Complete Electrical Shutdown...need help

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May 21, 2014 | 03:20 PM

see22ds

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From: Wisconsin

Complete Electrical Shutdown...need help

Hi All, I have a 2001 Wide Glide. Went for a ride Sunday and put maybe 15 miles on the bike, stopped at Walgreens to pick up a few items and went outside fired up the bike and started to leave. Made it about 100 yards and the bike completely died like someone flipped a switch. No electrical power anywhere except at battery.

I have checked the battery, even substituted another, traced every wire I could and inspected. We checked the ignition switch, main breaker, and all connections including grounds...I can not find anything wrong and am at my wits end and about to just drop it off at dealer...can anyone provide any last ditch ideas? Thanks, I appreciate it.

May 21, 2014 | 04:14 PM

Dan89FLSTC

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From: South Carolina

Replace the main breaker.

May 21, 2014 | 04:18 PM

rooti

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Joined: Jul 2011

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From: New Braunfels, Texas

Quit usuing your kill switch as a turn signal.

Replace main fuse, check battery cables and connections on both ends. Check kill switch.

May 21, 2014 | 05:25 PM

Dan89FLSTC

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: May 2008

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From: South Carolina

Quote:

Originally Posted by rooti

Quit usuing your kill switch as a turn signal.

Replace main fuse, check battery cables and connections on both ends. Check kill switch.

Kill switch will not cause complete electrical shutdown, but an ignition switch will...

May 21, 2014 | 09:37 PM

see22ds

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From: Wisconsin

Replaced main circuit breaker and ignition switch...rechecked ground and positive cables...I don't believe they have any breaks. Still no electrical power anywhere. Switched batteries also...just very frustrating.

May 22, 2014 | 04:48 AM

Dan89FLSTC

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From: South Carolina

Check voltage at each post on the main breaker.
Check voltage at each fuse.

May 22, 2014 | 07:33 AM

JohnnyC

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Joined: Oct 2010

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From: Near Frankenmuth, MI

Wow, Lost both main voltage and secondary.

When that happened on my ride it turned out the main ground lead from the battery to the frame had a broken heavy duty connector and at the frame, the wire was just dangling. I stripped it on the side of the road and re-bolted it to a solid point and rode it home. Later replaced that cable with one from an auto parts store because the original was no longer made.

My though is that you have a main cable that has been flexing and has finally broke in two somewhere inside the insulation of one of the main cables. Using a volt / ohm meter test each battery cable from end to end for continuity.

Best wishes it's something this simple.