did something stupid
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Stage IV
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: alabama
did something stupid
hooked up the jumper cable wrong (reversed +/-) by using the tender cable on a 2015 limited. ERRR. smoke came of of the ignition switch and i removed quickly.
had towed to dealer and they stated nothing wrong except battery was bad. not sure where the damage is that caused the smoke. any sugestions as what could have smoked. everything is still working.
any thoughts beside dont do that any more
had towed to dealer and they stated nothing wrong except battery was bad. not sure where the damage is that caused the smoke. any sugestions as what could have smoked. everything is still working.
any thoughts beside dont do that any more
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 21,763
Likes: 22,964
From: North Carolina
Hate that for you. You have definitely burnt a wire or got it hot enough to melt the cover. I would be afraid that it would fail at a bad time. Hopefully someone on here will have some first hand experience and give you good advice.
As mentioned it would seem that the ignition wire or switch would be the best place to focus your attention.
Good luck.
As mentioned it would seem that the ignition wire or switch would be the best place to focus your attention.
Good luck.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,820
Likes: 588
From: Michigan
My best guess would be that one or both of the wires in the battery tender lead will be bad. They may still have continuity?
Smoke would indicate that at least some insulation got hot/melted.
In either case, I would recommend replacing the battery tender lead as a precaution against further/future issues.
That lead is fed from the 20 Amp P&A fuse on the fuse block. The hot side of that fuse is connected directly to the fused side of the 50 Amp main fuse in the fuse block. The hot side of the main fuse connects at the starter connection where the hot battery cable is routed.
Since the dealer found nothing wrong with the electrical system & you know that the fuses didn't blow, I would guess the smoke issue would be from the ground side of that lead & that's where the issue will probably be found (if there is an issue).
Smoke would indicate that at least some insulation got hot/melted.
In either case, I would recommend replacing the battery tender lead as a precaution against further/future issues.
That lead is fed from the 20 Amp P&A fuse on the fuse block. The hot side of that fuse is connected directly to the fused side of the 50 Amp main fuse in the fuse block. The hot side of the main fuse connects at the starter connection where the hot battery cable is routed.
Since the dealer found nothing wrong with the electrical system & you know that the fuses didn't blow, I would guess the smoke issue would be from the ground side of that lead & that's where the issue will probably be found (if there is an issue).
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,752
Likes: 3,272
From: West Central Florida
My old bike smoked from the switch once. The switch semi failed. It was under warranty at the time so the shop took care of it. In my case i was turning the switch to on and when i hit the starter button it smoked from underneath the ign switch. I turned it off quick. The only damage was the switch itself. Hopefully just your switch took the hit and not the wires.
Getting the factory smoke back in to the switch can be very difficult.
Getting the factory smoke back in to the switch can be very difficult.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,524
Likes: 57,079
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
One thing is for sure ... You can't put the smoke back in ... I'd be looking to see which wires were melted/burned and replacing them... because they are not causing problems now doesn't mean that they won't in the future. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,044
Likes: 336
We all learn from our mistakes - just be glad it wasn't worse, but as others said, go thru the wires & replace the ones that caused the smoke...
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,605
Likes: 6,439
From: Honah Lee
Not sure how a small amp maintenance charger would hurt anything. If you put a meter on one, it will not even show voltage since it needs a correct load to work. Least Harley's and Bell's. The ECM , speedometer, alarm and other electronics are protected. If is was a cheap-oh and it did throw a little mil-amps at battery, that is as far as it would go. The heat was at the clamps on the battery probably coming back from battery that drifted up, then under tank console and out switch maybe. The ignition switch was off? You should never try to jump a Harley except for an emergency and never thru 10 gage charge wire.
Just my opinion. This would be best answered by a Harley electrical engineer.
Just my opinion. This would be best answered by a Harley electrical engineer.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Feb 5, 2017 at 03:13 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,265
Likes: 99
From: Northern VA
The '15 has a built in tender cable so I don't understand how it could be hooked up backwards?
Did you install your own tender leads to the battery?