I am loosing my mind, I was riding to work the other day and I noticed that everytime I got on the throttle of my 2004 Electra Glide Classic the headlight would dim as would all my gage lights. Then on the way home from work I got the battery and the check engine light on and off for the 8 mile trip home. Now if I am at an idle I have no issues but as soon as I twist my lights dim until I drop back down below 2500 RPM. Any ideas, I really dont want to take it to the dealership if it is something I can fix. I was thinking I may need a new Voltage Regulator but I dont want to drop $150-$250 for it to be something else
Aaron

 

Do ya have a buddy you could swap regulators with?

 

I wonder if you might have a wire shorting when you accelerate.

with the bike on, motor off- start moving things- start with the battery cable.

it is more than possible for the insulation to wear through on the + cable.

you should also use a real voltmeter at the battery while you do this.

everything up front voltmeter lights etc. runs through the same wire and the same ign. switch ( which can burn out if high watt bulbs are used)

mike

 

I would FIRST check the battery connections, they are famous for coming loose. Also check the alternator plug. If they all check out I would put a meter on the battery and read it while on the bike (to see if it's charging or not). It would have to be one hell of a short to pull everything down, and if it were that bad of a short your bike would more than likely be cutting out. Good luck.

 

Mine was dropping below 12 volts at idle this weekend, pulled the seat and found the + cable loose

 

I'm with the "check your connections" crowd.

Also, how old is your battery?
A week battery can make a bike do weird things.

 

So what was it?

 

Sorry to dig up old threads but mine is doing the same thing, i'm about to check the connections now

Danny

 

Fixed it, cleaned the battery terminals and realigned the spacer, works great now

Danny