meta 357t) when the noise stopped there was a smell of electric's.
Then a small whisp of smoke from between the tank and seat,so I rushed for the keys to take the seat off and picked up the spanner and allen keys to take the freshley brimmed tank off to get at the battery,on doing so I felt the alarm which was to hot to touch and more smoke was pouring out of the connector.I then ripped out the alarm from it's loom and all is well.
But now the bike won't run without the alarm connected.as soon as connected it smokes but I can start the bike and ripout the alarm and it still runs.
The big question is do I
Rip it all out and do without?
buy a new one ?
Buy a second hand one?
Does any one know if the wiring looms on the new Meta's fit the old units?

Regards
graham

 

[fundura]

I have yet to see a nicely fitted alarm to any bike,
So just junk it,And resolder/repair the loom that was savaged when fitted.
Alarms are nothing but trouble

 

[illustratedman]

Alarm

I agree, junk it and buy a big chain.

 

[D6]

buy a chain as said, and alarm the garage, bike alarms wont stop anyone taking it

 

[elevensies]

take it off, and 2 big chains

 

[John Armstrong]

One of the first jobs with my "new" 1100 was to get rid of the alarm, even though it was fully functioning, and no hint of bother with it. Not a quick job though.

Alarms are almost on par with disc locks as work of the devil

 

[DollyRocket]

I hate my alarm - but it is a necessary evil where I work . Is there a mobile auto-electrician locally that has experience with bike alarms - you may be able to just swap out the box (but you will need your fobs recoding to work though).

It sounds like a component inside the box has gone short (if it is getting hot), probably a FET on a power rail or something. I believe they are all potted (encased in glue) so it is unlikely that you can fix it at home - although you could open the case and see? Also check for damage to the alarm box, cracks etc which could have shown that the unit was damaged - it is odd that it would work fine one day and then spectacularly fail the next.

The unfortunate thing with alarms is that there genuinely are no user servicable parts inside, If it is a fault with the box and not something external then you may have to take the route of forking out for another. (or junking it completely).

I have also looked at the alarmed chains / locks that you can get now to give a similar warning when your bike has gained adoring glances by scroats but without messing with the bikes circuitry.

http://www.xenasecurity.com/home/current/lock/

 

[DrFarkoff]

I have yet to see a nicely fitted alarm to any bike,
So just junk it,

Obviously Didn;t see the foreman and my work fitting Metas at teh dealers we took great pride in dong the job right!

If you need help on what to do send me a message and I'll send you a number

 

[graham]

well fitted

I have yet to see a nicely fitted alarm to any bike,
So just junk it,And resolder/repair the loom that was savaged when fitted.
Alarms are nothing but trouble

My alarm was on the bike when I got it and was a very neat job almost invisable,it's just a shame it's gone wrong after 7 years of trouble free use!

 

[shready]

My alarm was on the bike when I got it and was a very neat job almost invisable,it's just a shame it's gone wrong after 7 years of trouble free use!

Yeah, but when it does go wrong it's a pain in the 'Arris.

 

[graham]

Yeah, but when it does go wrong it's a pain in the 'Arris.

OOOOOOOOHHHH yes.Point taken.

 

[shready]

OOOOOOOOHHHH yes.Point taken.

I had a perfectly good Spyball alarm on my 1150 RT but didn't have the codes if it needed to be reset. I had it removed properly ASAP and got the loom re-taped.

 

[graham]

now sorted

Bike now back on the road less the smoke.
Thanks for all the replies,it all made sense in the end

 

[King Rat]

I have a very simple alarm fitted to the handlebars. It is a movement detector, so any movement, or trying to rip it off, sets it off. Nothing wired in other than a live feed. Job done. It is also unobtrusive, so kids playing with the handlebars get a mighty shock - great sport whilst having a coffee at a pavement cafe!

 

[Fanum]

Yeah, but when it does go wrong it's a pain in the 'Arris.

Same with any bit of any bike though

Alarms very rarely go wrong....in most cases, it's the fitting that is to blame.
If you ever see a bike alarm fitter approaching your bike with a scotchlock connector in his toolbox, tell him to fekk off