Major electrical short - need help diagnosing
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
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Major electrical short - need help diagnosing
2006 Sportster 1200 Custom
Tried to crank this morning to go to work. When cranking, speedo guage needle was jumping around, speedo light and headlight were flickering and starter was intermitetly working. Tried to crank for 3 or 4 seconds and stopped figuring my battery was about dead (it has been weak recently). Turned the igintion on again, but didn't try to turn it over. Gauge was still going crazy, lights were flickering then I smelled burning wires. ****! Turned it back off and the speedo needle was still quivering with the switch off so something was still shorting. I pulled the battery hot wire to keep from doing any more damage.
I smelled around and could smell a slight smell of burnt wires at the ignition under the seat. I am wondering if it burnt up or the wires under the tank shorted. Any ideas or suggestions?
Tried to crank this morning to go to work. When cranking, speedo guage needle was jumping around, speedo light and headlight were flickering and starter was intermitetly working. Tried to crank for 3 or 4 seconds and stopped figuring my battery was about dead (it has been weak recently). Turned the igintion on again, but didn't try to turn it over. Gauge was still going crazy, lights were flickering then I smelled burning wires. ****! Turned it back off and the speedo needle was still quivering with the switch off so something was still shorting. I pulled the battery hot wire to keep from doing any more damage.
I smelled around and could smell a slight smell of burnt wires at the ignition under the seat. I am wondering if it burnt up or the wires under the tank shorted. Any ideas or suggestions?
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 765
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From: Bremen, GA
I'd pull the seat and tank and start a visual of the wiring harness and electrical devices. If you smelled smoke then there is a good possibilty that there will be a visual clue as well. If you find burnt wires the repair the damage but before reconnecting the battery I would read out the system. There may be a relay stuck.
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
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It is a carb bike, so at least there is no computer to replace. I have a repair manual and I am pretty handy working on stuff so hopefully I can track down the problem.
Guess I will tear her down and check wires, I've been looking for a reason to clean them up under the tank and handlebars.
Could it be a short in the handbar wires? I had to extend them about a year ago when I went to apes and ran them internally in the handlebars.
Guess I will tear her down and check wires, I've been looking for a reason to clean them up under the tank and handlebars.
Could it be a short in the handbar wires? I had to extend them about a year ago when I went to apes and ran them internally in the handlebars.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 765
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From: Bremen, GA
Possible, did you have to extend the wiring harness? Take an OHM meter and read out the wires.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
Originally Posted by georgiabiker;5002838
[B
[B
]It is a carb bike, so at least there is no computer to replace.[/b] I have a repair manual and I am pretty handy working on stuff so hopefully I can track down the problem.
Guess I will tear her down and check wires, I've been looking for a reason to clean them up under the tank and handlebars.
Could it be a short in the handbar wires? I had to extend them about a year ago when I went to apes and ran them internally in the handlebars.
Guess I will tear her down and check wires, I've been looking for a reason to clean them up under the tank and handlebars.
Could it be a short in the handbar wires? I had to extend them about a year ago when I went to apes and ran them internally in the handlebars.
The first thing I would check is for good, clean, tight, connections at BOTH ends of BOTH battery cables.
.
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
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Looks like I am going to have a long weekend. Thanks guys.
The positive cable was fine, but he negative, don't know about it. I smelled wires burning strong, and did not hear any arcing or sizzling.
The positive cable was fine, but he negative, don't know about it. I smelled wires burning strong, and did not hear any arcing or sizzling.
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
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Check for blown fuses. It might help narrow your search. My 06 1200C did the same thing about a month ago. Turned out to be a shorted speedometer. I disconnected it and everything worked fine (except for the price of the new speedometer. ouch.)
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Road Captain
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Woo-hooo...I'll be damn!
Negative cable was as loose as one of those girls that walk the streets in Waikiki after dark. I guess the burnt wire smell under the seat was just arcing on the negative terminal. Never ever would have thunk it.
Thanks guys for the advice!
Negative cable was as loose as one of those girls that walk the streets in Waikiki after dark. I guess the burnt wire smell under the seat was just arcing on the negative terminal. Never ever would have thunk it.
Thanks guys for the advice!
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