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Dead Gauges - 1990 Electra Glide

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Old Sep 23, 2017 | 11:51 AM
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Default Dead Gauges - 1990 Electra Glide

Trying to plan my afternoon here.

My FLHTC just started acting up. The gauges go in and out. Volt meter/tach/oil pressure will drop out, sit there for however long, then pop back to life. Hitting a decent bump will trigger it. Certainly electrical... Probably a ground.

(BTW, the mechanical speedometer is a blessing.)

I've read comments here and there about ignition switches being an issue, but I seem to recall that that's on Softail models.

Anyway, my options are dig in now and find it, OR order a new switch (are they even available?) and live with the problem until it arrives. I don't want to have to take the batwing apart twice.

My gut says the switch is fine, but thought I'd ask before I waste any time.
 
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Old Sep 23, 2017 | 12:12 PM
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If it's the ignition switch then you should be able to replicate it by hitting the switch with a rubber mallet while the bike is running.
 
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Old Sep 23, 2017 | 12:28 PM
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If it's the switch, would you expect to lose ignition when it cuts out?
 
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Old Sep 23, 2017 | 02:40 PM
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The recall form HD on the Electra Glide ignitions were for the the whole bike cutting out. My bet is that you have a loose ground in the fairing somewhere.
 
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Old Sep 23, 2017 | 03:27 PM
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Originally Posted by 0maha
If it's the switch, would you expect to lose ignition when it cuts out?
You have a problem with your accessory circuit.
You have a bad wire somewhere in your acc circuit.
 
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Old Sep 23, 2017 | 07:24 PM
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I'm voting a bad ground as well...We are voting aren't we?
 
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Old Sep 23, 2017 | 09:50 PM
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This is funny.

Never did dig into the bike today. Decided my truck needed some long overdue TLC instead.

(I baby my bike, but I treat my truck like a red-headed stepchild)

Went down and had four new tires put on. Stopped at the store and bought four new shocks on the way home. The rears fought me pretty good. It's got 120k on it and still had the factory shocks. Ended up calling WP50 for some advice, and that led to some angle grinder work cutting off the seized bolts.

Anyway, finally got that all sorted. Gathered up the fam damily for a shake down cruise. (Bribed them with ice cream.)

And just like that, the dash lights on the truck stopped working.

Good grief. It's always something.
 
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Old Sep 24, 2017 | 07:39 AM
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the bike could have the accessory 15 amp circuit breaker going south. i replaced all the 15 amp breakers on my 85 several years ago. the 15 amp ignition breaker was giving me problems so i replaced all of them.
 
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Old Sep 24, 2017 | 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted by 0maha

Good grief. It's always something.
Ain't that the truth.
Truck Play with IP dimmer switch and see if the lights flicker.

Bike Had a ground connection at upper tree left loose that did the same.

It had 3 ground wires on one bolt but the gauges were the only symptom I noticed at the time.

Hollar at me if you want to

WP
 
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Old Sep 25, 2017 | 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by bagga
the bike could have the accessory 15 amp circuit breaker going south. i replaced all the 15 amp breakers on my 85 several years ago. the 15 amp ignition breaker was giving me problems so i replaced all of them.
That's an good idea, right there.

Went out on a 200 mile cruise on Sunday. The interesting thing is the gauges were working like 99% of the time. They'd cut out for a few seconds here and there, but would always pop back on.

Anyway, I'm going to take your advice and replace those breakers as long as I'm in there. Thanks.

BTW, the new shocks on the truck are like magic. The guys at Autozone told me I wanted Gabriel Max Control units, and the thing rides like it's new. Couldn't be more pleased.
 
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