Scared myself, need some help

[Uriel]

Hey all!
So I went and put a new, topped up battery in my 05 Pitbull yesterday, and tried to crank her over for the first time. It cranked twice and died. Now the battery tests normal but the horn won't even sound, no dash lights, nothing. I'm not exactly a world class mechanic, where do I start looking for my problem? Also, I think the bike has the updated wiring harness, there's a bank of LEDs on whatever it is just in front of the battery that all the wiring goes to. Also zero lights/response there.
Ideas? Suggestions?
TIA
Uriel

 

[HMAN]

What battery did you use?

 

[mleach72]

Did you get all the wires hooked up correctly? On my '05 pitbull, there are 3 on the positive. The main cable to the starter, one running to a post that connects to the voltage regulator (there should be an inline fuse between the battery and post), and one running to the ehc. There are 2 on the negative. The main ground cable and one running into one of the harnesses.

 

[Uriel]

Good question! I haven't done anything with it yet but I'll have to go look for all 3

 

[Uriel]

What battery did you use?

I went with a 600CCA lithium ion battery.

 

[mleach72]

I have no experience with a lithium ion, but many guys here say these bikes dont like them.

 

[Coolbreezin]

I went with a 600CCA lithium ion battery.

After a couple of failed lesser value lithium batteries, I've been using a NOCO NPL20 for about 4 years now. Very happy!

 

[Uriel]

Okay, back on track, the battery is definitely not my problem, the no start, no power through the harness is my problem. Does anybody have any suggestions or places I can look for help on that?

 

[Coolbreezin]

Okay, back on track, the battery is definitely not my problem, the no start, no power through the harness is my problem. Does anybody have any suggestions or places I can look for help on that?

About 8 years ago I had a custom bike builder completely rewire my bike just to remove the ehc ($1500). I have only three fuses now. I haven't had an electrical issue since. I highly recommend doing it to avoid any future screwing by Sheldon Coleman (founder of BDM).

 

[Uriel]

So I've come across a.i. chatter about a master fuse I can reset, but I've got a 40-Amp in line with my main positive cable and it's good. What else should I look at to get power from this battery to the bike?
Also, since I'm going to try and take some time to look at this again today, does the main negative cable on three 05 pitbull ground to the engine case or the frame? Might as well check it and make sure it's good...

 

[Mikeinjersey]

So I've come across a.i. chatter about a master fuse I can reset, but I've got a 40-Amp in line with my main positive cable and it's good. What else should I look at to get power from this battery to the bike?
Also, since I'm going to try and take some time to look at this again today, does the main negative cable on three 05 pitbull ground to the engine case or the frame? Might as well check it and make sure it's good...

Welcome to the site!

Provided you have the same or similar wiring to BDM, the 40 amp fuse (resettable circuit breaker) goes to the VR and protects the battery in case of a short or overvoltage from the VR. That would not be your problem it's job is only to charge the battery.
Some lithium batteries (without reset buttons) need to be disconnected and reconnected after it senses an issue before they work again. Give it a try and be sure to have clean and snug connections when you reconnect.
The positive side (cable) of the battery goes to the starter and the smaller wire goes to the EHC. You may have a fuse you can't see installed on that wire. If you follow the wire back to the EHC you may find it. If you find it check it of course . The EHC does everything and if it doesn't get power nothing happens. If it turns out a fuse was not installed you should install one so the EHC will be protected from a shorted battery in the future.
Follow the negative cable back to it's source and make sure the connection is clean and snug. I'm not sure on your bike but it's definitely frame ground.
If none of this helps you, the ignition switch would probably be you first place to start troubleshooting. Come back with how you make out.

 

[Sven]

Yes, I would remove the ground from the frame/engine and file down to bare metal to the engine/frame and to the ground battery cable it flushes against.

I'd also buy a ground cable and bolt that to the engine to frame, or vise verse. This way I have ground to the frame, ground to the engine, and ground to the battery side, meaning all 3 grounds.