Electrical problems

[NobleMastiff]

Once again the doggy has left me stranded !!!
This is getting ridiculous. I'm pretty sure it's in my compression relief valves as the battery shorts upon hitting the start switch. Been up this road before and it's hard to tell with that FREAKIN EHC............Anyway, she's sitting in her "dog house" for now and maybe when I'm not so pissed I'll look at it !!

On another note, my real big dog mastiff (English Mastiff) had her first birthaday Friday and at 150lbs. and still growing I couldn't be happier. Y'all need to hear this one purr (snore actually). She's a fine animal and I dare anyone to try and mess with Momma or me when we're here alone. Almost as good a deterent as my friends "Smith and Wesson"....:bang:

 

[BigDogBro1]

What do you mean when you say "battery shorts" are you tripping a CB, blowing a fuse or smoking wires?

How old is the battery? It must have at least 12.8 volts at the terminals off the charger an hour for EHC to function properly at startup.

There should be an EHC LED pattern before START is pressed and after running. Take note of it.

Check for tight wire crimps on all wires at both battery terminals.

Is the bike battery always on a float charger when not riden?

Charge it, check it and let us know.

It would be nice if you can add what year your Mastiff is in your My Bike description on the left column.

 

[mobsta]

I would agree with Bigdogbro1 and add check the connection at the starter and how about the hand control board?Oh and don't get pissed get even:lol:getting pissed just makes matters worse.just sayn

 

[419jasons]

Been riding my Ridgeback all summer, and my speedo never wants to work. In hans't worked in so long, I assumed it had permanently died. Bike seems to start and run fine, but gradually seemed to crank slower and slower. I ride the DOG to work almost everyday, but only live 3 miles from work. I almost got stranded at Home Depot yesterday, because it wouldn't start. Finally got it going after about 8 tries, brought it home and gave it a good charge. Rode after the charge, and speedo worked for the 1st time in months. I keep reading about folks recommending a trickle charger, but I thought that was for folks who went weeks, or months, between rides. After this incident, I just ordered a BatteryMinder and plan to use it regularly. I hope this makes my speedo problems go away, and prevent being stranded anywhere. Seems even though the DOG starts and runs, it may not be as "healthy" as it could be if I would keep it on a battery maintainer. Time will tell.

 

[mobsta]

Always keep your battery on a tender.these dogs need a good battery.riding 3 miles is not enough to charge the battery.

 

[BigDogBro1]

And it's less strain on the charging system components.

After a ride I let the bike cool down for about an hour then back on the maintenance charger it goes.

 

[snake1962]

Well after two years, seems like that was pretty lucky, I finally replaced my stock battery yesterday. My symptoms were hit start, one clicky then nothing, mine has stayed on a tender since I got it. So if I'm not on it the tender is. Anyway after replacing the battery and initial charge, she turned right over. BTW is every battery in the US made by EPM, they make the Braille, Deka, Magna Power, Yousa, OEM's, Big Crank .....and on and on. I just missed out on the Braille group buy, but after researching the Braille 2015, Deka etx20l and Magna Power etx20l (don't even bother changing the part number) from Advanced Auto they are the same. OK don't kick my ass for busting everyones bubble on it but do the research and it's true. The Deka's about half the price as the Braille but I couldn't get one locally anywhere but about half a mile is an Advanced Auto so picked it up yesterday left it on the tender last night and I'm back in business. On a brighter note, myself like many others see the wireplus in my future, my K9 twice has died on me while riding, turn key off, back on and she fired back up and away I went. So she hasn't stranded me but one day!!! Here's an Idea, we should have a regional ride and meet where we have a "Ditch the Bitch" party 1st we all install the wireplus then get trashed. Maybe someone should plan that out and I'm not volunteering to be the ring leader for it. Anyway my warranty is up in Feb. '11 so maybe spring or summer '11 would be a good time to make the leap to the wireplus for me. Damn sorry this took a detour.

Speaking of BIGDOGS here's one.. 1/2 Weimeraner, 1/4 Sheppard, 1/4 Lab. He looks like a giant Choc Lab and @ 205 lbs he's our Chocolate Thunder - Juddah (Tink).

 

[woodbutcher]

Been riding my Ridgeback all summer, and my speedo never wants to work. In hans't worked in so long, I assumed it had permanently died. Bike seems to start and run fine, but gradually seemed to crank slower and slower. I ride the DOG to work almost everyday, but only live 3 miles from work. I almost got stranded at Home Depot yesterday, because it wouldn't start. Finally got it going after about 8 tries, brought it home and gave it a good charge. Rode after the charge, and speedo worked for the 1st time in months. I keep reading about folks recommending a trickle charger, but I thought that was for folks who went weeks, or months, between rides. After this incident, I just ordered a BatteryMinder and plan to use it regularly. I hope this makes my speedo problems go away, and prevent being stranded anywhere. Seems even though the DOG starts and runs, it may not be as "healthy" as it could be if I would keep it on a battery maintainer. Time will tell.

takes roughly a 20 mile ride to re-charge what it took to crank the bike in the first place. best way to look at the battery tender is "if i'm not on the dog, the tender should be". :2thumbs:

 

[BigDogBro1]

Last year my bike would die out and I could restart it while coasting down the road until it got so bad that nothing would work.

