Bike died and speedometer acts whacky

[Nukeranger]

Rode 3 years with no horn. Inspection place assumed I wasn’t required a horn. Found the issue the other day being a broken wire. It’s always something but fixed. I need to order new pegs from Donna but this can wait. Rubber wears after a few years. Otherwise, I just need to do a good polishing. Thinking about applying ceramic coatin frame Adams since I have some left. It’s so easy to clean.

 

[ChopperJeff]

This morning the bike wouldn't start. Seems that the battery was not putting out enough. New battery and been riding it every day, so no reason for it to be bad. The weird thing is when I tried to jump start it to my car, it still wouldn't start. Just cranked very slowly until it just died. Then I noticed a whisp of smoke coming up from near the battery.

At this point within all my frustration and anger, I feel I should never have bought this thing. Hardly 3 weeks into owning it and it's been just a big headache.

Maybe once I calm down and collect my thoughts I'll feel differently. Maybe just need a few days away from it and give my mind a rest.

 

[HMAN]

This morning the bike wouldn't start. Seems that the battery was not putting out enough. New battery and been riding it every day, so no reason for it to be bad. The weird thing is when I tried to jump start it to my car, it still wouldn't start. Just cranked very slowly until it just died. Then I noticed a whisp of smoke coming up from near the battery.

At this point within all my frustration and anger, I feel I should never have bought this thing. Hardly 3 weeks into owning it and it's been just a big headache.

Maybe once I calm down and collect my thoughts I'll feel differently. Maybe just need a few days away from it and give my mind a rest.

I understand ur pain man. If you push thru the ugly, the Dog will be ur best friend. Just takes a bit of time n patience to get her right. Some folks(PO) just dont know how to care for one of these animals and you get to make her bark again. BUT, like Rosann Rose Annadanna says...."Its always something!" You'll have her ripping down the road soon, hang in there.

 

[ChopperJeff]

I understand ur pain man. If you push thru the ugly, the Dog will be ur best friend. Just takes a bit of time n patience to get her right. Some folks(PO) just dont know how to care for one of these animals and you get to make her bark again. BUT, like Rosann Rose Annadanna says...."Its always something!" You'll have her ripping down the road soon, hang in there.

Thanks, you're probably right. Just wondering, did Big Dog ever fix the issue with the starters getting oil in them and frying? I know my previous 2005 Big Dog Chopper went thru numerous starters in the 7 years, and 87000 miles I owned it.

Was just thinking that might explain why the thing cranks ever so slowly, and then doing nothing more than drain the battery. With parts of the starter motor shorting out, it would certainly cause the battery to give up.

 

[Rottweiler]

Sounds like a poor connection. Clean all battery connectors both ends frame and starter. Also never hold the start button longer than 4-5 second max.

 

[ChopperJeff]

Sounds like a poor connection. Clean all battery connectors both ends frame and starter. Also never hold the start button longer than 4-5 second max.

I'm back to thinking it's the starter.

I charged the battery overnight and the voltmeter shows it at 13.5 volts, so it appears healthy.
Went to start the bike this morning and the same BS happens, with just very slow, labored cranks, then it dies. I also saw smoke again and could tell it was coming from the area of the starter.

I know all the wires to the battery terminals are good as I cleaned all the contacts when I replaced the battery and made sure the terminal screws were good and tight.

When I stuck my hand onto the starter it appeared the main wire to it was good and tight, but it was also VERY hot!

I'm going to go ahead and order a new starter. In the event that's not the cause of this issue, I'll at least have one ready for the future.

I also ordered a battery load tester.

I'll dive more into this thing this evening. Probably will be a weekend project.

 

[Nukeranger]

Sounds like the starter to me also.

 

[chubs]

I think that, just out of curiosity, I would pull the end plate off of the solenoid and take a good look at the contacts. Are they all arced up and pitted ? Not making good contact? is the area around the inside clean or full of crud? Just some thoughts.

 

[rpols7]

If it has the original EHC , I would not jump start it. Better to charge or change the battery as to not damage your EHC. I would also check to make sure your compression releases are working. Also check the main ground from the battery.

