I have a 2003 883r. I was riding today and the speedo and tach started jumping around and the bike started sputtering. This happened before, the battery cable was loose. I push started it and limped it home. I got it home and The bike was completely dead. No dash lights, no headlight, no horn, nothing.

I checked the battery cables and they are both tight. The battery is new, I just bought it last year, from Harley. I tested the battery and it is fine. I checked the coil wires, fine. Also the stator was replaced 2 years ago.

Now that it has sat for awhile, it started right up. The battery is charging and everything was fine. I turned it off and restarted it about 5 times and it fired right up, then it was completely dead again. It doesn't seem to wear down the battery. It goes from fine to dead all at once.

Something or some wires must be loose somewhere. Right?

 

Turns out it WAS the positive battery cable. This is the 3rd or 4th time the cable has come loose.

Is there anything that can put onto the bolt to stop it from coming loose?

 

Blue Loctite.

 

Glad you found it. I was going to suggest checking the opposite end of your ground wire. I agree the loctite should solve your problem.

 

use a lock washer ... the kind with the little 'teeth' all the way around it ... a split washer would work, but the other is better.

 

Well done - use a lock washer as t100rc suggests. I would check the connections at both ends of both battery cables, clean, grease with a dialectic grease - just a little electrical house-keeping!