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Xb9er
Posted on Saturday, July 21, 2007 - 11:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

My bike:2004 XB12S
So I was riding all day today. Everything worked well. I was coming up to a red light, i pulled my clutch in and went down through all the gears to put the bike in neutral. When I looked down to see the the neutral light was on, I noticed my dash looked like the bike was shut off(no dash light, odometer, indicator lights,license plate light, speedometer, tachometer), also my turns signals didnt light up, and my tail light wasnt on.
The things that did work was the horn, brake light, and high beam indicator light. The bike started as normal and i had high and low beam.

What do you guys think happened. Toona and I think maybe the Ground(1)of 3 is loose, but we dont know where ground one is located. Do you know?
Any input would be a big help.
chris
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Alchemy
Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 08:10 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Xb9er,

How curious. About 20 miles down the road on my 06 Uly after leaving you and Toona at Carlisle Bike Fest, I am on the PA Twp at crusing speed (in the right lane fortunately) and the bike shuts down. Since I am going pretty fast I have some time to look for a place to pull over but I don't really know if my brake lights or signal are working.

Symptoms:
Gauges dead
kill switch toggle - no response
Key toggle - no response
Horn - no response
Headlight - still on
Starting - no way


I stop safely and push the bike over into some grass and start thinking. I popped the seat and checked the area near the BAS relocation. Looks fine there. Connections on battery look good and since the head light comes on I know there is power in some places. No recent moisture near the keyswitch or killswitch. I pull the cover on the fuses and start checking.

When I pull the ignition fuse I notice a slight line near one corner of the link. Holding it up to the sunlight I can see through the area but it is unlike most blown fuse I have seen in that the fusable link 99% intact with this sliver missing. There is some (very slight) dark area (carbon) at the break.

I pull the spare 15 amp fuse that is in the block and move it to the ignition slot and cross my fingers. I figure it will either be ok or blow again pretty quick. I check for obvious shorts and see nothing replaced the seat but I did not open the headlight pod.

I really loved seeing those gauge needles roll up and it started fine. Just at that time a group of bikers came by and since it was running I gave them the thumb-up as they were slowing to check out my situation.

Back on the Twp I go but very cautiously. After 5 miles or so I get back up to traffic speed. At the first rest stop I try to buy fuses but they do not have the smaller ones the bike uses.

I am uncomfortable not knowing what caused this and it will be getting dark soon. I press on cautiously. Getting near home I exercise the bike a little more aggressively with no problems appearing.

Not sure what to make of this but it has shaken my confidence in the bike a bit. This could have been nasty had that bike cut off like this in some traffic situations.

Should I check this off to a faulty fuse and forget it or do I have a serious intermittent electrical problem to chase down?
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Xb9er
Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 09:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Ben,
Our bikes sat out in the hot sun most of the day yesterday, and we rode in really hot weather, so maybe that had something to do with it...I know it did mine because I just go back from toona's shop because I wanted to sand the ends of the ground wires and I did but when i turned the key still no dash. Yesterday we checked the fuses 10 times, but today i figured i would check again myself and wouldn't you know it, my accessory fuse blew. I put the spare in its place, presto dasho worko, I'm so happyo
chris
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Alchemy
Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 03:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Since your problem is now connected with a fuse also it does make one wonder. My bike sits in the sun (often under a short cover) on very hot days while I am at the office and has not had this problem. I don't know what to make of it.

I wonder if it has to do with the maybe the fuse being a little loose. Perhaps thermal cycling causes the fuse to creep out a little and then they pop when the fuse connection gets dicey.

I checked the fuse box when I got home last night and it was HOT. I was surprised how warm it is under the seat when the bike is turned off and the fan runs a little. I checked the oil first when the fan had stopped and then popped the seat and touched the ECM and fuse box. Both were very warm.

It may be that when I stopped to check my ear plugs and cut off the engine that the fan heated up the underseat area very warm because of the fan running. Just about the time the fan stopped I started again with a pretty warm engine and some hard acceleration. It may have physically heated the fuses to the point of weakening them a little.

But then again, Ulys are ridden in the SW in the heat all the time and don't seem to have fuse problems in general.
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Toona
Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 09:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Alchemy, I had the same kind of problem on my "S". I found a bare wire behind the flyscreen. The wire rubbed thru on the horn bracket. Sorry, but I don't remember what color the wire was. I electrical taped the bare wire and carry a few spares fuses, just in case...
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Alchemy
Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 01:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Toona,

I have picked up more of the proper fuses to keep on the bike.

I visually checked the wires by the fuel pump and there is a little abrasion there on the sleeve but no copper showing.

I was in the headlight pod changing bulbs a month ago but I have 2k miles since then. I will probably open it and give it a check when I get a chance.
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Jixaman
Posted on Monday, August 20, 2007 - 06:51 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Hi there, first post and its for a problem, sorry...

I have an 04 plate XB12s first two runs were under 20 miles each but yesterday done 200... About two thirds into the day I had what we read in the thread, no dash...

I checked and changed the ACC fuse, it blew within 10 minutes, changed again and it lasted half an hour...

Is this connected with the wire chaffing at the horn or am I looking for something else ?

Fantastic bike though...
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Blake
Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 05:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I recall there being an issue with an extra wire that resides underneath the dash. It is used for some export markets for something, an additional dash light or such, I don't recall exactly. Anyway, that loose wire can chafe and short against a protruding screw in the area. Find it and tape it up and tie it off and all will be well.

Then there is also this to check...

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/B057-263603.pdf
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Court
Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 05:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

>>>an additional dash light or such

7w parking lamp.
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Jixaman
Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 04:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Cheers, will be searching for it today and will post the outcome...

Fantastic bike though, I have turned from road racer to a total hooligan in a week...
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Blake
Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 06:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

And now you are an electrician in training too. joker Low voltage circuitry may be a good place to start.

Some people however, have been known to scoff at anything less than a hundred KV.
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Jixaman
Posted on Monday, September 03, 2007 - 05:10 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Ok, I have isolated the problem to the indicators, more specific, the left one...

This is not so much of a problem as the bike has turned me into a hooligan with a total disregard for all other road users, I have simply lost the will to indicate...

Seriously, I will look more into it this weekend...

Is there a cure for the comedy mirrors? I nearly got flattened by a Merc in the fast lane that just didnt show in the fuzzy view...

Cheers...
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Runamuck
Posted on Thursday, December 06, 2007 - 05:03 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

mirrors - I switched to Napolean bar-ends on my XB9S and love 'em.
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