 

[Sven]

The hydraulic line has NOTHING to do with anything electrical. Does this make any sense to anybody? Sure baffles me.
And mind you, I did NOT even start the bike, so it's not like heat was coming from the motor or the pipes.

That looks like a ground looking for anyplace with a good ground. The way the speedo light is explained, it's on the raggedge of looking for a ground. Now the starter is barely moving, where a hot cable is the last source of making ground it itself.

Bike rotting away, but you can't see it. Meaning, the magnetic corrosion between engine and ground cable, switch connects, etc.. Going to go right back to the definition of "Magnetism = You can't separate heat from the chemical reaction." So it's file/razor cut a new metal surface to the ground cable to engine. The wire harness ground wire bunched is an eyelet to frame is a razor shave there. And while there, find them solid in the eyelet.

The quick and dirty is to get car jumper cables and ground cable to frame, ground engine to frame. But before that, battery charged and reads over 12.8v. Meter hooked to the battery leads and the load test tool is the starter motor. Battery drops under 10v, that says your load. Battery can no longer hold volts. Volts means PUSH, so think no starter motor turning over, no PUSH in the battery. Recovery number says it all.

As far as frustration, that's called learning the ropes. Whereas, if you owned a ducati, they have been "making mechanics out of riders since 1946." Trust me, you don't want a duc at any year. This bike is more dependable.

 

[ChopperJeff]

Been thinking that I'll pull the solenoid cap off and check the contacts. I remember from my 2005 Chopper days that the contacts can get arcing damage and it always needed cleaning. Looks like a pain in the ass to get to the solenoid though. Maybe a K9 is different than the Chopper, as I could have sworn with the 2005 Big Dog Chopper I was able to pop the solenoid cover off within a few minutes, but maybe I'm confusing it with another bike I once had.

I'm thinking that if I need to remove a bunch of stuff to get to the solenoid, then while I'm there I might as well just go ahead and replace the battery cables and ground wires with brand new stuff. Will be looking at buying some.

 

[ChopperJeff]

Started tearing into the bike last night. Only got as far as almost getting the battery tray out. Anyways, here's a photo of the EHC that's installed.



Is this a good brand? Is this what's normally installed as an upgrade?

One strange thing is that I checked the oil level as I noticed the dip stick thing was right there. Upon checking it, the dipstick was bone dry! WTF?!?!?!?
The guy I bought the bike from said that a fluid change was done recently. I've only had the bike about 3 weeks now so cannot imagine that this thing ever had the proper amount of oil, unless the dipstick is somehow lying to me.

At some point I'll drain the oil and will see how much comes out. I take it Mobil 1 20W50 Synthetic is good? I know everyone has their own opinion about oil, so hopefully I won't start an oil war here.

 

[SCC007]

That looks like the update EHC that wildsteed worx sells...they are great!
As for the oil, if they don't know what they are doing and only put the recommend amount in but completely drained the case, filter and bag then you would be pretty low...seen it several times.

 

[ChopperJeff]

That looks like the update EHC that wildsteed worx sells...they are great!
As for the oil, if they don't know what they are doing and only put the recommend amount in but completely drained the case, filter and bag then you would be pretty low...seen it several times.

OK, thanks for the input. Stupid me should have checked the oil level the day I got the bike. Guess that‘s what I get for assuming all was done right.
Good to hear that the EHC is OK!

 

[HMAN]

OK, thanks for the input. Stupid me should have checked the oil level the day I got the bike. Guess that‘s what I get for assuming all was done right.
Good to hear that the EHC is OK!

If its any consolation Jeff, I rode my "new" used 04 Chopper home(18 miles). A few days later I was going over it and found the trans was BONE dry! So, stuff happens. Glad ya found it before it was too late.

 

[ChopperJeff]

With the help from a friend, I got the new starter installed, and so far, the bike is firing right up!

It did seem that the top bolt that holds the starter in was pretty loose, but upon tightening, it made no difference with the starting of the bike. Still cranked VERY slowly, and then died.

New starter installed and it started up twice last night with NO hesitations, and this morning it fired right up.

If I had known ahead of time though what a hassle getting that starter replaced was, I would have taken to a mechanic and have them do it. My god that was such a bear! Oh well, now it's done and hopefully will continue to work.