EHC question

[Throttle Jockey]

I have a question for the dog pound. I went to ride my 05 Ridgeback this weekend and it wouldn't start. Wouldn;t turn over at all.
I took the seat off and took a look at the led indicator lights on the EHC. There are two rows of led lights. If your looking at them from the back of the bike there are two rows of lights. About ten lights in each row. The top row has all red lights and the bottom row from left to right are yellow, green, clear, then the rest are red.
When I turn the key on and reach up and push the run button the red light next to the clear one lights up. When you push the start button nothing happens.
I put my battery tender on it and it seems like its taking longer to charge than normal. I just had the VR replaced and the inline fuse installed for the VR. It's been ridden about 75 miles since the VR recall work was done.
Anybody have any tips or links on what it might be? The battery is original so it just hit the three year mark. I'm thinking about starting there but I'm looking for a clue or two from the dog pound before I proceed.

Throttle Jockey

 

[lee]

3 years is a long time for one of these batteries - thats the first thing to look at I think - what happens with the headlight? Is it very dull when you try to start or even on at all?

 

[woodbutcher]

two things in your post raise suspicion.

first you say you tried to crank the bike and it wouldn't. you took off the seat----unless you have the pigtail wired in for the tender, your seat should have already been off.

next you said you hooked up the tender---- this tells me the tender was not hooked up.

remember, if you are not on the bike and it is going to be sitting more than over night, the tender should be on it. more than likely, the battery is just too low to crank the bike. it needs at least 13.6 volts and does not like anything less.

 

[Throttle Jockey]

Thanks Lee, I'm going after the battery first for sure. The headlight didn't look as bright as it should matter of fact.

Wood Butcher,

Mine has the pigtail wired in and it drops out under the battery box. The mechanic that did my Vr tucked it way back up in there. Thank goodness for this board because from reading it I've learned where the LED lights were to my EHC. I went straight there to see what they were doing when it wouldn't start.
I was very good at plugging my Ridgeback in to my tender but lately it has seemed like I didn't need it so I haven't had it on the tender like I used to. ( slap me one time please) After this I'll keep it on there for sure.
My battery voltage was 12.34V without the tender. Plugged the tender in and it started about 13.5 and was up to 14.55v after about an hour. But the tender was still blinking green still charging at 80% charged so this reading was just the charge coming from the tender. Which indicated I would think that the tender is charging. Not neccisarilly that the battery is good.
Can anyone reccomend a good replacement battery? Or would you go with whats in there now?

Throttle Jockey

 

[chacha]

TJ;

I've been running a stock HD AGM battery for a softail for 18 months now. No problem and easy to get from a HD shop.

 

[Gas Man]

Did the turns flash when you tried to start?

Pull the small wire off the starter.. hook up a test light or multi meter... push run, then start. When you press start it should show voltage while pressing the start.

and check this

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/technical/2901-starter-click-click-click.html

 

[Throttle Jockey]

Did the turns flash when you tried to start?

Pull the small wire off the starter.. hook up a test light or multi meter... push run, then start. When you press start it should show voltage while pressing the start.

and check this

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/technical/2901-starter-click-click-click.html

Gas Man,
Thanks for checking my thread. I printed out a fine link someone put up and i cant find the link right now. It was a huge PDF file of a troubleshooting sequence for all kinds of problems. I took it home last night. My daughter had scholarship cerimonies last night so i could only put a quick look at it. Bothered me all night...I'm ready to dig into this thing!
When i check the small wire for 12 volts at the starter that will check the problem all the way to the starter out from the EHC...through the run button and start button...and on to the starter.
One quick question: When reading the troubleshooting guide it said to unplug the jacks on top of the EHC and plug a Backbone...bla bla bla into the EHC and check ceertain terminals for power. What is a backbone bla bla bla ( cant remember exactly how it was named)? That must be a propriotory tool the dealers use to check your EHC or something. I've never heard of a backbone whatever.
One thing i did notice last night when i went in and tried to start it was the voltage sat at 13.3 volts right after i unplugged the tender. It did not drop until I turned the key on. It then dropped to 12.35 i guess from the headlight loading up the circuit. From reading our material here I notice this is too low for startup.
I'm thinking battery first. It is three years old. Even if i have a bad start button or dirty contacts inside my solenoid, I don't need to be running around with a 3 year old battery.
If i remember correctly which i'm quite certain...the turns did not flash on startup. They didn;t turn off or anything just stayed lit.

Thanks for all the help. I think without this site and the people here I wouldn;t have the confidence to proceed. But with everyones expertice around here i know I can do it!

