Electrical issue on my 1986 flhtc help!
Getting ready for spring, bike runs great but I have no brake lights, turn signals, or dash lights. All warning lights and electric gauges are inop to. Only things working are my running lights and speedometer that is mechanically driven. I have the fairing off and don't see anything unusual. I don't have a diagram so I am working blind. I need to know how the power is delivered up to the cluster and front wiring . I looked at the breaker under the seat and one of the connections was so rusted it fused to the nut. I have removed the breaker and of course nothing works now
Please help i want to ride!!!!
Jesse
You state you dont have a diagram which means you dont have a manual .?
Get a manual and follow the step by step procedures to find the problem .
You can also find info. here by clicking on similar wiring problems that others have had.
Age does bad things to wiring , suggest you go through the entire system and fix what needs fixing.
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It APPEARS the TAN wire going to this breaker supplies the power to this breaker. I will ohm test this tan wire tomorrow but does you folks think it would be ok if I ran a power wire from a KEY ON source to the terminal that the tan is on or could that be dangerous?
At least I have narrowed it down!
Jesse
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When you hit the start switch, it energizes the starter relay which cuts power to the acc (tan wire) circuit while cranking.
So voltage goes from battery to main breaker, then another breaker in the fairing, to the ign switch, back to the start relay, then back to the acc breaker in the fairing,- lots of voltage drop.
You may need a start relay, chech for power to the 87a terminal ( center tan)
On my bike, I ran a new wire with a inline fuse from the battery positive to a relay installed near the acc breaker, used the tan wire to energize the new relay which supplies direct power to the acc breaker where the tan wire was connected before.
You'll now get full battery voltage to the fairing, volt gauge will now read correct voltage too.
When you hit the start switch, it energizes the starter relay which cuts power to the acc (tan wire) circuit while cranking.
So voltage goes from battery to main breaker, then another breaker in the fairing, to the ign switch, back to the start relay, then back to the acc breaker in the fairing,- lots of voltage drop.
You may need a start relay, chech for power to the 87a terminal ( center tan)
On my bike, I ran a new wire with a inline fuse from the battery positive to a relay installed near the acc breaker, used the tan wire to energize the new relay which supplies direct power to the acc breaker where the tan wire was connected before.
You'll now get full battery voltage to the fairing, volt gauge will now read correct voltage too.
What is the purpose of the relay, is it just for Key ON/key OFF purpose?
The whole system wont work unless I have the tan wire working correct?
What if I completely eliminate the tan wire and just run a wire from the battery to a fused link to the post on the breaker?
Last but not least
if my starter relay is working, why would I not have power at the tan wire?Again I will do some more invasive testing this afternoon, but I would love to know about the above questions
Thanks a lot!
Jesse





