Radio keeps blowing fuses-HELP!!
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,092
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From: USA
Radio keeps blowing fuses-HELP!!
Was riding this morning with my bretheren and all was well. We stopped for a bit and when I started my bike up I noticed no tunes. Everything had been working ok prior to this,and I have not done anything to it or worked on it. I checked the fuse (10A) and it was blown,so I replaced it (15A all I had) and all was well. Turned the ignition off,put the side cover & saddle bag back on,cranked it up and the fuse blew again before I could even take off. Has this happed to anyone else or can anyone tell me where to start looking before I have to take it in to the dealer? Help me guys,PLEASE!!!!!!!
Thanks alot for any info you guys might have.
Thanks alot for any info you guys might have.
Last edited by Jukebox; Mar 28, 2010 at 03:24 AM. Reason: spelling
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
Likes: 88,803
From: Western South Dakota
It sort of sounds like a connection thing, perhaps. It will be a pain, but start tracing all of your wires and their connections from the battery to your fairing. Check and inspect all connections carefully. It sounds like something like a cracked/broken wire is not allowing the circuit to complete and is then shorting out the system, if that makes sense?
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 1
From: USA
Yeah I thought it sounded like something was gounding out somewhere.I was just wondering if anyone else has ever had this problem,or maybe could point me out to a certain connection that might be causing this.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,884
Likes: 75
From: Goldsboro, NC
A blown fuse is ALWAYS a short to ground from the power source. And IMHO, I would NEVER replace a blown fuse with a larger amperage one. They are set to those numbers for a reason! The worst way to find a short is see smoke and flame coming from the spot.
If you have an OHM meter finding the short with no power on is the way to do it. Ohm from the power wire on the radio harness. (Motorcycle side of plug). While ohming from power wire to ground, (it will likely read zero,)
Slowly move the wires in the loom around. I say slowly because when you find it you need to be sure where it was at. If you move a spot, then look closely to that area. It may even be shorted inside the loom against another wire. (less likely)
Anyway it takes patience to find a short or wiring problem. I probably took over a year to find a problem on my truck for the starter. I finally found it on the back of the power distribution block, (Fuse block) Ocassionally I would have to crawl under the truck and short the starter with a screwdriver to start it. (leaving the key in the run position)
However I digress, sorry.
Good luck, and take your time. Electronics is allot like plumbing. The electrons flow like water through a pipe. And will take the path of least resistance to get back to the negative side of the battery. The faster they flow the higher the amps. (Way over simplified,) but it's a mathematical formula and if your 10a circuit is blowing fuses, it has more than 10a going through it.
If you have an OHM meter finding the short with no power on is the way to do it. Ohm from the power wire on the radio harness. (Motorcycle side of plug). While ohming from power wire to ground, (it will likely read zero,)
Slowly move the wires in the loom around. I say slowly because when you find it you need to be sure where it was at. If you move a spot, then look closely to that area. It may even be shorted inside the loom against another wire. (less likely)
Anyway it takes patience to find a short or wiring problem. I probably took over a year to find a problem on my truck for the starter. I finally found it on the back of the power distribution block, (Fuse block) Ocassionally I would have to crawl under the truck and short the starter with a screwdriver to start it. (leaving the key in the run position)
However I digress, sorry.
Good luck, and take your time. Electronics is allot like plumbing. The electrons flow like water through a pipe. And will take the path of least resistance to get back to the negative side of the battery. The faster they flow the higher the amps. (Way over simplified,) but it's a mathematical formula and if your 10a circuit is blowing fuses, it has more than 10a going through it.
Last edited by JimTJr; Mar 28, 2010 at 02:30 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 447
Likes: 1
From: Garrison, NY
I just took a quick look in the HD service manual, hoping to identify the 12v pin on the radio connector itself - no luck. Something shorted to ground internal to the radio can also blow the fuse. Was hoping that perhaps taking the fairing off, disconnecting the radio from the bike harness, and connecting an external 12v power soruce with an in-line 10A fuse could help troubleshoot. Maybe someone else on the forum has gone this route and can identify how to power the radio with an external source. Good luck!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,884
Likes: 75
From: Goldsboro, NC
I have a service manual for the '10. Don't know if it will be the same but I'll try to remember to check it when I get home Friday night,, (HOPEFULLY someone has helped before that...)
Good luck.
Good luck.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 618
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I just took a quick look in the HD service manual, hoping to identify the 12v pin on the radio connector itself - no luck. Something shorted to ground internal to the radio can also blow the fuse. Was hoping that perhaps taking the fairing off, disconnecting the radio from the bike harness, and connecting an external 12v power soruce with an in-line 10A fuse could help troubleshoot. Maybe someone else on the forum has gone this route and can identify how to power the radio with an external source. Good luck!
Here's the connector pin-out
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,802
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From: Salt Lake City, UT. Dushore, Pa.
You stated it happened when you cranked it up, are you refering to the radio? Have you changed grips, control covers? You may have shorted a wire in the vol. switch housing, loosen the handlebar clamp, push wires in and make sure those wires are in the grove in the handlebar.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,296
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From: Cheltenham, UK
Spot on advice
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 1
From: USA
Thanks for all the inof guys. I think I may have it narrowed down. It actually takes a 15a fuse so last night I put another fuse in,turned on the ignition and the radio played just fine until I hit the start switch,then the fuse popped. Today I pulled the controls loose and checked it. I did not see any of the wires that looked bare or out of place so I put the controls back together tried another fuse and it popped as soon as I put it in(even with the ignition off) Since I have internally wired Chubby's it has to be somewhere in that right side wiring harness. I thank you guys for all the info. The bad news is even tho the bike is still under warranty the Dealer did not do the bars. I did them a few months back. I just don't understand why it all the sudden started messing up now. Again,thanks guys. I guess I'll be pulling the wires out of the right side of the bars this week.