what the hell happened to my brand new bike?
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Banned
Joined: Oct 2006
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what the hell happened to my brand new bike?
Still under warranty and going to the dealer tomorrow. Just wanted to throw this out there and see if any one else has heard of any crazy crap like this. After enjoying a beautiful first 300 miles on my new 07 train, I go to move it out of the garage and the oil lines coming out of the oil tank literally catch fire and all the oil pumped out of the bike in about 20 seconds. YES, THE STEEL BRAIDED OIL LINE CAUGHT FIRE! I have no clue what went wrong, no warning signs no nothing. I put on some gloves and wiggled the lines around and they sparked as if there were an electrical current running through them. My Knowledgable buddy says there must be a wire that is not grounded properly, any other ideas? I'm stunned and baffled by this horrible event to my new bike, this being by third HD and never had anything close to this happen. Any ideas or similar stuff would be helpful to relay to my dealer tomorrow. Either way I'll keep you updated. Thanks
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lauderdale FL
RE: what the hell happened to my brand new bike?
That happens on Softails when the positive battery post, or the cable and or lug attached to the positive battery post, touches the the oil tank frame (the battery is resting in the oil tank nook).
The oil lines carry the current (complete the path) to find real ground (the motor), which is an awesome display as the SS shielded part of the oil lines glow bright red and smoke. The oil tank is actualy rubber mounted and isolated from ground, which is why it will use the oil lines to find ground.
New oil lines and new O rings for the lines and you're good as new, but make sure the Tech reroutes the + battery lead away from any metal, put the battery on trickle charge, and most importantly FOLLOW DIRECTIONS IN THE MANUAL on how to re-install oil lines, WITH NEW O rings. Two O rings per end, 4 O rings per line. The new O rings do not come with the lines as a package.
Feel free to print this out and carry it to your dealer.
The oil lines carry the current (complete the path) to find real ground (the motor), which is an awesome display as the SS shielded part of the oil lines glow bright red and smoke. The oil tank is actualy rubber mounted and isolated from ground, which is why it will use the oil lines to find ground.
New oil lines and new O rings for the lines and you're good as new, but make sure the Tech reroutes the + battery lead away from any metal, put the battery on trickle charge, and most importantly FOLLOW DIRECTIONS IN THE MANUAL on how to re-install oil lines, WITH NEW O rings. Two O rings per end, 4 O rings per line. The new O rings do not come with the lines as a package.
Feel free to print this out and carry it to your dealer.
Banned
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 0
From: Denver Colorado
RE: what the hell happened to my brand new bike?
That is one of the strangest things I've ever heard of. I'd like to see some pics on this one. There is no electrical wiring even close enough to the oil lines to cause a short out/fire and the braided area on the stock oil lines is very small (2-3" at best)...it's possible I guess to have had a bad oil line that ruptured but as far as the fire and spark part...??? Did you change the oil lines out to fully braided ones?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
RE: what the hell happened to my brand new bike?
Check both ends of the ground wire. I'll bet it is loose on at the battery or frame. If you don't have a good ground there, the current will find a path to ground. It is common to happen thru the clutch cable. The cable will get so hot that it smokes and melts the cable cover.
Banned
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 0
From: Denver Colorado
RE: what the hell happened to my brand new bike?
WOW...I've learned something today...I went out and took a look on my standard and yes the pos. terminal is really close to the frame. I'll be insulating to avoid the same fate.
ORIGINAL: chops
That happens on Softails when the positive battery post, or the cable and or lug attached to the positive battery post, touches the the oil tank frame (the battery is resting in the oil tank nook).
The oil lines carry the current (complete the path) to find real ground (the motor), which is an awesome display as the SS shielded part of the oil lines glow bright red and smoke. The oil tank is actualy rubber mounted and isolated from ground, which is why it will use the oil lines to find ground.
New oil lines and new O rings for the lines and you're good as new, but make sure the Tech reroutes the + battery lead away from any metal, put the battery on trickle charge, and most importantly FOLLOW DIRECTIONS IN THE MANUAL on how to re-install oil lines, WITH NEW O rings. Two O rings per end, 4 O rings per line. The new O rings do not come with the lines as a package.
