Big Dog Problems

A

Allen King

Guest
Greetings,

I am a new member and I was wondering if anyone else has had problems with their big dog. I have a 2004 big dog chopper that I brought new and love. I have had some electical problems with my bike, such as the tach having to be replaced, the horn not working, and both signals going off and on at the same time. But my biggest problem has been with the bike hesitating while riding. I have had the bike in for service and was told that there nothing that they could do since they did not experience the problem when they took it for a ride. Well last Tuesday I went out for a ride and was only about a mile from my house. I had been stoped at a light when the bike just went dead. There was no power, nothing would work and the bike would not start. After have several tries with drivers behind me honking thier horns I was able to start it up. At this point I decided that I should just turn around and go home. While at another light I was waiting to make a left turn. As I was halfway into the turn my bike went dead again. With no momentum to get through the turn I went down. Big Dog informed that it might be a computer problem, but since my bike was a year out of warrenty that it was not thier problem.
 
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Raywood

Raywood

The Pirate
Staff member
Calendar Participant
Troop Supporter
Welcome to the forum Allen King, first off I would say you have some kind of intermittent electrical problem. As Blitz says pull the tanks and go over the harness real carefully and check for grounds and loose connections.
There is several threads here on re-doing your wiring harness with die-electric grease and shrink tubing the connectors. This will cure a great number of problems. It just takes some time.
If you still have problems then you may have a bad EHC but most problems are from grounded wires and weak connections so check that out first.
BDM is well known for taking care of their customers so if you can't get any satisfaction from your dealer deal with them directly.

Good luck,
Ray
 
Dakotabos

Dakotabos

Well-Known Member
Calendar Participant
Troop Supporter
Allen King said:
Greetings,

I am a new member and I was wondering if anyone else has had problems with their big dog. I have a 2004 big dog chopper that I brought new and love. I have had some electical problems with my bike, such as the tach having to be replaced, the horn not working, and both signals going off and on at the same time. But my biggest problem has been with the bike hesitating while riding. I have had the bike in for service and was told that there nothing that they could do since they did not experience the problem when they took it for a ride. Well last Tuesday I went out for a ride and was only about a mile from my house. I had been stoped at a light when the bike just went dead. There was no power, nothing would work and the bike would not start. After have several tries with drivers behind me honking thier horns I was able to start it up. At this point I decided that I should just turn around and go home. While at another light I was waiting to make a left turn. As I was halfway into the turn my bike went dead again. With no momentum to get through the turn I went down. Big Dog informed that it might be a computer problem, but since my bike was a year out of warrenty that it was not thier problem.
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Allen King How mechanically inclined are you?

With your bike cold go out and start it grab your wife’s hair dryer or yours and hold the hair drier on the cam sensor. The Cam sensor is by your right foot. Its under the plate that says Big Dog. If you need a picture let me know.
Report back to me and let me know if the bike died.

If it didn’t die then it sounds like an EHC and means we have the same bike and I have an Extra EHC let me know. I have how to install a new EHC but installing a non redesigned EHC you just skip cutting the white wire.

What part of the country you from

PS its just dangerous and embarrassing when your dog dies in traffic but I have Been there done that.:bang: :bang:
 
G

Gas Man

Cool isn't cheap
Calendar Participant
Welcome... I won't say anything more...ok I lied...

Stupid question...

Have you checked the spark plugs?
 
C

choppergil

New Member
Hey I had the same exact problems you are having and I just replaced my ehc with the new one big dog came out with and bike works like a champ. Im just 500 dollars poorer
 
A

Allen King

Guest
Thanks everyone for your input. I really don't do any work on the bike myself. I am pretty upset with big dogs response. I had just spent close to a thousand dollars when I had the bike serviced in July. The one thing that I mentioned was that while riding the bike would buck and hesitate like it was going to stop. They told me that they could find no problem with the bike and if a big dog service center tells you that what are you going to do. And this goes back to when the back was under warranty. So I have been riding around with this problem for a year. So now big dogs position is your warranty is up so its not our problem. Right now I have to take the bike in to have it serviced because of the damage caused from going down. My shifter peg is broken off, and the rod connected to the shifter goes all the way back so I can't even get it into gear. I tried contacting Mr. Messer Vice President at Big Dog to ask him about his customer services response but he has not returned my calls. So I filled a compliant with the Better Business Bureau.

