Wiring problem.
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 139
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Wiring problem.
This is a tough one, I bought a used assembled softail custom. No frills, just headlight and tail/brakelight. The wiring was a mess. The wiring broke to the tailight, I cut out the bad spot, spliced in a new wire, worked fine when I turned the key. However, there was another bare spot that shorted out to the frame, fried a bunch of the wires, so I had to just strip a bunch of it out.
Now I have wires from the brake switch that are hot (light up the test light) and wires for the tailight that are hot (also light up the test light) but I cant seem to get anything to work when I just hook up to these wires. Now, there are two wires coming off the negative side of the battery that got chopped off when I stripped out the fried wires. I have no idea where they go to, any ideas? The other wires are junctioned with a wire that goes to the relays.
Thanks, any help would be appreciated if it can save me having to take it in for a fix, would rather do it myself...I know it's probably difficult making a diagnosis without seeing the situation.
zen
Now I have wires from the brake switch that are hot (light up the test light) and wires for the tailight that are hot (also light up the test light) but I cant seem to get anything to work when I just hook up to these wires. Now, there are two wires coming off the negative side of the battery that got chopped off when I stripped out the fried wires. I have no idea where they go to, any ideas? The other wires are junctioned with a wire that goes to the relays.
Thanks, any help would be appreciated if it can save me having to take it in for a fix, would rather do it myself...I know it's probably difficult making a diagnosis without seeing the situation.
zen
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,068
Likes: 1,476
From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
RE: Wiring problem.
Very hard to know what's going on here, especially with a custom bike. best bet is to get an HD manual and work off the wiring diagrams in it. My not-so-stock Sloptail had only the large ground wire on the battery originally. I did add another one from my horn when I relocated it. In your case those two extra wires could go anywhere. Sorry I can't be more help than that, except to say that electrical troubleshooting is mostly an exercise in logic. Instead of starting at the end of your problem, use a diagram and start at the beginning. If you can't because of the "custom" aspect of your bike, then use the diagram to wire from scratch what isn't working.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 2
From: Winslow, Arizona
RE: Wiring problem.
If you have power to the tailight and brake light bulb, and the bulb is for sure good, then you're missing a ground. Hard to say without seeing it, but maybe the extra wires on the negative side of the battery are the ground for your lights.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 892
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From:
RE: Wiring problem.
Hmmm, lemme see here; two cut neg wires of unknown origin & two components that show voltage on the positive wiresbut don't work...if the brake switch & the tail light don't show a negative ground try checking for continuity between the neg posts on the stuff that doesn't work to each of the cut neg wires.
VicW.
VicW.
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