Thanks again to all,
Throttle Jockey

 

[Moespeeds]

If I remember correctly from my starter woes 2 years ago, if you look on the starter there are 2 big fat wires. The small green wire simply opens the connection between these 2 wires? Slide up the boots and run a fat (8 or 10ga) wire between them to jump it. Manually push in your compression releases first, and if your battery has the nuts it will turn over. Your key needs to be on and you'll have to press RUN first. I learned this trick at the Big Dog trailer 2 years ago at Myrtle, the mechanic actually used a screwdriver the first time. I was the dickhead pushstarting his bike at every bar! Since then I keep a short piece of 8ga wire with me. If nothing else, this can tell you if your battery is fucked or it's something else.

 

[lee]

good post Moespeed - thats the spirit throttle jockey

I'll have a go too since joining this site - if there's one thing above all else though that I really struggle to understand its the electrics - let us know how it goes

 

[Throttle Jockey]

I just found the link again. Nomad2day is the person who posted it.

The thing is called a Backbone Breakout Box. WTH is that. I've got a feeling this thing will check the EHC outputs.

Throttle Jockey

 

[Throttle Jockey]

Ok guys....I had some quality time to spend on my Ridgeback night before last. This is what I found:
I took the green wire off the solenoid. Standing it had nine volts. Exactly what the book said it should do. Turned key on, hit run, push start and the 9 volts stayed 9 volts. It should have went to 13 volts ( roughly). I unplugged the pin connector from the EHC that had the harness that headed for the front of the bike. I took two straight pins ( didn't have a breakout box) and took a magnifying glass and figured out which pin number was B6 and B28 and put the straght pins in those two terminals. With the key off I put my ohm meter across these two terminals. They were open. When I pushed the start button the circuit did not close. This indicated a bad start switch ( PCB).
I put everything back together and got to thinking about what Gas man said about the turns flashing. I wanted to check that. Turned the key on and hit my left blinker. It worked. Hit my right blinker. It did not work. This is where the light bulb turned on above my head. When Mancuso gav my Dog a Flea dip the other day (nd i gave them a good thread here on this site for doing good work) they flooded my right hand PCB and it took out the board.
I have water hose washed this bike plenty times myself. I believe I have contributed somewhat to the board being exposed to washing. I have been careful though, to the point i put a plastic bag over my speedo however I do not cover the handlebar controls. I will from now on.
I called Mancuso for a price and it is 65.00 plus tax. I would ask them to pay for it but I have washed the bike too. I will mention about washing the Dogs and tell the manager how important it is to keep water out of these sensitive areas. ( it couldn;t be good for the EHC) to have parts like Handlebar PCB's fry from water. THAT could hurt my EHC! If he getssmart about it and cocks off I'm going up his backside about it and aint paying, however if he listens I'll buy the part.
I am also going to make a real cool jumper switch to stash under my seat and when I through I'm going to post a pic of it here. It will consist of a female slide terminal on one end to plug into my solenoid, a spring loaded start switch, a fuse, and a heavy duty alligator clip. This will allow me ( in case a rain storm takes out my push buttons) to manually push my compression releases and attach this switch i make, turn the key on, start my bike and get on down the road.
Ilearned a heck of a lot about the electronics on my bike and i want to thank the members of this board for allowing me the knowledge to get started on a somewhat complicated system.

Throttle Jockey.

 

[05chop]

This will do the trick! Easy just push button. Drag Specialties :: Electrical > Solenoid Covers & Starter Relays > SOLENOID END COVER/STARTER BUTTONS

 

[Throttle Jockey]

05 chop............THAT is friggin SAWEEEEEEEET! I'm going to get one just as soon as I figure out what KW my starter pulls. So much for all my thinkin.

Also the manager took care of me today when I went in to get my circuit board. Mancuso's does the right thing again!

Throttle Jockey

 

[Gas Man]

That's a good idea 05... I wonder which one we need?

 

[Raywood]

05 chop............THAT is friggin SAWEEEEEEEET! I'm going to get one just as soon as I figure out what KW my starter pulls. So much for all my thinkin.

Also the manager took care of me today when I went in to get my circuit board. Mancuso's does the right thing again!

Throttle Jockey

Your starter is the 2.0/2.4

:flag:

 

[BigDogBro1]

This will do the trick! Easy just push button. Drag Specialties :: Electrical > Solenoid Covers & Starter Relays > SOLENOID END COVER/STARTER BUTTONS

Hopefully the plunger is watertight sealed!

 

[Throttle Jockey]

Thanks Raywood.

The solution to this thread was the circuit board in the Rh handlebar control. My battery was fine. I replaced the handlebar circuit board Saturday and rode all over the place Saturday and Sunday. Just wanted anyone looking to know what the fix ended up being.

Throttle Jockey

 

[05chop]

Good to hear this :2thumbs: