The Dog needs a Doc...

[2004hdfxsti]

Hey all. Was out on a nice ride tonight and I was on my way home. Bike started spitting and sputtering. I then lost my speedo and dash lights were flickering. I then snapped a clutch cable. Was able to power shift when needed to get home. The bike is an 03 Chopper with WP installed. I have not troubleshooted the issue yet, but am thinking it could possibly be the ignition switch because when i got it home and shut it off, I went to turn the key back on and nothing....

Anyone have any ideas??
Thank you in advance for any assistance before I start pulling things apart.

:bang:

 

[2004hdfxsti]

also, the bike was spitting and sputtering the whole way home.

 

[Bobby Schulz]

Check your battery voltage,connections,and power/ground to the ignition switch, and go from there.

 

[Dakotabos]

Sounds like a voltage problem. If you have a weak battery it will cause all kinds of issues

 

[Nukeranger]

I learned last month that flickering lights on the speedo/tach indicates a battery issue (Not mine though)

 

[2004hdfxsti]

I will check in to this and report back. Last year I did put in a new VR and battery is about the same age...

 

[BBChopper]

Check your battery voltage,connections,and power/ground to the ignition switch, and go from there.

X2, Is it on a tender?

 

[BadBrad]

A year is about all I get from a battery. Read your battery voltage while sitting, then take a reading while pushing the start button and let us know what you get.

 

[2004hdfxsti]

might be difficult to check because when i turn the key over, i have nothing. like the bike is completely dead. It was not on tender, but is usually run abouve every day or every other day

 

[BadBrad]

Trust me, take the reading. It may be that your battery is going to "0" volts when pressign the start button. If you press the start button and still show 12.8V+, then it would stand to reason that it may not be your battery after all.

 

[narow37]

check wiring at the switch. make sure its tight and good crimped or soldered connection. get it back to the point where the switch does something when you turn it on. after that check the battery voltage as the others have said. could be the switch but very likely the battery.

 

[2004hdfxsti]

ok so after a couple days of claming down after the dog broke, i realized that:

1. I'm an idiot.
2. Very importatn to remember basic principals about these bikes.


After your input i took the seak off, and behold....the negative battery bolt backed itself out. put it back and and lights worked fine. Havent fired it up yet though as still need clutch cable, but it should be good.

Thanks to all for your input, and am glad it was my own stupidity as opposed to something really wrong.

:up:

 

[Nukeranger]

Your not an idiot,

You just got caught up in the moment. Sometimes it pays to walk away for a while.

Huw


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[2004hdfxsti]

Got one more question. This one will sound a little smarter. gonna remove the clutch cable for replacement this weekend. The clutch cable is braisded and coated by a company called "Goodridge" - anyone know this company? good bad or indifferent? Also can they be purcahsed from BDM direct? What is recommended for cable if by chance this Goodridge line is junk....

 

[2004hdfxsti]

Ok so we found out the problem. I blew out a sandwich bearing? in the transmission.

 

[2004hdfxsti]

has anyone ever seen this happen before? What could possibly cause it?