ok...not sure if i will be making any sense, but here goes...(am a bike noob as well)

96 f3 is acting up...after a morning ride, bike will not start...the lights on the panel wont even light up with the ignition turned on...
bike will start with jumper cables, but dies as soon as i remove the cables. i did glance at the battery and the cables seem to be firmly on, at first i would jiggle the battery and the lights would come on, but now...nothin
Also i hear a small click when i do press the start button.

 

Sounds like you need to check the battery or replace it.First tighten up the cables and see what you get.

 

If the battery is completely dead (check with a meter), then the bike most likely won't run. The alternator on the bike doesn't generate enough power to charge the bike at idle, much less keep it running. How old is the battery ?How clean are the terminals ? How is the water level in the battery ?

 

common sense responses...will check them out..thx
whatis fishy is that i can jump the bike, but itdied again when i remove the jumper cables...
kinda makes me feel it aint the battery...assuming the battery only helps the bike start & not to keep it running

 

My bike had trouble running and I replaced the battery which made a 100% improvement. Plus I cleaned carbs and replaced some rubber gaskets/seals.

Go to Batteries Plus and get the Extreme AGM sealed battery. It's only $55 with a core trade in(Of $7). I actually killed the battery completely after my first ride but got it going and it hasn't hesitated since. Plus my gauge lights got brighter along with my headlights.

 

As stated above that is actually a classic case of a dead battery. The Battery does not just start the bike. It also is needed to keep the bike running.

Try this...can't guarantee it is a perfectly definitive test but it may help prove it...

Start the bike up by jumping it. Take volt readings at idle and then at about 2k rmp and 3k rpms. If memory serves it begins charging the battery over about 2800 or so but it may be a bit higher. Rev the bike to about 3500 and pull the jumper cable and see if the bike still runs. If the battery is just very low it should still run. If it is totally gone (majorly sulfated it could still short out). Keep in mind there needs to some battery in the works to keep the circuit completed (hence why a severly sulfated battery can kill the circuit as well). So the jumping process has to be done with a battery still in the circuit.

Dennis

 

looks like it was the battery afterall...just replaced it & the bike started with no probs at all...

thanks for all the input...

 

Before you kill a new battery, get a voltmeter and check the voltage at the battery while you rev the bike to about 5k RPM. The voltage should be near 14v. If it's only at 13v or 12. something, your R/R or stator is dead.

 

^^^ I agree!!