This fix cost $1312- battery cable pic
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 429
Likes: 4
From: Massachusetts
I had a similar issue with my first bike, intermittently shutting off when I was riding. Sat roadside with no power, no nothing. Also no cell phone. Buddy of mine picked me up and when we got back she fired up. Happened once more before I brought it to a guy who knew more than I did, couldn't find a problem. Took it to another guy because I didn't want to be stranded. That is exactly what he found, a rotten battery cable. Only cost me $50 and a pizza for the shop.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 18
From: SE Michigan
Growing up poor then being trained as an electrical mechanical technician I learned to always start at the beginning and most basic inexpensive areas first. Does it have power? Ground connection good? Power lines good? Fuel? Fuel turned on? etc.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,913
Likes: 2,542
+1 All problems start with a KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 12,946
Likes: 32
From: Colorado Springs, CO
looks to me like you need to put a fuse in line somewhere and keep spare fuses.
Basically the wire got hot enough to bake off the insulation. VERY BAD. More thank likely a loose connection causing heat.
Glad it's fixed.....lesson learned, now you know better.
Basically the wire got hot enough to bake off the insulation. VERY BAD. More thank likely a loose connection causing heat.
Glad it's fixed.....lesson learned, now you know better.
Thread Starter
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
no, that is the 4 gauge battery cable to the starter- so not fused.
as above, I stripped back the insulation to show the damage to the cable internally.
cables just corrode over time, vibrations and moisture or acid exposure.
you can try to seal out moisture, but often that will seal moisture in.
...
remember when distributor caps would get condensation in them and the driver would have to wipe them out with a rag?
GM accidently solved this when they put a door in the cap to adjust the dwell, the door allowed moisture out-
this is part pf the reason I do not use dielectric grease all over my bike. I do use it for plug boots and lightbulbs.
Mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Oct 7, 2013 at 04:36 PM.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 894
Likes: 6
Wow, what the heck would cause corrosion to work it's way back under the insulation. Don't think heat shrink would have prevented it. Looks like it just 'wicked" it's way under the solution. Heck this could have happened to any of us. What's the prevention, that red battery terminal stuff? grease?