You know what it was?

Loose wire crimps on the smaller wires at both battery terminals. The EHC would die from lack of power. Once all the crimps were recrimped tight the bike has been flawless in its operation and never did it again since.

Not always an EHC to blame. And saved $500+ to boot.

 

[NobleMastiff]

Sorry Bro......I updated my profile earlier.
No tripping of the breaker. Something going to ground andtaking the battery out. What's weird is, the battery will come back after waiting for some time ! When I disconnect the starter the comp. relief works fine (hear them open when I hit the switch. Reconnect the starter and ...bam ! No battery.

 

[BigDogBro1]

Believe me if something was taking the battery OUT without tripping a breaker or blowing a fuse you would have one hell of a glowing, smoking smelly mess.

You say:
When I disconnect the starter the comp. relief works fine (hear them open when I hit the switch (WHICH switch?) . Reconnect the starter (WHAT ARE YOU RECONNECTING the RED battery cable or the soleniod wire?) and ...bam ! No battery.

"Reconnect the starter" ....... Then what do you do? Anything????? Starting, watching? Please be more descriptive in what's happening here.

Do the comp releases kick open when the RUN button is pressed before you press START?

Take the battery OUT of the bike and go take it to get load tested. If it's not putting out close to it's CCA rating then it needs to be replaced.

If the battery is in poor condition then who knows what the effects will be.



EARLIER QUESTIONS NOT YET ANSWERED.......................

How old is the battery? It must have at least 12.8 volts at the terminals off the charger an hour for EHC to function properly at startup.

There should be an EHC LED pattern before START is pressed and after running. Take note of it.

Check for tight wire crimps on all wires at both battery terminals.

Is the bike battery always on a float charger when not riden?


Charge it, check it and let us know.

 

[NobleMastiff]

Did some checking and with the starter disconnected I'm reading 9.07vdc at the starter wire (green coming from EHC. This is with the key off ! Is this normal....doesn't look right to me. When I hook back up, this is when it takes out the system (battery to 3.00vdc).

 

[Eric]

with the solenoid wire off it will show 8-9 vdc.. its normal.. when its hooked up it will not have voltage on it.. as far as the battery,, thats way to low.. check the battery..

 

[BigDogBro1]

Did some checking and with the starter disconnected I'm reading 9.07vdc at the starter wire (green coming from EHC. This is with the key off ! Is this normal....doesn't look right to me. When I hook back up, this is when it takes out the system (battery to 3.00vdc).

Where do you measure the voltage when you say 3 volts......is it across the +/- battery terminals?

 

[NobleMastiff]

Yeah......meter across the terminals and then hit the start switch !

 

[BigDogBro1]

Yeah......meter across the terminals and then hit the start switch !

Okay..... Its' normal to get some voltage drop when you kick in the starter. I would think that 3 volts seems pretty damn low. I would expect something closer to 10 volts with a GOOD battery.

Your battery is JUNK if it can't keep the voltage up during a start.

You need to take the battery and get it load tested. And buy a new one.

One more time......................
How old is the battery?
Is the bike battery always on a float charger when not riden?

It needs to have around 12.8 volts at the terminals off the charger an hour for EHC to function properly at startup.

Watch these videos ........

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB7CFqVlhtI"]YouTube - Motorcycle Repair : How to Check a Motorcycle Battery[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLWSM9ZRAbw&feature=related"]YouTube - Motorcycle Repair : Motorcycle Battery Maintenance[/ame]

 

[mobsta]

bigdogbro1 do you feel like i do sometimes when your helping someone?i mean like this:bang::bang::bang::loony::lol:

 

[BigDogBro1]

:roll::lol:


I like to help out and don't expect everyone to be a mechanic but sometimes you just gotta press onwards!

Just lookin to get his knees in the breeze.

 

[NobleMastiff]

Alright guys here it is again:
With the green solinoid wire disconnected I press the run button first which I then get the red light on the EHC to say all systems are go.
I press the start button and I can hear (and feel) the compression relief valves firing; There is approximately 12.8vdc at the battery during this check.
If I hook up the green solinoid wire from the EHC and repeat the above mentioned everything dies and there around 3vdc at the battery. The battery is braqnd spanking new and has been load tested to above 400cca ! Were talkin simple electrical cicutry here, but the EHC which uses logic (0) inputs to fire the outputs seems to be problematic. Before I go droppin 500.00 on a patch sytem, I'd like to be dam sure. I appreciate your help and patience. Troubleshooting, as ou know is hard enough let alone from sitting at a laptop.

 

[Eric]

if you remove the green wire from the starter solenoid & run a wire staight from the battery + to the starter solenoid will the starter work?? it may be just the solenoid coil.. do this withthe key off & see it the starter spins over.. possible starter issue..