first electrical problem...Help please!

[TheCleaner]

Hey fellas I was installing my headlight on my new springer front end and realized I needed more wire to reach the connector under the gas tank and uh well instead of taking the bucket apart and pulling additional wire through I just spliced into the 20 guage wire with an 18 guage wire and re sodering it to the connector end (20-18-20). Anyway worked for a minute then I started to smell something burning, not sure but I think it was coming from the EHC! Well inspected the whole harness and everything seems intact...nothing obviously burned or something. Changed bulb, still nothing. No fault lights come on just the usaul, but now it wont turn over! All of the other lights work (horn, speedo, turn signals, etc.) but no headlight and its not turning over!?

I know I feel like an idiot for not pulling the bucket first but just didnt think about that.:bang:
Another thing is that I have'nt started my bike in two months and I hate to admit to this No I did not have it on a tender either.

Just want to get this Hot Rod back on the road where it belongs!
Anybody have any ideas? Thanks ahead of time.

 

[Vegas]

More than likely a discharged battery causing your problems. If you soldered and insulated the wire you should be fine.

 

[TheCleaner]

Thanks for the response Vegas, does this mean I just need to get it charged or a new battery?

 

[LDO]

I would set the bike on the tender overnight and see what happens. Did you ckeck your breaker?

Also, you need to change your name (The Cleaner) for copyright infringement! ....JK.


LDO

 

[Vegas]

Trickle charge it like the cleaner said and if you have a volt meter you should have 12.8 volts after un hooking the charger. I bet it's your problem. Go out and by a trickle charger. 2 months will never work.

 

[Staffy]

Cleaner,
Which springer frontend did you install? Any pic's?

Re the eletrical....Under the seat near the battery there is a circuit breaker...this has a small button (on the under side) that may have to be reset by pushing it in...I may be off base but its worth a mention....most importantly - if it did pop out "something" is NOT right. Something being the the splice so check, re-do that BEFORE turning on the ignition.

Hope it helps
Staffy

 

[TheCleaner]

Ill put it on a tender today and see what happens...its not the CB (checked that first).

Ill post pics of my new front end (RedNeck engineering) when all is complete

Thanks for the input fellas:flag:

 

[TheCleaner]

Ok so I charged it for about 6 hours and the voltmeter read 15.24 or something and still nothing...again all of the other stuff works (speedo, turn signals, brakes, horn) work but no headlight and no sound when hitting the run button, and of course it doesn't turn over.:angry:

What else could it be?

 

[BBChopper]

High low switch fried?

 

[Gas Man]

First off, the CB is only for the charging system.

If you cross wired something I would start to check connections. Even the big ones.

plus that voltage sounds high. Did you check it with the charger still connected?

 

[TheCleaner]

Yeah after taking the voltmeter it actually read12.8
just got done checking the connection on the handlebar...that seems to be ok. not sure what else to check?

 

[TheCleaner]

SHIT!!!

I'm starting to think it is something under the seat...EHC maybe:bang: :bang: :angry:

Just cant seem to narrow this freaking problem down
Oh I did notice my foot brake light doesn't come on either.

 

[Gas Man]

Have you pulled the ehc connections to see if there is any damage there and/or lack of di-electric grease!!

 

[TheCleaner]

yes sir did that too. Even put more grease in them.

Gas, when I first hooked up the headlight it worked at first but I wanna say I smelled something burning coming from the EHC area but can't say for certain...anyway thats when the light went out. I smelled the area around the connections and again a burned smell but no visual signs.

 

[Gas Man]

Man it don't sound good.

Did you re-check the headlight? Retrace everything?

Not sure where you are at... but with the wire plus units going around there may be some EHC's going up for sale soon. If winter you may the time to check.

Otherwise, I suggest you put everything back to normal and try to warrenty it. SSHHH

 

[RRRUFF]

If you are smelling something burnt, I'll bet you got something shorting out "going to ground". Did you use the same headlight?

 

[TheCleaner]

The headlight works when wiring it directly to the battery...I got a new bulb also just in case and the same thing with that one too.

Check just about all the lines in the harness and were ok. Maybe i'm not looking hard enough.

Weird, I don't get any fault lights from the EHC though?

Guess Ill have to trailer it to the dealer and see whats up.

 

[Gas Man]

Have you tried to pull the power off the battery for the EHC... to reset it or something? I have never heard of resetting it but regardless it dont sound good.

 

[TheCleaner]

Yeah did that too....
Damn you know its bad when Gas says "it does'nt sound good."anic2:

Thanks again to all for you input, alot of support here in this forum.

 

[TCALZ06]

hope you get it fixed.

Post up some pics of tht front end. I want to see it too