Dodgy Ground/Earth?
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
Dodgy Ground/Earth?
As regulars here probably recognise, most of what I tinker with on my bike is mechanical. There is a good reason for that, which is that electrics are rather like a dark art in my mind! I can add electrics, like my intercom and fog lights, but if something mysterious happens I can be instantly stumped!
It is months since I last ran my bike, something I put right in the last couple of days. Doing so, and checking the operation of all the lights, reminded me my neutral light winks when my indicator lights are working. Now I can imagine that is a dodgy ground somewhere (we call it 'earth' here on the UK, just to translate that!) which may be causing that. Can anyone point me in the right direction, please?
It is months since I last ran my bike, something I put right in the last couple of days. Doing so, and checking the operation of all the lights, reminded me my neutral light winks when my indicator lights are working. Now I can imagine that is a dodgy ground somewhere (we call it 'earth' here on the UK, just to translate that!) which may be causing that. Can anyone point me in the right direction, please?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,326
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From: Picayune, Ms.
You should have a ground from the handlebars to the bike frame at the neck. This breaks on a regular basis and may be the problem.
Yes, I do realize the bars are connected to the stem, but remember the stem sits in grease and bearings.
Try there, then in the headlight bucket, another weak ground(earth) connection.
This is just a guess, make sure the ground between the indicator lights are all clean and properly attached ie: none of the hot wires are touching a ground wire or none of the ground wires are touching the hot wires at that location. HD loves to tie thing in series to save on the high cost of wiring :-)
DC electricity is a flow, electrons flow from earth(ground) to the positive(+) side of the battery. It has to make this circuit in order to do work. The work is a side trip to any electrical component. Remember it HAS to make that round trip. Now look for a short cut the little electrons are taking between the direction indicator and neutral indicator lights back to the + battery terminal. This could also be a dead spider somewhere in the handlebar controls(yes I do mean insect) or bee.
Yes, I do realize the bars are connected to the stem, but remember the stem sits in grease and bearings.
Try there, then in the headlight bucket, another weak ground(earth) connection.
This is just a guess, make sure the ground between the indicator lights are all clean and properly attached ie: none of the hot wires are touching a ground wire or none of the ground wires are touching the hot wires at that location. HD loves to tie thing in series to save on the high cost of wiring :-)
DC electricity is a flow, electrons flow from earth(ground) to the positive(+) side of the battery. It has to make this circuit in order to do work. The work is a side trip to any electrical component. Remember it HAS to make that round trip. Now look for a short cut the little electrons are taking between the direction indicator and neutral indicator lights back to the + battery terminal. This could also be a dead spider somewhere in the handlebar controls(yes I do mean insect) or bee.
Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
Thanks chaps, just got back from successfully getting the bike through its annual roadworthy check, so we are ready to ride! 
As well as owning Harleys for many years I have also enjoyed the delights of several MZ 2-strokes. They specialised in black magic electrics, according to a friend who knows these things, as if they took 'short cuts' for granted!
And I do have a resident spider. It came out from under the seat to watch while I was tidying things ready for this morning's inspection!
I can see I am going to have to boldly go to places I would rather stay away from, so spare me a thought! I may be some time.
As well as owning Harleys for many years I have also enjoyed the delights of several MZ 2-strokes. They specialised in black magic electrics, according to a friend who knows these things, as if they took 'short cuts' for granted!
And I do have a resident spider. It came out from under the seat to watch while I was tidying things ready for this morning's inspection!
I can see I am going to have to boldly go to places I would rather stay away from, so spare me a thought! I may be some time.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,077
Likes: 2,148
From: Ohio
Just run a wire to the "Earth" and let it drag for a ground.
Sorry, I couldn't help from being a smarta$$
Sorry, I couldn't help from being a smarta$$
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
Oh dear! 
Well done!
Electrickery is just that! I need to brace myself before making a start....
Electrickery is just that! I need to brace myself before making a start....
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Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
I need Samanatha the witch, to waggle her nose....
I'll try and tackle it over the weekend.