Need help properly diagnosing bad EHC before buying a new unit.

Energy One
JDouce83

JDouce83

Member
Hey guys.

So to make a very long story relatively short, In june I took my 03 chopper to laconia for bike week. I had an issue the days before with my battery dying. I replaced it prior to the ride and checked the voltage output after the new battery was installed. With the bike just started and the choke on, I was getting about 17+ volts at the battery. Being a car mechanic and not knowing a ton about motorcycle electronics, I thought it seemed high but decided to ride anyways (huge expensive mistake #1) also, I was planning on riding with a harley master tech that day anyways, so I planned on picking his brain. Anyways, met up with the guys and asked and immediately we decided my voltage regulator was going. Again, not knowing the seriousness of this, I decided to ride anyways. We made it all the way to laconia and about 9/10ths of the way back (about 150 miles) and the bike shut off. I pulled over and pulled the seat off and the battery was smoking like crazy. So I spoke to a few guys on this forum and was put in the right direction on what VR to buy and to add circuit protection. I have since put a brand new battery, a compufire VR, and wired in a 40A fuse. Now the bike will crank but will not fire. I noticed im not getting the light on my ignition module like I used to, so im suspecting the EHC is fried. I just started a new job as a union pipefitter, which for the time being has me taking a pretty hefty pay cut so I'd rather not dump more money into this thing without determining what the exact problem is. So how exactly do I determine if my EHC has indeed shit the bed? And once I have narrowed it down, what is the most cost effective/labor UN-intensive way of replacing the EHC. I was going to go with the one on wild steed works because it seems to be the cheapest and easiest to install, I just wasn't sure if that was my best bet. Any input is appreciated guys!! Ihave already lost pretty much the entire riding season, and am just trying to get this god damn thing running so I can maybe salvage a ride or two before winter hits. I'm going to include a few pics of my setup, just so you guys can see what im working with. Again the bike is an 03 chopper RT. Thanks

IMG_4340.JPG IMG_4341.JPG
 

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Th3InfamousI

Th3InfamousI

Administrator
Staff member
You got power to anything???? ...



I'd suspect your EHC is fried if I recall you had no circuit protection to the EHC. I had the same issue and like yourself fried it all. I didn't get much of a warning just one tough start



I don't have much experience with the 03. However I thought for sure that EHC is really just a thunderheart in unit with a big dog logo.

Someone else will chime in but you should be able to call thunderheart and order a replacement. If you ask nicely they may even hook up the JST for you so it's plug and play? Worth a shot. Unit is about $300

http://www.thunder-heart.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?search=yes&bc=no&catalogid=289






Sent from my 831C using Tapatalk
 
KaptinAmerika

KaptinAmerika

Guru
You definitely toasted the EHC with that kind of voltage.
The Thunderheart is not a direct Plug N Play, and no they will not do any wiring for it.
You could go with our kit as it is a relatively simple install and solves a couple of problems the old system had.
If you give me the number off your EHC we may have one in stock here that you can simply plug in and go also.
 
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JDouce83

JDouce83

Member
KaptinAmerika said:
You definitely toasted the EHC with that kind of voltage.
The Thunderheart is not a direct Plug N Play, and no they will not doing any wiring for it.
You could go with our kit as it is a relatively simple install and solves a couple of problems the old system had.
If you give me the number off your EHC we may have one in stock here that you can simply plug in and go also.
Click to expand...
That's what I'm figuring. This is my ehc.... image.jpeg
 
bigkelk9

bigkelk9

Well-Known Member
I know u don't want to spend the money, but whatever you get is just going to go out again.. I'd strongly suggest anyone who puts serious mikes on their bikes to upgrade and get a new harness and new controls to get rid of the computer side of it as well as cleaning the whole system up.. that rats nest big dog has is horrible.. but good luck brother..
 
bigkelk9

bigkelk9

Well-Known Member
bigkelk9 said:
I know u don't want to spend the money, but whatever you get is just going to go out again.. I'd strongly suggest anyone who puts serious mikes on their bikes to upgrade and get a new harness and new controls to get rid of the computer side of it as well as cleaning the whole system up.. that rats nest big dog has is horrible.. but good luck brother..
Click to expand...
Miles... not mikes.. lol
 
