Runaway starter issue...

[TireFryer]

Been doing some searching and havent come up with a good answer.

So we rolled into IL. to visit some of my family. Got the bike out of the truck and it had a dead battery, so I jumped it and pulled it into my stepdads shop and put a battery charger on it.

This morning it fired right up and we went for a ride, and when I turned the bike off then tried to restart it, dead battery. Got a jump and got it back home then went and picked up a new battery (Interstate) put it in, fired right up and then decided it was time to wash it. So I sprayed it off and soaped it up, and then went to wash the soap off and the damn thing went all Christine on me and tried to start up, the key was in my pocket, so I grabbed a wrench and unhooked the neg. batt. cable. I dried it off and pulled out the air compressor and blew any and all water away from all the electronics. I let it sit in the sun for a little bit hoping it would dry out. as soon as I touch the black cable that goes into the harness to the neg. side of the batt. it the starter goes berserk :loony: If I turn the key on and do the same thing, its fine. It will start up and run just fine, but as soon as I turn the key off...the starter tries to engage again. I pulled the harness plug and blew air over everything just to make sure there wasnt any water in anywhere.

I also tried swapping to my old battery, and it did the same thing.

Im boggled. I've never seen anything like this before. I cant find any wires that are arching, but the damn thing is drawing voltage from somewhere

If you guys need I can take a video and upload to youtube.

 

[Eric]

I'd pull the cover on the starter solenoid & seeif the plunger is stuck... & clean the contacts while there.. do a search its covered already.. if its not the solenoid the you may need to look @ the ehc connections possible water in the connection or possible ehc failure fro jumping it off.. that can really mess up a ehc..

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/how/10327-how-clean-solenoid-contacts-starter.html

 

[TireFryer]

Thanks, I'll go check the starter and plunger right now.

The thing that confuses me is that it only does it when the key is off.

 

[Little-Boo]

You should also take apart the right hand control and make sure there is no water in on the circuit board. Dogs don't like baths so unless it's really trashed with mud, tye using a spray bottle wipe it down. Stay way from the seat and starter area as you know by now that is where all the Electrical Gremlins live, if you piss one them off your in for the haul trying to figure out which one you pisst off. :bang:

Don't give up you will find it and don't jump the battery, try to recharge it or push the bike and try to start it that way. The higher gears make it easier on the pushing.

Carlos

 

[Dozer1]

You should also take apart the right hand control and make sure there is no water in on the circuit board. Dogs don't like baths so unless it's really trashed with mud, tye using a spray bottle wipe it down. Stay way from the seat and starter area as you know by now that is where all the Electrical Gremlins live, if you piss one them off your in for the haul trying to figure out which one you pisst off. :bang:

Don't give up you will find it and don't jump the battery, try to recharge it or push the bike and try to start it that way. The higher gears make it easier on the pushing.

Carlos

Goddamnit, Carlos! You just had to go and say that while I'm outside washing the beast at this very moment!!!! Dun it a million times and never had a problem (always spray and blow water AWAY from hand controls, speedo, etc., and cover battery compartment with towel). But now the fuckin thing will probably explode!!!! :angry::bang::roll::2thumbs:

 

[Eric]

the hand controls dont have power with the key off,,,, usually... now water in the ehc harness may cause the problem.. my bet is eather stuck starter solenoid plunger or water in the ehc connectors. if it is water in the connections.. after it is completly dryed install diealectric greese in all connections then reconnect.. but for sure dont jump start the bike or jump it off then try & let the bikes charging system charge the battery..that will put a heavy load on the V/R & stator...

 

[TireFryer]

Found the culprit...the damn ignition switch is bad. I started wiggling everything around and saw the headlight come on.

So I've got it apart and it seems there is a Bikers Dream who is a BDM dealer so I've got my fingers crossed they have it in stock. Guess I'll find out tomorrow morning.

 

[Eric]

Found the culprit...the damn ignition switch is bad. I started wiggling everything around and saw the headlight come on.

