Harley Davidson Softail: Fuse Box Diagram
Many common electrical functioning issues can be traced to a blown fuse. But where are they located? How can you tell if they are working or not?
This article applies to the Harley-Davidson Softail.
Sooner or later, no matter how long you've been riding, or even how short your riding career has been, you will need to figure out how to access and service the fuse box, or fuse panel as it is sometimes called. Perhaps your headlight has gone out, or your turn signals have stopped working. Maybe when you press the horn, it doesn't produce any sound. What's up with that? Most likely, the issue to be addressed will have something to do with your fuses. How do you handle the issue? Let's talk about it.
Softail Service Manual
You're probably not sure why we mention the service manual first. After all, to quote Tim-the-Toolman, "Real men don't read instructions." But here's the deal: the year of your Softail will determine where your fuse box is located. Most often, it is located under the seat. But unless you have a service manual, you won't be able to know where to look. So, the first important component is your service manual.
Accessing the Fuse Box
Let's say your fuse box is under the seat. You'll need to loosen the screws holding your seat in place as well as remove the strap to take off the seat.
Figure 2. Fuse box located under the seat. 
Figure 3. Lifting the seat reveals the fuse box.
If you need further help locating the fuse box on your Softail, here's a helpful diagram:
Fuse Box Cover
The fuse box cover is extremely helpful as it has a diagram of the location of the fuses in your fuse box. Be careful to not let the diagram get rubbed off.
See this diagram to know which fuse addresses each function and system:
Scheduled Maintenance
You will need to access your fuse box whenever one of your electrical systems, headlight, horn, running lights, turn signals, etc. is not working. You can pull a fuse out and look at it, or check its health with a tester.
Figure 7. Visible fuse examination. 
Figure 8. Test your fuse.
Common Questions
Where is my fuse box located?
That will depend on the year of your Softail. You will need to find your service manual to know exactly where it is.
How do I know if a fuse is healthy or needs to be replaced?
You can test it in one of two ways. First, you can simply pull the fuse out. If the little wire on the inside is visibly broken, or if it appears burned and singed, chances are you will need to replace the fuse. Second, you can get a tester, connect it to the negative terminal of your battery, and then test each fuse. If the tester lights up, you're good to go. If it doesn't, that's the fuse you need to replace.
Common Issues
Make sure the fuse you're using to replace the damaged fuse is the exact same amperage as the fuse you're replacing.
Related Videos
- Heritage Softail Fusebox - Youtube.com
- Harley Davidson Maintenance Tips - Checking the Fuses - Youtube.com