KaptinAmerika

KaptinAmerika

Guru
bigkelk9 said:
I know u don't want to spend the money, but whatever you get is just going to go out again.. I'd strongly suggest anyone who puts serious mikes on their bikes to upgrade and get a new harness and new controls to get rid of the computer side of it as well as cleaning the whole system up.. that rats nest big dog has is horrible.. but good luck brother..
Click to expand...
I have 50,000 miles on my K9 with a stock electrical system, excluding my LED light and Lithium-Ion battery, so how does that thinking apply globally.
Maintain your BD properly, don't tinker with it like so many do and it will provide plenty of trouble free miles.
Majority of the people are having issues because they bought a BD that wasn't maintained properly, despite what the seller tried to convince them of, or they think they can take care of it and don't need to take it to shop, albeit there are plenty of shops with people in them that think they know what their doing but don't. Even better is the owner that has a battery/charging problem so their battery goes dead and they try to jump it off od a running car or truck and BOOM goes the EHC.
 
bigkelk9

bigkelk9

Well-Known Member
KaptinAmerika said:
I have 50,000 miles on my K9 with a stock electrical system, excluding my LED light and Lithium-Ion battery, so how does that thinking apply globally.
Maintain your BD properly, don't tinker with it like so many do and it will provide plenty of trouble free miles.
Majority of the people are having issues because they bought a BD that wasn't maintained properly, despite what the seller tried to convince them of, or they think they can take care of it and don't need to take it to shop, albeit there are plenty of shops with people in them that think they know what their doing but don't. Even better is the owner that has a battery/charging problem so their battery goes dead and they try to jump it off od a running car or truck and BOOM goes the EHC.
Click to expand...
What it boils down to for me is I live in the Houston area where rain isn't a stranger to come up on ya without warning and all that computer bs that's no water friendly will leave you stranded. I got caught in the rain heading home one time for 3 hours and the bike did just fine as to before on the chopper I had I replaced one switch controller and an ehc after getting caught in the rain for ten minutes... so that's where my THINKING cones from..
 
KaptinAmerika

KaptinAmerika

Guru
bigkelk9 said:
What it boils down to for me is I live in the Houston area where rain isn't a stranger to come up on ya without warning and all that computer bs that's no water friendly will leave you stranded. I got caught in the rain heading home one time for 3 hours and the bike did just fine as to before on the chopper I had I replaced one switch controller and an ehc after getting caught in the rain for ten minutes... so that's where my THINKING cones from..
Click to expand...
Makes total sense in that situation for sure.
 
BWG56

BWG56

Guru
KaptinAmerika said:
I have 50,000 miles on my K9 with a stock electrical system, excluding my LED light and Lithium-Ion battery, so how does that thinking apply globally.
Maintain your BD properly, don't tinker with it like so many do and it will provide plenty of trouble free miles.
Majority of the people are having issues because they bought a BD that wasn't maintained properly, despite what the seller tried to convince them of, or they think they can take care of it and don't need to take it to shop, albeit there are plenty of shops with people in them that think they know what their doing but don't. Even better is the owner that has a battery/charging problem so their battery goes dead and they try to jump it off od a running car or truck and BOOM goes the EHC.
Click to expand...
Do you know if the TH in the RIP 1 and 2 can take a jump from a running vehicle?
 
BWG56

BWG56

Guru
KaptinAmerika said:
I have never actually tried doing it but I would have to say, it being low voltage. it has the potential to likely suffer the same failures as the EHCs can suffer.
Click to expand...
Well we saw Matt shoot one, submerge it in water, run over it and drag it behind the bike, I wonder if he;s up to jumping one, no pun intended :oldlaugh:
What do ya think Matt?
 
KaptinAmerika

KaptinAmerika

Guru
Remembering that it may not lead to an immediate failure as the damage may be incurred but will simply limit the life of a critical component which then fails at a later time.
My personal feeling, if anyone cares...LOL, is you should never jump a motorcycle of any type, brand blah blah blah from any source other than the new small jump boxes available. That just rules out something that can kill your ride completely. God knows there are enough other things out there to worry about already.
 
BWG56

BWG56

Guru
KaptinAmerika said:
Remembering that it may not lead to an immediate failure as the damage may be incurred but will simply limit the life of a critical component which then fails at a later time.
My personal feeling, if anyone cares...LOL, is you should never jump a motorcycle of any type, brand blah blah blah from any source other than the new small jump boxes available. That just rules out something that can kill your ride completely. God knows there are enough other things out there to worry about already.
Click to expand...
Damn right there is, in Lancaster county here you have to watch out for the damn road apples, I don't know why they don't have to clean that shit up. Imagine if ya just pulled over, got outta your car an took a dump on the road and then just left, WTF :eek: :oldhardlaugh:
 
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