Why the neutral and oil light on when it gets wet?

[Nomad2day]

Why is it everytime I get caught in some rain or try to wash the crap off my bike the neutral light and oil light comes on and stays on for a few days. What part getting wet is causing this? My speedometer stays fogged up in riding anymore too in the cold 40"s anyway. What do I have to protect to keep it from shorting something out. The bike is a 07 Bulldog with a replacement speedometer in it.
Neil in Tenn.

 

[narow37]

you need to dielectric grease all connections under the gas tank and then shrink rap them.
http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/how/218-how-where-shrink-wrap-your-wires.html

 

[V]

My 05 did this when water got in side of the control switches on the handle bars in the rain. I cover them and don't directly spray the spedo. Typically I will clean the bars, controls, mirrors and spedo, etc with somelike windex that will evaporate and lightly spray everything else with the hose. then dry with the leaf blower for now

V

 

[Raywood]

Also do the tach/instrument light connection inside the speedo case. And ensure that your connections inside your hand controls are bathed in die-electric grease.

That should do it other than ensuring your EHC is full of die-electric grease and I'm sure it is.

Good luck,
Ray

 

[Vegas]

Very simple....both lights are activated by a ground. Water from the light to ground completes the circuit.

 

[Nomad2day]

I will pull those items apart and seal them, the handle gear and speedo. It is more aggravating than anything.
I need to order a can of the sealer that was in a older post for the boards.
I always blow dry the dang bike off and no hard water pressure but the bike ain't no garage queen. It gets dirty and a Kleenex and squirt bottle is not going to cut it. I have been caught in the rain two days in a row, but I ride what is handed out to me in Tennessee.
Vegas, where is the ground being completed. The potential between 0 and 5 volts is not much and just a little water somewhere will complete the circuit. Just want to know where to focus my work to keep it open under wet conditions.
Neil in Tenn

 

[Raywood]

I will pull those items apart and seal them, the handle gear and speedo. It is more aggravating than anything.
I need to order a can of the sealer that was in a older post for the boards.
I always blow dry the dang bike off and no hard water pressure but the bike ain't no garage queen. It gets dirty and a kleenex and squirt bottle is not going to cut it. I have been caught in the rain two days in a row, but I ride what is handed out to me in Tenneesse.
Neil in Tenn

I hear you Neil, I'm in the only classified Rain Forest in the Continental US and that's why I completely sealed my wiring from filling all the connections with grease then shrink wrapping them then filling the ends with RTV. Probably over kill but I just came across country and didn't have a problem and I came through some heavy rain.

Getter done!!!!!

 

[Nomad2day]

Raywood,
Think I can find a cold beer up your way? I am game to ride up and have a few with ya.....
I think I am going to go out and look under my rear fender just so I can tell Gasman I did.
Neil in Tenn

 

[Vegas]

I don't know where it's grounding out, but it has to be somewhere both wires or connections are present. More than likely at the speedo or under tank connector.

 

[dogvet]

I don't know where it's grounding out, but it has to be somewhere both wires or connections are present. More than likely at the speedo or under tank connector.

Just a suggestion, when it happens, disconnect the neutral switch at the plug on top of the tranny. if the light stays on, water is getting in somewhere, probably in around the tach board. there was a service bulletin to have the foam that the tacxh board sits in replace with closed cell foam. the foam. the foam they were using was open cell (like a sponge!)

 

[Staffy]

Under the tank "LAST"

All GREAT suggestions from the pro's.
Here's my 2 cents. I have a '07 K9 limited edition. When I had my tank removed, noticed that the cable harness was well wrapped and protected against nature’s elements. I would imagine that this would be the case with all the newer bikes, including yours. (BD must have realized that this was a major issue and decided to redo/re-engineer the harness below the tank). That being the case I would recommend following most of the posts and if all fails then and only then tackle the tank harness.

 

[kcnjamie]

Neal,

Also for the fogging, there is a new speedo that your dealer can put on for free. It is a known issue. Tell them to order you one from the factory.

Casey

 

[dogvet]

All GREAT suggestions from the pro's.
Here's my 2 cents. I have a '07 K9 limited edition. When I had my tank removed, noticed that the cable harness was well wrapped and protected against nature’s elements. I would imagine that this would be the case with all the newer bikes, including yours. (BD must have realized that this was a major issue and decided to redo/re-engineer the harness below the tank). That being the case I would recommend following most of the posts and if all fails then and only then tackle the tank harness.

the backbone harness is well protected, but I have seen them itty-bitty connectors get smashed buy the tank. Anytime you have the tank off, check the tunnel of the tank for places where the harness or connectors have rubbed the paint off. I've seen many of those connectors broken by the tank. It can be aggravated by worn rubber tank mounts.

 

[Gas Man]

Raywood,
Think I can find a cold beer up your way? I am game to ride up and have a few with ya.....
I think I am going to go out and look under my rear fender just so I can tell Gasman I did.
Neil in Tenn

What ever do you mean?

 

[Nomad2day]

Dogvet, Vegas and company,
All good sugestions....
If it is still glowing in the morning when I go to work I will pull the connector on top of the tranny. The tank has been pulled off at the shop so I will take a look to see what I have. I would rather pull the speedo off and send it to big dog before taking it to the shop again...:angry:
I need to pull the hand controls off and coat the boards with the spray...
I am off this weekend and will start to take care of the bike.
Gasman, one of your other post on checking the wiring on the fender lip......
It needs some loving.
Neil in tenn

 

[Raywood]

Dogvet, Vegas and company,
All good sugestions....
If it is still glowing in the morning when I go to work I will pull the connector on top of the tranny. The tank has been pulled off at the shop so I will take a look to see what I have. I would rather pull the speedo off and send it to big dog before taking it to the shop again...:angry:
I need to pull the hand controls off and coat the boards with the spray...
I am off this weekend and will start to take care of the bike.
Gasman, one of your other post on checking the wiring on the fender lip......
It needs some loving.
Neil in tenn

Neil, that nuetral plug on top of the tranny has two large openings on top that allow lots of water in. I sealed mine up with RTV!! When you check it you will know what I'm talking about.

:flag:

 

[Gas Man]

OIC Neil...

Yeah there are wires inside the fender and under the fender struts

Please look at the wires on the right (front of the fender)... ignore the wires sticking back in on the left side of the pic, that were there just as I was assembling the fender and struts

 

[Vegas]

Neil, that nuetral plug on top of the tranny has two large openings on top that allow lots of water in. I sealed mine up with RTV!! When you check it you will know what I'm talking about.

:flag:

The only way both lights would be illuminated is if you had a short to ground at the neutral swith and from the connection at the speedo of the neutral light and oil light. It is definitely possible.