no head light bike dies!

[gooby63]

okay was getting on the interstate, noticed a couple of white flashes coming from under frame or tank couldn't tell. bike dies and so does head light. bike will restart, no head lamp. tried to get bike up to speed and bike would get to say 45 mph and die and so would would the speedo and running lites. still no head lamp. but would restart every time. the head lamp hi beam indicator was flashing as well.

back story: have had issues with the horn and flashers coming on when i try and use the turn signal,start,apply brakes or switch hi-low beams. never had head lamp go out thow. this was happening alot the day of the ride. (and no it was not wet)

i know its more than a bulb issue was just wondering if anyone knew where i could start? where do all those things intertwine? there has to be a common area that all this fits together.

ened up on a roll back trk... not a good sight for a dog owner..:bang:

thanks for your time, any answers would be appreciated.

 

[ChoppaNoob]

The vibration is probably whats making it die when it gets up to speed. I would make sure your battery is charged. Put alligator clips on the terminals and start wiggling wires to see if you can see a voltage drop. It's probably somewhere near where you saw the flashes.

 

[HMAN]

noticed a couple of white flashes coming from under frame or tank couldn't tell.

Uh, maybe its just me, but that's where I would start looking. It would appear you have a short somewhere... You need to find it before it causes more damage. JMO.

 

[francoblay1]

Uh, maybe its just me, but that's where I would start looking. It would appear you have a short somewhere... You need to find it before it causes more damage. JMO.

:iagree: Flashes = Shorts

Keep us posted on your findings.

 

[gooby63]

okay just stated what i saw and what was happening. didnt think i sounded stupid. i know its a short. and i have looked under bike. didnt have time to take tank off. left for vacation thought i might get a jump on it with some info while i was gone. so sorry if i sounded stupid.

 

[JoeHawkins]

I had the headlight go out driving home at night. Pitch black in the country. Found a crimp connector at the EHC had come loose and apart. I don't know how your Dog is set up but that's how it was on mine.

 

[francoblay1]

okay just stated what i saw and what was happening. didnt think i sounded stupid. i know its a short. and i have looked under bike. didnt have time to take tank off. left for vacation thought i might get a jump on it with some info while i was gone. so sorry if i sounded stupid.

You did not sound stupid at all... I was just enfasizing HMAN's comment: "You need to find it before it causes more damage. JMO."

 

[gooby63]

update so far, head light has both hi and low beam blew. checked voltage at the plug, and it bounces back and forth between 8 and 12.5 volts.. is this normal? have tank off and no bare wires yet. any input would help thanks

 

[liferider]

I met one of the guys several yrs ago who invented the lifetime warranty bulb. He sent me two during the trial period. That's been several yrs ago and the 1st bulb is still working in my chopper today! I'm sold! I put the other one in the HD Ultra Classic! FYI: before I went to this bulb I was replacing 1 every other yr, specially when I trailered to Sturgis, or destinations over 1000 miles away.

 

[gooby63]

thanks but i dont think bulb is the issue... must have had a spike of some sort.. got bike all tore down now only bare/rubbed wire was the positive lead off the batery to the battery box.. i know its an issue, i just hope its my problem with the bike shutting down as well as power problem.. keep ideas coming.. gonna start heat shrink and put her back together for test ride..

 

[gooby63]

update: bike back together appeared to be okay.. but when went to start after dinner, horn honked when starter was in gauged, flashers starter flashing ang when hitting turn signal button right or left horn would honk then bike died... started back up all issues went away till got almost home same deal.. horn and siganl thing all over again.. any ideas where the problem may lie? do i have issues in my hand controls? help please i have been all over this bikes wiring today every piece.. but the head light stayed good.. i think i have somthing going to ground if that is possible on these bikes...

 

[gooby63]

bike is charging and battery is at full charge..

 

[Bulldog02]

The only electrical issues Ive had on my 2002 Bulldog were at the key ignition. I would be driving down the road and it would just die on me. a little later start run for a bit and die. One of the two wires was barely hanging on by a thread, cut it and put on a new eyelet and no problems anymore. Same thing happened a few years later, except no power, no lights, nothing. the other wire was broke at the eyelet, replaced and no problem.

 

[BigDogBro1]

Sounds like a poor condition battery, terminal connection or poor output on charging system.

 

[gooby63]

got gateway big dog on the phone finally.. ehc is trashed....

 

[gooby63]

they said all those are signs the ehc is going out.

 

[gooby63]

new computer ...... no problems past 800 miles

 

[aspen874]

Curtis at Wildsteel Worx's may have an EHC or you might consider the new RIP kit by Kansas Motor works. I would ask Tim at Gateway if he has done a RIP install.