So I've got it apart and it seems there is a Bikers Dream who is a BDM dealer so I've got my fingers crossed they have it in stock. Guess I'll find out tomorrow morning.

the switch may be a problem........but it shouldnt cause the starter to energize .... just sayin.. it may be possible for the switch to be bad & water in the hand control or ehc....

 

[KnotSo]

Bikers Dream is also a Big Dog Biker site sponsor:2thumbs:

 

[TireFryer]

I think you guys are right. Its a bad EHC. After taking the ign switch out, I reconnected the batt and it did same thing.

Guess Ill be buying a new one tomorrow. What's one of those run?

 

[avdhunter]

If it winds up being the EHC.... get with Low Down Chop Shop (Jake) and go with the wiresplus!!!

 

[ZZ CHOP]

Tire you can pull the green wire off the starter solenoid and check the voltage,it would normally have 7-8 volts with the key off, and final the 12+ while pushing the start button,i know this sounds stupid but it is a EHC so its not supposed to have any logic, you could ride it a little like this if you wanted to see if more of the EHC functions start to fail but i wouldn't ride far, as long as you leave the green wire disconnected it wont be engaging the starter,if your run button function is still working you could use a piece of short wire to hold to the male spade where the green wire connects and other end on + battery, if i were you i wouldn't think about buying another EHC, I do know that i will never buy another one for mine....Dave.

 

[pauldeepsea]

Okay, whenever I wash the bike with water I found using plastic bags "grocery" type to cover all the electronics and other places I don't want water to get in. battery tray, air filter (D&M) hand controls, speedo, and wheel bearings.

 

[erldawg]

I would check the connection at the EHC, dry it out and add dielectric grease which you can pick up at any Auto Parts store.

I've never had any issues with washing the bike and always blow it dry with compressor.

 

[TireFryer]

If it winds up being the EHC.... get with Low Down Chop Shop (Jake) and go with the wiresplus!!!

Yea i want to but im 1800 mi from home and am only gonna be here thru the weekend.

Tire you can pull the green wire off the starter solenoid and check the voltage,it would normally have 7-8 volts with the key off, and final the 12+ while pushing the start button,i know this sounds stupid but it is a EHC so its not supposed to have any logic, you could ride it a little like this if you wanted to see if more of the EHC functions start to fail but i wouldn't ride far, as long as you leave the green wire disconnected it wont be engaging the starter,if your run button function is still working you could use a piece of short wire to hold to the male spade where the green wire connects and other end on + battery, if i were you i wouldn't think about buying another EHC, I do know that i will never buy another one for mine....Dave.

Ill try that. If anything it'll atleast allow me to get the bike in the truck.

All i know is this sucks. Its made me look dumb in front of my stepdad who rides a Harley.

 

[Eric]

if the headlight plus is fine & the starter plunger isnt stuck just fire it up & as soon as it cranks pull the starter solenoid wire off this should stop the starter from running... this would work it get you somewhere.. then address the issue.. if its the ehc failure..go with a wires plus.. oh yeah after the bike is running put elect tape on that solenoid wire..dont let it touch anything metal,,

 

[TireFryer]

Welp, checked everything this morning...its fine now :loony:

I pulled the green wire on the starter, hooked the battery up then hooked the green wire back up and no issue. Plugged the key switch back in and turned the key on. Everything came on like normal.

But I broke the connector on the key switch :bang: so now its 71 bucks to replace it or rig it until i can get home and order one.

 

[Eric]

just a thought.. dont leave you bike in gear when you park it.......if it starts agin it will fall over

 

[TireFryer]

Well everything seems to be fine. I charged the new battery and went for a couple short rides.

Im gonna atribute it to a little gremlin somewhere that found its way into it, lol.

 

[strtjkt]

Last may I stopped for fuel, hit the start button and the bike started but the starter continued to run. I shut the bike off but the starter kept running and restarting the bike. The only way to stop it was disconnecting the battery. It fried the already weak battery by the time I got it disconnected. Took it to Jim Nasi Customs. They replaced the battery and cleaned the starter solenoid. It has never done this since so I am a gremlin believer.