Hey guys, hoping for some guidance here.

So was riding with a buddy to pep boys...luckily i broke down in the pep boys parking lot or so i thought. Went to start the bike when leaving, then smoke from the battery compartment. So opened it up and my negative terminal was melted. Figured the connection was just loose and i had bad luck!

Unfortunately that doesn't seem to have been the case. I put a new battery in, went to start it. Nothing. I turn the key, the headlight comes on but thats it. No fuel pump, no gauge etc. On top of that i turn the key back to off and my hi beam indicator stays on. I had to tow it home and now i'm pretty much at a loss from here.

any help would be appreciated

 

pull and check all your fuses.

 

Same thing happened to me on my '12 Sportster. Battery was changed earlier this year. Had to have it towed to HD dealer who found out that the negative terminal of the battery came loose and melted part of terminal and battery.

 

First, you're probably right about a bad connection as the first problem. If battery connections are not tight and/or not clean, arcing can result, and the lead will melt.

However, that may have caused other, resulting issues. Sengle4 is right; start with all your fuses.

 

don't forget to check your voltage regulator. The loose battery connection essentially created a high resistance/intermittent connection that very well may have damaged the vr and or the stator.

 

Here are 20 threads about melted terminals. https://www.hdforums.com/forum/searc...rchid=32785889

Keep us updated. Good luck.

 

Been there, done that.

Lesson learned $126+tax.

 

And...hate to say it...get yourself a service manual b/c it has the electrical schematics for your bike. Good for tracing electrical gremlins until you get everything back to working condition. Good luck.

 

Intermittent power connections like you have described will cause voltage spikes that can damage sensitive electronic circuits like are found in modern vehicles. If you still have problems after you have the physical damage repaired (new battery and cable, checked all fuses and grounds), I suggest you start troubleshooting from that prospective.

Good luck...

 

thanks guys...all fuses are good...now on to the rest of your directions!