Sorry for the delay...
I had already tried a new battery.. Dealer assures that both grounds were checked. Interesting development though.... The dealer called offering to buy it from me as is... At a STEEP discount of course...
Still no idea what to do...
Hey, sorry I was kidding around because this happens frequently... please understand I didn't mean to dis you, just want to know what happened..
With the newfound revelations, I have to ask how much they offered you?
Now, as was aptly coined moments ago, they a ppear as "schiesters"... so what in their minds, would make them want to drop $5k into repairing a bike because they bought it for a good deal.....? Eh?
When I was in highscholl I was building MGB's and MGA's as a hobby, a kid I knew thought my cars were cool, and picked one up that was pretty nice, but not running... towed it home, plopped a battery in it, and it started, but died, and never started again... he called me up to come over and "fix" it... he had no money, just paid $700 for a non running car... I was a poor kid that had a talent, and an awesome grage filled with tools...(pops was a master mechanic, but ran when I worked on those British cars....)
I went over with some basic tools, a tow strap, a battery, and looked the car over... not bad, it needed work, and a top, but looked ok.. I asked him his money stuation, and he said he was broke... I knew this car needed about $800 to make it "nice".
All looked ok, but some wires underhood were not.. when I looked at the new battery he installed in the rear battery box, I asked him how much he wanted for it, just as it sat. I also told him realistically low prices for the top and other things it needed, basically cost of parts and bring me beer...
He wanted full price, I countered with $575.
And towed it home... pulled the battery out, recharged it, installed a spre voltage regulator I had, and taped up some wires.. and installed the battery correctly, POSITIVE ground.. like all proper Britt machins had, and drove it for 4 years during its restoration, and sold it for $2500 when complete.. same car, as it sat then, would bring $30k.
I didn't schiest him, I just offered him a price... these guys you have wanting this bike are serious offendors, as they are a dealers minions...
So, we here try to help make the owners experience a good one, these are great bikes, and truely even what seem like big issues, are often very simple no cost things... my advice, is get another dealer involved....
Heck, the guys that wanted to buy yours might have read what we said here, and learned something.... bwaaa haaa.
Please, get another opinion, and hold onto it, at least get a reasonable price.
