Some odd electrical problems just started with my bike

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Nov 3, 2017 | 03:59 PM

chaselee

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Joined: Nov 2016

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From: Houston

Some odd electrical problems just started with my bike

Wed night I picked up my bike from my Indy. He had just finished installing a braided front brake line and a new exhaust that he had ordered me. The bike was sitting there idling when I noticed that the guage cluster wasnt lit up. Not reading rpms or anything. Keep in mind this is a new cluster from HD. Maybe 2 mths old. I turned it off, back on and fired it up and all was well.

Thursday morning my boss and I are heading down to the Lonestar rally when I look down and see the same thing again, I'm like wtf!?! So at the next light I turn it off, then back on. When the ignition is turned on it lights up, but as soon as you start it, it goes blank again....

Ok whatever I'm riding blind but the day was good and the bike was running fantastic. Next thing I noticed is that my turn signals aren't working, now I'm getting more confused, so I tell my boss to see if my rear light is working. He tells me no. No brake or running light. Weird!!

So we get down to Galveston and I start looking the bike over for anything obvious. Found a blown fuse so I replaced it. As soon as I turn the ignition to on, it blows the fuse. So that makes me think I've got a wire grounding out or something right!? I look all over the bike and never find anything obvious without removing tins and really tearing into the bike. So I decide that I need to get my butt home before dark so I don't get ran over.

So to top it all off I get about 15 mins from the house and my guage cluster starts working again and works all the way home......I have attached a picture of the fuse box. The fuse that's missing is the one that kept blowing. Any words of wisdom are appreciated..

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Some odd electrical problems just started with my bike-img_20171102_133138268_hdr.jpg

Nov 3, 2017 | 06:02 PM

FL-FLSTC

Intermediate

Joined: Sep 2017

Posts: 48

Likes: 17

From: West Central Florida

Did the Indy remove the fuel tank or seat for any reason while he was working on your bike? If so, he may have pinched a wire when he replaced it and it is grounding out against the frame. Just a thought, and good luck finding the problem.

Nov 3, 2017 | 06:25 PM

chaselee

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Joined: Nov 2016

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From: Houston

No I specifically asked him. There's really nothing to pinch putting the exhaust on or a front brake line. Maybe something that has been rubbing and finally rubbed through. I just have to find the time to tear it down and find it.

Nov 3, 2017 | 09:45 PM

langwilliams

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2010

Posts: 3,830

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From: Lorain Ohio

I had a similar problem but it was my fault...I replaced my handlebars an when doing the internal wiring I pinched the left controls wiring in the clutch handle perch clamp. broke 2 wired an they were touching. the work he did didn't get anywhere near the wiring unless something weird happened. is your bike lowered? could the rear tire have worn through the brake light/turn signal wiring?

Nov 4, 2017 | 03:53 AM

chaselee

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From: Houston

Yes the bike is lowered and I guess anything is possible. It seems to me like I've got 2 different issues going on here though. Are the guage cluster and the tail light even related? I know the tail/brake isn't working because it keeps blowing the fuse which has to be a wiring problem somewhere. The thing that has me confused is how the cluster lights up with the ignition on, but goes off as soon as the bike starts.

Nov 4, 2017 | 08:27 AM

txphatboy

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Joined: Jul 2011

Posts: 1,327

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From: Central TX

I chased a similar problem for a long time. Right Turn signal was not working, then my gauges stopped working, bike started stalling on me on short rides home from work. I found a blown fuse. Bought a box of fuses and started replacing, turning bike on, and hitting one hand control switch at a time until gauges tripped out. Thought it was turn signal switch related, but narrowed it down to my hand brake lever. Whenever I squeezed the brake, fuse would blow. The brake light switch wiring was pinched in the housing. So simple, but I tore into a lot trying to find the problem. If your mechanic was working on front brake reservoir, I would start with that hand control and wiring. I was so focused on turn signals, ignition switch and gauges, I did not think about the brake light switch and did not notice the wiring. Because that switch was shorted out, my rear LED (integrated brake and turn signals) fried the the right turn signal. Had to replace the brake/turn LED too. I just got this all corrected a couple months ago, and it has been so nice riding without having to worry about some electrical problem ruining the ride. Good luck!