Dodgy Ground/Earth?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,856
Likes: 127
From: Middle of Kansas
Well! Back to the drawing board. They must have left that out of the older manuals as the 99 manual I have for Softails covers the International models also. Since the neutral switch only has the ground wire on it, you could ground it solid to see if it still blinks, for another little test. It should turn on the neutral light and of course keep it on even if the tranny is in gear. If it still blinks, that would tell you that it is not the transmission ground. If it stays on solid it would tell you that you might have a bad ground through the transmission or your neutral switch. I would hope at least it would tell us something. Yeah, it would help if you had the electrical layout for the International models.
Lets see. How far is it from Abilene Ks. to the UK. I don't think I can make it tomorrow. LOL. As you Brits say, its to bloody far. Well! unless you have cake of course.
Lets see. How far is it from Abilene Ks. to the UK. I don't think I can make it tomorrow. LOL. As you Brits say, its to bloody far. Well! unless you have cake of course.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
In 1990 Harley struggled to make 50k bikes, only achieving that output by taking orders at the start of that model year and accepting no changes of orders throughout that year. Just a few years later they were making 4 times that many and peaked at well over 300k. So the changes within H-D in the interval between 90 and 99 were enormous!
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
I've made a start going over things today. I've separated the various multi-pin connectors and squirted Silicon grease in them, ditto a few smaller ones, disturbed the connections on the front forks valve (why are there 6 wires?!) and checked what I can in there. The earth to the handlebars, which I had no idea I had, looks fine.
I was reminded of a fundamental difference between my International FLHS and the US spec. I have five thermal cutouts in my nacelle, compared with three on US spec versions. Also my fender lights are wired via a relay that cuts cuts power to the entire bike when they are turned on, so can only be used when stopped, not on the move. I have only recently identified what I need to do to wire out that feature, but will leave it until after our trip in May.
I have a few other things to check before refitting the battery, to see if I have had any success.
I was reminded of a fundamental difference between my International FLHS and the US spec. I have five thermal cutouts in my nacelle, compared with three on US spec versions. Also my fender lights are wired via a relay that cuts cuts power to the entire bike when they are turned on, so can only be used when stopped, not on the move. I have only recently identified what I need to do to wire out that feature, but will leave it until after our trip in May.
I have a few other things to check before refitting the battery, to see if I have had any success.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,039
Likes: 11
From: Northern Ontario
Graham have you checked the wire that goes from the neutral switch all the way to where it connects back up to who knows where. I had found mine to be rather crispy and the cennector on the switch was a bit loose. I didn't change the wire other than reroute to cooler area but I did squeeze the end that goes on the switch to be a tighter fit along with a smear of die-electric grease/
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Graham have you checked the wire that goes from the neutral switch all the way to where it connects back up to who knows where. I had found mine to be rather crispy and the cennector on the switch was a bit loose. I didn't change the wire other than reroute to cooler area but I did squeeze the end that goes on the switch to be a tighter fit along with a smear of die-electric grease/
I forgot to mention that, sorry, got distracted by evening meal! That connector is a funny thing. My clip is a good tight fit on the switch, but the rivetted wire connector is slightly loose on it. I need to clean it up to see if I can somehow tighten it. I have some nice little punches that should be suitable, if I can get an appropriate anvil in there, to thump it onto.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,039
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From: Northern Ontario
Lynn,
I forgot to mention that, sorry, got distracted by evening meal! That connector is a funny thing. My clip is a good tight fit on the switch, but the rivetted wire connector is slightly loose on it. I need to clean it up to see if I can somehow tighten it. I have some nice little punches that should be suitable, if I can get an appropriate anvil in there, to thump it onto.
I forgot to mention that, sorry, got distracted by evening meal! That connector is a funny thing. My clip is a good tight fit on the switch, but the rivetted wire connector is slightly loose on it. I need to clean it up to see if I can somehow tighten it. I have some nice little punches that should be suitable, if I can get an appropriate anvil in there, to thump it onto.
No wire on my bike settles for crimping only.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 12
From: Bluffton, South Carolina
Graham, solder the wire, also there are actually four manuals for all Harleys. First is the owners manual, second is the repair manual, third is the parts manual, and lastly is the Wiring Diagrams and Electrical troubleshooting Guide. These usually cover more than one year and are for domestic and international. They are very usefull as not only do they have the wiring diagrams, but they also have some very useful troubleshooting matrix's. The part number for my 95 , perhaps you could use this number to chase one down is 99948-96. Harley likes to keep this manual "Super Secret", because it does make electrical problems pretty simple. Hope this helps.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
Hi Jim,
I'm putting things back together now and will attempt that. The connector is over 20 years old, so fingers crossed!
The separate electrical manuals didn't come out until some years after my bike, and I have all the factory literature for my bike, electrics being part of my 1 1/2" thick tome! Be assured I have shaken the International electrics topic over here without success! I explained the 1990 scenario a few posts ago. I'll investigate the super one so thanks for that.
I have just about run out of enthusiasm and ideas on this now! Battery is off the bike, while I seek out other possibilities.
I'm putting things back together now and will attempt that. The connector is over 20 years old, so fingers crossed!
The separate electrical manuals didn't come out until some years after my bike, and I have all the factory literature for my bike, electrics being part of my 1 1/2" thick tome! Be assured I have shaken the International electrics topic over here without success! I explained the 1990 scenario a few posts ago. I'll investigate the super one so thanks for that.
I have just about run out of enthusiasm and ideas on this now! Battery is off the bike, while I seek out other possibilities.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,039
Likes: 11
From: Northern Ontario