Allen.
 
G

Gas Man

Cool isn't cheap
Calendar Participant
If you can prove a pre-existing problem on the bike before the warrenty expirered, you'd be surprised how many times BDM has picked up the tab. I've heard it countless times.
 
csimon

csimon

Member
Allen,

Do not take this response insultingly, but do you keep an eye on the gas level? The reason I say this is that I had the same issue and symptoms that you stated and realized stupidly that I was low on gas...all I had to do was turn to the reserve, restart the bike and whala it was fine.

I am a new owner and felt really stupid, but I had no idea that a low level in a carb bike might stall out from a light.

Just a thought...
 
A

Allen King

Guest
Not insaulted. When I first got my bike I made the same mistake. When this incident happened I had a full tank of gas, and the gas valve was on. My bike did not stall out, all the power just went out.
 
PROFLYER

PROFLYER

SWOLE
The reason they recalled the EHC is because "it could stall the bike and possibly result in crash" You have a case here. They've proven precedent with the previously failed EHC's. It's not about the warranty. I'd call them again and tell them you want the bike fixed and also to help with the repair bills. If they don't budge you better start looking for a good attorney. The reason Big Dog has been so good about their warranty is because it is CHEAPER to just fix the damn thing and keep people happy. Class action lawsuits are extremely expensive and 3% of the time won. Also, most of us, I'm going to assume, are pretty well off. Together I'd bet we have deeper pockets than even big dog themselves. Force them to do the right thing.
 
G

Gas Man

Cool isn't cheap
Calendar Participant
PROFLYER said:
The reason they recalled the EHC is because "it could stall the bike and possibly result in crash" You have a case here. They've proven precedent with the previously failed EHC's. It's not about the warranty. I'd call them again and tell them you want the bike fixed and also to help with the repair bills. If they don't budge you better start looking for a good attorney. The reason Big Dog has been so good about their warranty is because it is CHEAPER to just fix the damn thing and keep people happy. Class action lawsuits are extremely expensive and 3% of the time won. Also, most of us, I'm going to assume, are pretty well off. Together I'd bet we have deeper pockets than even big dog themselves. Force them to do the right thing.
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That might be a good call.
 
Dakotabos

Dakotabos

Well-Known Member
Calendar Participant
Troop Supporter
Big Dog has stood behind there product in my eyes. I may complain once in a while but they stand beside their product :cheers:
 
G

Gas Man

Cool isn't cheap
Calendar Participant
Dakotabos said:
Big Dog has stood behind there product in my eyes. I may complain once in a while but they stand beside their product :cheers:
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everytime!!

About the only time you don't get anywhere with them is when you are a dick.

Remember, you will get farther with honey than with viniger.
 
A

Allen King

Guest
Thanks for all the feedback. Big Dog has called me and wants me to bring the bike in for repair. I don't know what their intentions are but I think they should take some resposibility for my bike dying out on me while in traffic. Aside from the bike dying out on me, I could have been killed and I had damage to the bike that would never have happened if not for the problem. And like I in mentioned in my other statements I had just spent close to a thousand dollars getting other problems corrected. When this happened I had to pay $100 to have my chopper towed a mile back to my house, in addition to that I had to rent a trailer and drive almost 80 miles to the nearest big dog dealer who couldn't find this problem over a year ago when I first noticed a problem. I will have to just wait and see what happens.

Allen.
 
05chop

05chop

Well-Known Member
Just to show what bigdog did for a girl that rides a 2006 chopper that has over 12k miles on the bike . This was before the BDM dealer closed down in ft collins colorado.Bigdog had the bike shipped back to kansas.This bike caught fire near the ehc.Had alot of damage to wires.Sounds like a case study for bigdog.FT Collins didnt have updated voltage regulator at the time of her 10k service. 05chop
 
G

Gas Man

Cool isn't cheap
Calendar Participant
That's the thing you people must understand. BDM will stand behind it and fix it to the customers satisfaction. UNLESS you are a complete a-hole! Amy and Bob both are great to deal with. Easy going and while fixing your problems, even get in a few laughs. I can NOT speak highly enough about how well they have treated me.
 
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