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Buell Forum » Big, Bad & Dirty (Buell XB12X Ulysses Adventure Board) » BB&D Archives » Archive through February 06, 2012 » Strange electronic behavior...gauges and clock freak out « Previous Next »

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Billy_bee
Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 12:17 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

A few strange symptoms with my Uly. Occasionally the gauges will sweep on their own. By sweep I mean the needles will blip across the faces of the gauges and back to zero. The clock will also reset itself to 1:00. The really funny thing is that it will happen for no good reason, but never when the bike is running. Usually happens when the key is off.

I have read through some Vault postings, and I am guessing this has something to do with the wiring or ground near the steering head. Any suggestions as to where to start?

Thanks,
Bill
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Froggy
Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 12:30 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

When that happens it means the gauges lost power. Could be anything from a weak battery, loose battery screws, chaffed wire, bad ground, or similar.

Like you have read, the wiring by the steering neck is a bit of a weakspot on the 06, it likes to get stretched and pinched. No damage may be visible until you open the wiring loom. If you can make the gauges sweep every time you turn the bars all the way to the left or right, this is probably the culprit.

Good luck!
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Bpt
Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 05:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Check the battery ground in the tail section. Take it off clean with sandpaper apply dielectric and reattach. There is a Buell bulletin about this causing issues with running and the cluster having issues even with the key off.
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Rays
Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 06:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If it isn't the battery ground as suggested I would be checking the instrument back-up power splice that is referenced in this old post:

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/446370.html?1237983773
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Etennuly
Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 09:31 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The first thing to check for this problem is the battery terminals. If it has not been done a spacer washer needs to be on each battery post bolt.

As the battery is, grab the battery cables one at a time, wiggle them by hand, if you can move them on the bolt at all it will loose connection just enough to allow the gages to drop memory as you hit the starter.

Then move on to Froggy's other suggestions. The red power supply wire in the steering neck has a triple splice that can fail where it has to flex in the harness.
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Uly_man
Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 11:01 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

"The first thing to check for this problem is the battery terminals. If it has not been done a spacer washer needs to be on each battery post bolt." This is a new one to me. At what position is the washer placed IE under the bolt head or on the battery post face. I always felt the terminals can work them self loose. Is this the reason for the washer?

"The red power supply wire in the steering neck has a triple splice that can fail where it has to flex in the harness."
Yes another classic !!!!! How anyone can be brilliant enough to use military grade connectors on a bikes electrics and then make such a "pigs ear" on other parts is way past my understanding. This sort of thing is just asking for trouble.
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Etennuly
Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 12:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

This sort of thing is just asking for trouble.

Past tense. These were some of the "special" to '06 problems in a new model year machine. They were fixed in later models.

I personally blame the wire harness contractors/engineers for 90% of the problems that my '06 has seen. Then to follow that up the dealer's service department and HD, who would not replace it later when it was seen to be a problem, right at the end of it's warranty of course.
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Billy_bee
Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 12:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Battery is good. I have had the battery in and out several times, and got it in there securely with solid connections.

I'll go to the tail section ground next and keep youse guys posted.

As always, you are all awesome...

bb
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Uly_man
Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 01:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

"Past tense. These were some of the "special" to '06 problems in a new model year machine. They were fixed in later models." As may be but I have the very last 2010 version and that had a problem so we will see.
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