EHC, Speedo, Wire Plus

[thexaulted]

I wrote about the EHC, speedo problem last week. My 2003 Chop has been nothing but problems to me. For those that haven't read my other post its an 03, bought it Jan. 08 with a little over 3K on it. The electronics on this bike are incredible and the fact that a company can put out a piece of machinery with these unreliable electronics absolutely blows my mind. Can never ever go out with peace of mind. Take my HD to any rally's I have to travel to so that I won't be stranded without a bike!

Anyway as of last week I was going to go buy the Wire Plus product, have the EHC totally taken out of the bike and hope to end some of these electrical issues. Spoke with them several times and was about to order the part. After having the mechanic speak with them, he was told that in my model and year the speedo does not go through the EHC. I, myself know that it does as I have had to take the speedo off for one of the past problems. It is clearly marked coming out of the EHC additionally. As he started to tell me that he is sure the speedo goes through the EHC I told him that I was aware of it totally as I have been through all of these wires, again and again!

Am I missing something and is he missing something or is it wire plus that is missing something? What to do next short of replacing the EHC (which I won't do) to get the speedo and electronics straight on this bike.

Sorry for being long winded but I am so frustrated I just don't know what to do?

 

[bdmridgeback]

The speedo and tach DO, in fact, go through the EHC, but do not need to. Actually, a person can clip the signal wire coming out of the sending unit before the EHC, and clip the input wire from the speedo that goes into the EHC and hook them together and it will work. It goes through the EHC, but the EHC doesn't do anything with it.

Same with the oil pressure light/sending unit, neutral light/sending unit, and the tach as well!!!

If you buy the Wire-Plus module to eliminate the EHC, it just does all the hand controls, ignition switch, lights and such. All the stuff mentioned up above, just gets hooked to one another, sending unit to its correct counterpart.

Hope that answers your ???'s.
If not ask away.

 

[thexaulted]

Thanks Ridgeback, I appreciate the input and am going to show your reply to the mechanic.
As you can probably tell by my posts, I am incredibly frustrated with this piece of machinery. I am mechanically inclined but by no means a mechanic. I will try most things myself with guidance but wires are really not my thing.

My overall common sense and knowledge of motorcycles keeps telling me one thing! Its an S&S motor with a Baker 6 speed trans., how could I possibly be in electronics hell and WHY can't anyone fix it for me!!!!! I am willing to pay $$$$ to get it right if I can't do it.

 

[bdmridgeback]

Don't give up! That damn EHC is the last, major piece of the puzzle and you'll have a perfect picture!!! (That sounded pretty corny, didn't it?)

It is pretty simple and with your bike being a 2003 and having the Harley style hand controls, you can buy the WP-182 module I believe and will do the job. You do not need the BDM specific module because you hand controls are not all negative output like the 2004 and up bikes.

 

[Nomad2day]

Jake I also wrote "Don" at wire plus to ask if I needed to get on a list. This is a must have. He replied:
Are you needing a harness, or the HCM retrofit kit? The HCM retrofit kit is what we have produced, and what Jake used, to take the place of the EHC.
Let me know if you have any more questions,
Don Bromlow

Thanks for the response Don,
I am in need of replacing the EHC. BDM specific module is part # WP-374 ?
Neil

Never wrote back to verify my reply and hopefully they will notify me when they have them ready.

The EHC has to go...I have replaced the EFI system with a Thundermax Wide Band and this bike is a absolute Joy to ride now. My friends that have rode it are impressed with the power at any RPM and gear. Bike just runs away with ya....

Big Dog is sending me a gas tank to replace my old one due to all the sealing agent releasing inside my tank and contaminting the fuel pump and all. Did this on their own after looking at some pictures I sent them. Called me a week ago to tell me it went to the paint department.
http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/efi-topics/7703-fuel-pump-raising-cane.html

I am looking hard at the JST connectors as well to upgrade what is in place to go along with the EHC deletion. Just seems like the right time to react on those then. Next time you talk to them Jake "Wire Plus" , tell them Neil with the 2007 EFI Bulldog needs some goodies from them...
Neil

 

[bdmridgeback]

:2thumbs: :2thumbs: :2thumbs:

 

[alhall88]

Neil I ordered mine (WP-374) and Don told me it would ship within 1 to 2 weeks but thats not for the efi. I placed the order about a week ago so I'll post a pic when I get it.

 

[barhopper]

Hey Al, when you come out to Cali, you can do mine, pizza and beers on me. I hate electrical.

 

[ChopperJeff]

Yes, like bdmridgeback said, the signal from the speed sensor does goes thru the EHC, but it just passes thru, going in one pin on one connector and out another pin on another connector... along with the power and ground. At least that's the way it is on my '05 Chopper.

 

[Nomad2day]

Thanks Alhall88 and Jake...
I will give them a call to finalize it for sure.
Hoping the R&B Racing 2-1 will materialize before the weather really goes south too but that is life...
When it gets here will be fine with me too..
Neil

 

[rhinoevans]

A few questions:

1. I go to the WirePlus web site and see no mention of WP-182 or WP-374. I assume the 182 would be the correct one for my bike (2002).

2. I know guys are doing this to get rid of the EHC. But all Wiring harnesses have a EHC, even Wire-Plus, right. That is what the box is. Is it just the BDM EHC that is garbage?

3. I have the ThunderHeart EHC and todate have not had any problems. I will tell you though, when I get on this website (daily by the way) and see all the EHC post, I start to wonder if I should just re-wire also. I do think that the TH EHC is porobably OK????

 

[bdmridgeback]

1. Yes, They are not on the site yet.

2.EHC is a electronic Harness Controller. The Wire-Plus unit is a solid state, mostly relay driven unit. Not a complete software driven module.

3. Do not fix it if it ain't broke!!! Wait till it fails and then replace it. The old "EHC's" were fine, 2005 and up are junk!!

 

[LDO]

3. Do not fix it if it ain't broke!!! Wait till it fails and then replace it. The old "EHC's" were fine, 2005 and up are junk!!

That's what i was thinking. My 03 runs good and has never given me any issues.:2thumbs:

 

[thexaulted]

Thanks for all of your help Jake as you know I have a lot of questions but you I am trying to make this bike dependable.
Its in a shop now and we are in the process of trying to straighten out the electrical issues and I passed on the info to the mechanic about the speed sensor and other electrical components that pass through the EHC but do not need to.

The mechanic is familiar with an Arlen Ness module that uses relays and would like to use that, wire the other mentioned components directly and keep the thunder heart ignition. AND THROUGH THE EHC OUT,LOL!!

Do you think this will work and help to make the bike more dependable so that I can at least go out one night without an issue?