Feel free to print this out and carry it to your dealer.
That happens on Softails when the positive battery post, or the cable and or lug attached to the positive battery post, touches the the oil tank frame (the battery is resting in the oil tank nook).
The oil lines carry the current (complete the path) to find real ground (the motor), which is an awesome display as the SS shielded part of the oil lines glow bright red and smoke. The oil tank is actualy rubber mounted and isolated from ground, which is why it will use the oil lines to find ground.
New oil lines and new O rings for the lines and you're good as new, but make sure the Tech reroutes the + battery lead away from any metal, put the battery on trickle charge, and most importantly FOLLOW DIRECTIONS IN THE MANUAL on how to re-install oil lines, WITH NEW O rings. Two O rings per end, 4 O rings per line. The new O rings do not come with the lines as a package.
Feel free to print this out and carry it to your dealer.
Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 32
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From:
RE: what the hell happened to my brand new bike?
Well I guess I'm a little relieved by your responses, it doesn't sound like too big of a problem. It all makes sense, I disconnected the positive terminal and then wiggled the oil line, NO MORE SPARK. I believe it caught flame because the line was soaked in oil after it pumped everywhere. One line is totally severed and the other is in real bad shape. I appreciate the INFO!!
I hoped this was just something that the company overlooked rather than took an intentional shortcut when producing the bike.
I'll take a pic and try my luck at posting it for any who wanna see.
THanks again
I hoped this was just something that the company overlooked rather than took an intentional shortcut when producing the bike.
I'll take a pic and try my luck at posting it for any who wanna see.
THanks again
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 10
From: Orange VA
RE: what the hell happened to my brand new bike?
Is there a service bulletin out for this? If not, I'll say thank you if someone posts some destructions and/or pics of how they modded the oil tak frame to shield from the pos terminal.
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RE: what the hell happened to my brand new bike?
ORIGINAL: chops
That happens on Softails when the positive battery post, or the cable and or lug attached to the positive battery post, touches the the oil tank frame (the battery is resting in the oil tank nook).
The oil lines carry the current (complete the path) to find real ground (the motor), which is an awesome display as the SS shielded part of the oil lines glow bright red and smoke. The oil tank is actualy rubber mounted and isolated from ground, which is why it will use the oil lines to find ground.
New oil lines and new O rings for the lines and you're good as new, but make sure the Tech reroutes the + battery lead away from any metal, put the battery on trickle charge, and most importantly FOLLOW DIRECTIONS IN THE MANUAL on how to re-install oil lines, WITH NEW O rings. Two O rings per end, 4 O rings per line. The new O rings do not come with the lines as a package.
Feel free to print this out and carry it to your dealer.
That happens on Softails when the positive battery post, or the cable and or lug attached to the positive battery post, touches the the oil tank frame (the battery is resting in the oil tank nook).
The oil lines carry the current (complete the path) to find real ground (the motor), which is an awesome display as the SS shielded part of the oil lines glow bright red and smoke. The oil tank is actualy rubber mounted and isolated from ground, which is why it will use the oil lines to find ground.
New oil lines and new O rings for the lines and you're good as new, but make sure the Tech reroutes the + battery lead away from any metal, put the battery on trickle charge, and most importantly FOLLOW DIRECTIONS IN THE MANUAL on how to re-install oil lines, WITH NEW O rings. Two O rings per end, 4 O rings per line. The new O rings do not come with the lines as a package.
Feel free to print this out and carry it to your dealer.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,167
Likes: 7
From: FL & SoCal
RE: what the hell happened to my brand new bike?
WOW. This is all very bizarre information. I wonder if the MoCo. is planning on taking any steps to prevent this from happening on future bikes. It sounds like it might have happend to enough people out there where this can be a legitimate issue. Would hate to hear about someone getting hurt because their oil line caught fire. Obviously, from what's been said in this post, the MoCo would be liable....Hope you get your bike fixed like new again. Good luck.