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Jul 30, 2012 | 10:19 AM

mojoe65

Thread Starter

Stage II

Joined: Jul 2012

Posts: 2

Likes: 0

From: Rapid City, SD

Need Electrical Help

Was working on my 94' Dyna Wid Glide and somehow grounded the positive battery terminal to the frame. Now everything is dead, no lights, no power to anything, when I turn the switch absolutely nothing happens. I've been checking all the circuit breakers, fuses that I can find and also tracing wires. Can't find my problem.

Battery shows 12.7 volts.
Have power thru switch.
All the relays I can find still work.

What did I burn out?

Can anyone offer assisitance?

Sturgis Rally is next week, don't want to leave it parked.

Please help!!!!

Jul 30, 2012 | 11:12 AM

02fx4dude

Road Master

Joined: May 2010

Posts: 979

Likes: 351

From: Wisconsin

Did you see any smoke? I don't know much about the older bikes electrical but maybe there's a master fuse/breaker or a fusible link. Or possibly a fried ground connection to the frame.

Jul 31, 2012 | 09:04 AM

mojoe65

Thread Starter

Stage II

Joined: Jul 2012

Posts: 2

Likes: 0

From: Rapid City, SD

Figured it out, I checked the battery for voltage and it showed 12.7 volts with my meter, (meter is good), but while tracing wires down I decided to use the battery to test my wiring to the bulbs and it wouldn't even power a single light. I used jumper cables from my truck to the cables on the bike and the bike fired up. I've never seen a battery showing that many volts not be able to power a light. Local parts house said battery showed good on their tester and performed under load check but it didn't work in the bike. Change battery and problem is gone.

Jul 31, 2012 | 09:23 AM

rh8234

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 3,968

Likes: 34

From: Lockport Township, IL

This makes no sense to me. If the battery functioned well under a load test, it should be fine. My guess is that you had a dirty, loose, or corroded terminal or connector. When you hooked up the jumper cables you got some connection. When you changed the battery, .... next time you run into this problem, clean the battery terminals and clean the inside surface of the cables before spending the money on a battery.