Frustrating Electrical Problem!
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: SWMO
Frustrating Electrical Problem!
Hey guys 2012 Iron 883, Long story short hit a really bumpy road yesterday and speedo shut off then back on a couple times during riding on that road. Stopped to eat at a restaurant and come back out and battery was dead. Was able to push start and get it back home. I pulled the 2 relays and Main Fuse voltage at 12.6. As soon as I put the main fuse back in (relays still off) voltage drops to 3-4ish. Any ideas what the problem is? I'm guessing a short somewhere but can't find it for the life of me!
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,036
Likes: 45
From: Florida
Looks like you did a Tank lift by looking at your photo. Start by checking your wire harness connections, one may be loose or damaged. While at it visually inspect the wires for any pinched or damage wires.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Ky
Battery cables
I am new to motorcycles so forgive me if I misspeak. However it sounds like it could be a loose Battery cable?
If you shook a cable off it wouldn't start. It would run and drive but once turned off it wouldn't connect for an electric start. This has happened to me on cars before. I don't know that it would affect the speedometer while riding or the amperage but like I said I am new to cycles
If you shook a cable off it wouldn't start. It would run and drive but once turned off it wouldn't connect for an electric start. This has happened to me on cars before. I don't know that it would affect the speedometer while riding or the amperage but like I said I am new to cycles
Last edited by Bearjew; Feb 19, 2016 at 08:23 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,036
Likes: 45
From: Florida
I missed the part that the battery was dead (short attention span problem LoL). Like mentioned above check the battery connections. They like to come loose and that negative one can be a real pain sometimes. Did the check battery light come on?
Last edited by Cool Inferno; Feb 19, 2016 at 09:55 AM.
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: SWMO
Thanks for the responses, pulled the battery out and it was a loose ground, tried tightening it but it kept f'ing loosening itself when i would push it back in. Finally got it back in and seems tight but I feel like it will happen again at any moment. Any tricks to getting it to stay tight? Maybe the rectangle nut on the terminal is stripped, if it happens again i may try a new bolt and nut.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 4,890
Likes: 553
From: USA
Tank is stock height, but yeah after spending a couple hours removing stock wrapping so I could check wires, everything was clear then had to re-wrap it all up lol.
Thanks for the responses, pulled the battery out and it was a loose ground, tried tightening it but it kept f'ing loosening itself when i would push it back in. Finally got it back in and seems tight but I feel like it will happen again at any moment. Any tricks to getting it to stay tight? Maybe the rectangle nut on the terminal is stripped, if it happens again i may try a new bolt and nut.
Thanks for the responses, pulled the battery out and it was a loose ground, tried tightening it but it kept f'ing loosening itself when i would push it back in. Finally got it back in and seems tight but I feel like it will happen again at any moment. Any tricks to getting it to stay tight? Maybe the rectangle nut on the terminal is stripped, if it happens again i may try a new bolt and nut.
Trending Topics
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,099
Likes: 34
From: NC/SC
Tank is stock height, but yeah after spending a couple hours removing stock wrapping so I could check wires, everything was clear then had to re-wrap it all up lol.
Thanks for the responses, pulled the battery out and it was a loose ground, tried tightening it but it kept f'ing loosening itself when i would push it back in. Finally got it back in and seems tight but I feel like it will happen again at any moment. Any tricks to getting it to stay tight? Maybe the rectangle nut on the terminal is stripped, if it happens again i may try a new bolt and nut.
Thanks for the responses, pulled the battery out and it was a loose ground, tried tightening it but it kept f'ing loosening itself when i would push it back in. Finally got it back in and seems tight but I feel like it will happen again at any moment. Any tricks to getting it to stay tight? Maybe the rectangle nut on the terminal is stripped, if it happens again i may try a new bolt and nut.
What I did to fix it, was to add a small steel washer (in the order of screw head --> all ground wires coming from various places --> steel washer --> battery ground terminal) and plenty of blue loctite to hold it in it's place. I have added around 5k miles after this fix and it's still holding up.
Good luck and hope you get back on road in no time.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post