bike just shut off

Energy One
M

Mike o

New Member
hello all, i have a 2004 bd chopper, and about a month or so ago it started just shutting off when ridden. it doesn't matter how far i ride it, sometime it does it, sometimes maybe once in a hundred miles. I shook the wires look at all wire i could find even under the gas tank, also jumpered the key switch out, cleaned the carb (althought i think its elec) and it still does it, i sometimes can caught it in gear as it dies and other times i need to pull over and shut the key off and hit the start button again. Doesn't matter if i an going 10 miles an hour or 80 miles an hour. what a pain, help
 
KaptinAmerika

KaptinAmerika

Guru
Sounds like the EHC is being rebooted which is usually caused by a brief interruption of power to the EHC.
Being an 04 I would start with the key switch.
Disconnect the JST connector to the key switch. Jumper the female side of the connector, its a ground signal to the EHC so you don't have to worry about shorting anything, and ride the bike that way. If you still get the failure then you will need to start troubleshooting the wire harness or have the EHC bench tested. If you don't get the failure then replace the key switch.
 
awg

awg

Guru
My 04 started doing the same thing. I ended up installing a wire plus system and haven't had a problem since.
 
M

Mike o

New Member
tried before and eliminated the key switch all together, i put a toggle switch in it's plac and same thing, shut down around 30 mph
 
Nukeranger

Nukeranger

Nukeranger
Prices vary on Wire Plus. At the Wire Plus Web site Big Dog EHC Retrofit kit it costs $519 for the one in my 2008 Ridgeback.
It takes a good 10 hours to wire and there are a lot of wires to either solder or crimp (your choice). I checked my installation as I went which will prevent frustration at the end if you made a mistake. I also had a relay to allow me to keep my BD key switch (This was part of the last group buy on this forum). If you don't get a relay, you will have to upgrade your key switch. However, I must admit that being an 04, I don't if your key switch needs upgrading.

Trace those wires from the key switch back to the EHC and you may find the problem. In mine, there were two JST connectors. After installing my Wire Plus and running a while, I am not convinced it was an EHC problem. My EHC was tested by Curtis at WSW and it tested SAT. I am keeping mine and would consider putting it back in one day.

WP maintains all the functions of the EHC. But, there are small differences in operation. For example, depressing either HI/LO Beam switch toggles the High and Low beams. As does, depressing the On/Off switch. Either one will toggle the bike On or Off. Turn signal cancellation works the same as before. This is what I remember from my installation 2 years ago. My bike will shutdown once in a long while and I ride most days. It is not uncommon to run several months without a shutdown. I found that my WP is less sensitive than my EHC. It could be the Keyswitch relay being weak or the key switch I never changed.

I changed mine because the problems with shutdown became progressively worse.
 
Long Island

Long Island

Member
My 04 Ridgeback shutdown on me two states from home one time. Found that the prior owner never changed the plastic h4 bulb socket to a ceramic one when he upgraded the headlight to HID. Plastic melted and kept shorting out the bike.
 
awg

awg

Guru
The 04 install (if you should decide to do a WP) isn't bad. The 04 has one plug connection on the EHC. Kind of makes it easier to do. Just be sure you double check all your connections. Ive had mine for a couple of years now also.
 
M

Mike o

New Member
Nukeranger said:
Prices vary on Wire Plus. At the Wire Plus Web site Big Dog EHC Retrofit kit it costs $519 for the one in my 2008 Ridgeback.
It takes a good 10 hours to wire and there are a lot of wires to either solder or crimp (your choice). I checked my installation as I went which will prevent frustration at the end if you made a mistake. I also had a relay to allow me to keep my BD key switch (This was part of the last group buy on this forum). If you don't get a relay, you will have to upgrade your key switch. However, I must admit that being an 04, I don't if your key switch needs upgrading.

Trace those wires from the key switch back to the EHC and you may find the problem. In mine, there were two JST connectors. After installing my Wire Plus and running a while, I am not convinced it was an EHC problem. My EHC was tested by Curtis at WSW and it tested SAT. I am keeping mine and would consider putting it back in one day.

WP maintains all the functions of the EHC. But, there are small differences in operation. For example, depressing either HI/LO Beam switch toggles the High and Low beams. As does, depressing the On/Off switch. Either one will toggle the bike On or Off. Turn signal cancellation works the same as before. This is what I remember from my installation 2 years ago. My bike will shutdown once in a long while and I ride most days. It is not uncommon to run several months without a shutdown. I found that my WP is less sensitive than my EHC. It could be the Keyswitch relay being weak or the key switch I never changed.

I changed mine because the problems with shutdown became progressively worse.
Click to expand...
thanks for the great feedback, i didn't see any relay on the key switch, will check connections again, sounds like this may be the way to go. I read post below and he said not to change this but retro fit, with an upgraded EHC. But i would love to get rid of this problem and not have other EHC problems
 
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