Jones
Member
I installed a EHC R.I.P. kit in my 08 Ridge. Here are a few flictures and what I ran up against with the install.
I was not sure of the exact position of the mounting bracket so I called BIGDOG IS BACK and was given instructions by Chris. As advised I mounted the bracket vertically in the spot that the old EHC occupied.
Next: The instructions instruct to have the wiring from the module facing LEFT or towards the BACK of the bike.
This excellent video shows the wiring being stacked and stored behind the RIGHT electrical cover.
The EHC module could attach to either the front of the bracket or to the backside of the bracket. So that gives me four choices: 1&2 Wiring facing left on front/back of bracket. 3&4 Wiring facing right on front/back of bracket. In all four positions when the wiring harness was connected to the module the top of the wiring harness was over the frame rails by .75 inch. The seat would not go on, no way no how. I called Chris and he assured me that it will fit, Nope. Pic.1
My seat is stock and there is nothing else added to the bike in the under the seat area.
I watched the well made video on installing the RIP kit. The tech mounted the bracket to the right SIDE of the battery tray on the K9…not going to happen on the Ridgeback. He folded the excess wiring on the right side. Folding the wire on the right side appeared to be a good idea so I opted to face the EHC wiring harness to the right and not the left as the instruction suggest.
The wires folded on themselves and fit very snugly under the right side cover. Personally I think if I did it again I would run the wires facing LEFT per the instructions and not facing RIGHT as the video suggests. It’s just that the video install looked real good. Note: The vid bracket location for the K9 is different for the Ridgeback. Ridgeback stock EHC is IN FRONT of the battery and that is where the RIP instructions want the new one mounted. Pic.2
The wire color code for the RIP does not match the wire code on the Ridge. What I did was get the wiring schematic for the Ridge and the color codes for the various wiring.I wrote the colors of the pertinent wires on the instructions next to the RIP kit color code. This worked perfectly and confirmed wire connections.
I did not use a MC lift and running the wires was just a PIA not that difficult. The written instructions that came with the RIP could be better. Pictures would help much. Example from instruction: The rear brake wire connector is under the foot brake control…..In actuality the connector is halfway back down the right bottom frame tube in a wire loom.
I used a GEN II kit. That kit has the connector for the BACKBONE wiring harness. The screws on the new harness connector do not match the screws on the stock backbone harness and they are too short. The new backbone harness uses a 4-40. The stock harness uses a 10-32…(I think). The RIP kit did include two 4-40 EXTENDERS but no nuts. The 4-40s didn’t even touch the sides of the 10-32 holes. I had to run out and get 4-40 nuts, no big deal. That done I mated up the RIP backbone harness to the stock backbone harness without further problems.
The backbone harness fit in the space between the RIP EHC and the battery. Pic.3
I temp fit the battery and tried everything the switching, lights, indicators…all worked properly. Then I tried firing it up…..perfect. Perfect sweet start. I disconnected the battery and reinstalled with CopperShield on the terminals. A dozens starts so far and not a hiccup.
This unit uses a negative ground. I don’t know why but my instruments, indicators and lights are all much brighter.
Since I knew for a fact that the seat would not go on I was already resigned to the fact that it was going to need slicing and dicing. So now it’s time for a bit of minor surgery on the seat. I cut out a 3.0 x 1.5 inch slot in the fiberglass seat pan and the seat now drops in properly. The cut out is up around my inner right thigh and won’t take any weight so I was comfortable doing this.
Hopefully this little explanation will save some headaches.
Cheers
Pic.1
Pic.2
Pic.3
I was not sure of the exact position of the mounting bracket so I called BIGDOG IS BACK and was given instructions by Chris. As advised I mounted the bracket vertically in the spot that the old EHC occupied.
Next: The instructions instruct to have the wiring from the module facing LEFT or towards the BACK of the bike.
This excellent video shows the wiring being stacked and stored behind the RIGHT electrical cover.
The EHC module could attach to either the front of the bracket or to the backside of the bracket. So that gives me four choices: 1&2 Wiring facing left on front/back of bracket. 3&4 Wiring facing right on front/back of bracket. In all four positions when the wiring harness was connected to the module the top of the wiring harness was over the frame rails by .75 inch. The seat would not go on, no way no how. I called Chris and he assured me that it will fit, Nope. Pic.1
My seat is stock and there is nothing else added to the bike in the under the seat area.
I watched the well made video on installing the RIP kit. The tech mounted the bracket to the right SIDE of the battery tray on the K9…not going to happen on the Ridgeback. He folded the excess wiring on the right side. Folding the wire on the right side appeared to be a good idea so I opted to face the EHC wiring harness to the right and not the left as the instruction suggest.
The wires folded on themselves and fit very snugly under the right side cover. Personally I think if I did it again I would run the wires facing LEFT per the instructions and not facing RIGHT as the video suggests. It’s just that the video install looked real good. Note: The vid bracket location for the K9 is different for the Ridgeback. Ridgeback stock EHC is IN FRONT of the battery and that is where the RIP instructions want the new one mounted. Pic.2
The wire color code for the RIP does not match the wire code on the Ridge. What I did was get the wiring schematic for the Ridge and the color codes for the various wiring.I wrote the colors of the pertinent wires on the instructions next to the RIP kit color code. This worked perfectly and confirmed wire connections.
I did not use a MC lift and running the wires was just a PIA not that difficult. The written instructions that came with the RIP could be better. Pictures would help much. Example from instruction: The rear brake wire connector is under the foot brake control…..In actuality the connector is halfway back down the right bottom frame tube in a wire loom.
I used a GEN II kit. That kit has the connector for the BACKBONE wiring harness. The screws on the new harness connector do not match the screws on the stock backbone harness and they are too short. The new backbone harness uses a 4-40. The stock harness uses a 10-32…(I think). The RIP kit did include two 4-40 EXTENDERS but no nuts. The 4-40s didn’t even touch the sides of the 10-32 holes. I had to run out and get 4-40 nuts, no big deal. That done I mated up the RIP backbone harness to the stock backbone harness without further problems.
The backbone harness fit in the space between the RIP EHC and the battery. Pic.3
I temp fit the battery and tried everything the switching, lights, indicators…all worked properly. Then I tried firing it up…..perfect. Perfect sweet start. I disconnected the battery and reinstalled with CopperShield on the terminals. A dozens starts so far and not a hiccup.
This unit uses a negative ground. I don’t know why but my instruments, indicators and lights are all much brighter.
Since I knew for a fact that the seat would not go on I was already resigned to the fact that it was going to need slicing and dicing. So now it’s time for a bit of minor surgery on the seat. I cut out a 3.0 x 1.5 inch slot in the fiberglass seat pan and the seat now drops in properly. The cut out is up around my inner right thigh and won’t take any weight so I was comfortable doing this.
Hopefully this little explanation will save some headaches.
Cheers
Pic.1
Pic.2
Pic.3
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