Question regarding EHC

[Maverick]

I have a question regarding all the problems I have read on this forum regarding problems with the EHC's. It seems like a lot of people have had problems in this area, but I see no posts about this on bikes made before 2003. Was there something different about the earlier bikes? I just picked up my 2002 Husky that I purchased over the weekend, and am just wondering about potential future problems.

One of the reasons I am getting worried is do to the fact that my headlight quit working after I got home. When I picked it up I noticed the low beam was not working, but the high beam was. I rode it home and the high beam was working all the time. It was getting to be dusk about the time I finally got home from my long extended first ride, so I could see it was still working. I turned it off, then went out a little later to restart it only to find out that I now have no headlight, low or high beam.

 

[firedog19]

I do not believe yours has an ehc. Check the connector in the headlight bucket as they are prone to melting. WSW on here has a ceramic replacement.

 

[Wills67]

Had a similar issue when I got my bike. It was the wiring in the headlight bucket that had chaffed and was shorting out. I would look there first. Known issue on earlier dogs that the headlight socket would melt. Should be replaced with the ceramic socket.

 

[Ray]

Start with changing out the bulb/bulbs. That might a simple and easy fix. When mine went out my biggest concern was the motor was "not" starting. Pushing it down the interstate in 98 degree heat isn't fun at all.

Ray

 

[Wills67]

Looks like we were typing at the same time Firedog19

 

[Maverick]

Thanks for the suggestions. The bulb is the first thing I was going to try, an I will inspect all the wiring while I do that. Hopefully I will find the socket has already been replaced, and I just have a bad bulb, but I usually don't get that lucky. Thanks for the suggestions. I am really impressed at how fast you get responses on this forum when asking questions.

 

[DynoDave]

EHC

I have an '02 Mastiff. It has an EHC located under the 'dashboard'. (Top cover between two fuel tanks.)
Have not read of many problems with these earlier EHC's either.
http://s1289.photobucket.com/user/DynoDave3/media/EHC_zps8f289488.jpg.html

 

[DynoDave]

 

[Maverick]

I searched the WSW website for the ceramic socket as suggested by Firedog, but could only find this item listed for 2005 and newer models. Does anyone know if the same socket usable in a 2002?

Also I'm kind of glad that Firedog mentioned that my older 2002 didn't have the EHC that I had been reading about being a problem. That is one less worry for me. Now if I can just get this headlight figured out so I can get it back out on the road.

 

[DynoDave]

According to the Big Dog service manual, your bike has an EHC.
It's either between the tanks or under the seat.

 

[Maverick]

Darn, guess I need to worry after all.