O3 big dog chopper when riding just shuts down still has all power let it set for a few mins starts back up help

Chaney

Member
03 chopper when riding it just shuts down like I turned key off but I still have all power turn key off let it set for a min starts back up might ride for a mile or 10 miles then does it again help please
 

Rottweiler

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Sorry to hear that. Mine did the same thing. Replace the EHC with the one Wild Steed Works sells problem went away. I have a 2004.
Yours being a 2003 not sure if it has the same EHC controller. Check your key switch could have bad contacts or loose wire crimp.
 

grizfish

Active Member
The coil on my old shovelhead does a similar thing. After enough heat cycles the expansion finally goes too far and opens the circuit by breaking a wire.
I would try another coil or try to isolate the coil from engine heat. Wrap it in non-flammable packaging. Get a cold pack or bag of ice and strap it on for a putt.
 

Mr. Wright

Knows some things
Supporting Member
Sounds more like the liner in the tank is coming apart and plugging the screen. Drain the tank and pull the petcock out and check the screen.
 

Chaney

Member
But when it dies without turning key off I can try and start it and it's not firing so then I can turn key off and turn back on and it will crank
 

Mr. Wright

Knows some things
Supporting Member
Ok, I ran across this many years ago. It actually was a recall at one time. What is happening is the seat is pushing down on the EHC, and pinching the wires underneath.
To fix this, take a heavy zip tie, or a couple medium ones and wrap it around the plastic box, that the EHC sits in. So the tabs on the EHC stay in their holders.
 

Mr. Wright

Knows some things
Supporting Member
Now that's something I never heard of.
The 03's had a different EHC set up. That was held in place with a plastic box, that was mounted to high, and the seat set on it. After many miles, the box would give out, and pinch all the wires under the EHC, because the plugs are on the bottom.
 

Th3InfamousI

Administrator
Staff member
Ok, I ran across this many years ago. It actually was a recall at one time. What is happening is the seat is pushing down on the EHC, and pinching the wires underneath.
To fix this, take a heavy zip tie, or a couple medium ones and wrap it around the plastic box, that the EHC sits in. So the tabs on the EHC stay in their holders.
The 04 had the recall on the harness getting unplugged cause it just clipped on then they screwed it down in later years.

Didn't realize there was a recall on those 03 thunderheart modules too


Sent from my 2PS64 using Tapatalk
 

Kiwirider

Active Member
Mine did the same thing. Completely random too. I couldn't replicate it either. Sometimes cut off for a second while riding, then come back on. Other times, cut out and not come back for 20 mins. Sometimes not at all..
I replaced the EHC and it fixed it immediately.
 

Sven

Well-Known Member
Makes sense. Sense in a way that it refires. I assume you just do not sulk and sit on the bike trying to fire it. The times you light it off is when there is no seat pressure on the box. Even if it shorts and/or grounds more likely, the black box returns as if no hard part burned out on the motherboard, nor something heating up and lifting off the motherboard to stop current flow.

So it's a safe wire chafing as if using a kill switch and no harm to the component, to the pin moving in the connector and returns seat wise, road bump wise. Zip-tie cutting and flipping the box to see the connector or wires resting on whatever.
1. When flipping the box over, do not wipe wires with a rag just yet.
2. The visual is a powder of wire covering or paint etching at the frame to ground.
3. Rub both hands together; which hand stayed cold? So it is equal wear at 2 touch points you can chase down... finding the one side being the obvious.
4. Now with a rolled up paper towel looking like a pencil, drag down at the wires, meaning, X is where the pillows would normally lay on a bed. Where Y is dragging the paper across the whole bed and missing the powder being removed by the rubbing.. if... you cannot obviously see it.
 
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