NO TAIL LIGHTS

[HOOLIGAN]

THE WEATHER WAS BEAUTIFUL YESTERDAY. I MET UP WITH A BUDDY OF MINE TO DO A LONG DAY OF RIDING AND WE WENT TO A PICNIC. I WENT HOME TO FEED MY DOGS AND GET THE OL LADY AND HER SPORTY. WHEN I PULLED UP SHE TOLD ME THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS WEREN'T WORKING! I PULLED THE CHOPPER INTO THE GARAGE, JACKED HER UP AND FOUND THAT THE WIRES GOING FROM THE BULLET LIGHTS WERE FUCKED. MINE IS AN '03 AND THEY SILICONE THE WIRES TO THE INSIDE OF THE FENDER RUN IT THROUGH SOME PLASTIC TRIPLE LOOM AND THEN UP TO THE FRONT OF THE FENDER AND THEN UNDER THE SEAT. APPARENTLY MY TIRE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE WIRES FOR SOME TME. ANYWAY, IT TOOK ME MAYBE 45 MIN TO REWIRE THE LIGHTS AND GET BACK OUT ON THE ROAD.
SO, IF YOUR CHOPPER HAS THE WIRES RUNNING ON THE INSIDE OF THE FENDER YOU MAY WANT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THEM, WHO KNOWS HOW LONG I WAS RIDING WITHOUT TAIL LIGHTS. COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION OR EVEN AN EXPENSIVE ONE IF YOU GET STOPPED BY THE PO PO.

 

[kornfed]

I had the same problem on my '04. My wires wern't bare yet, but wouldent have been long. :angry:

 

[LDO]

Hooly,
yup, I think in the later years, BD started running the wiring between fender and fender strut.

I took a grinder and created a 'channel' for my wiring on my struts, then used a hollow banjo bolt which I modified to work and exit the wires properly.

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/customizing-add-ons/9002-sissy-bar-install.html

Pain in the ass but the wires are all safe now.

glad you got it fixed up before something bad happened.

Here's the link and I ended up 'upgrading' my banjo bolts to some pretty strong stainless steel ones for about 20 bucks.

Let me know if you need any PNs or help.

 

[Mickeetwo]

LDO....you are correct. On my 06 theres a channel in the strut that the wires lay in.

 

[Bulldog03]

What a coincidence yesterday I just spliced and re-silicone my tail light wires too!! 2003 Bulldog...

 

[Gas Man]

LDO....you are correct. On my 06 theres a channel in the strut that the wires lay in.

Exactly... only in the front are the wires inside the rear fender. The wire on the left top... was just sitting thru that whole. Also, notice the clips on the front of the fender (right of pic)

Here's a pic of the channel in the rear fender struts...

 

[LDO]

Thanks for the pics Gas, with my fix, I've eliminated all the wiring running near the tire. Seems the weak link is the little section that sort of forms an elbow going straight into the light itself.