1995 Softail

[Banannie]

This bike is a freaking nightmare! Short version history - dude was hit from behind while riding this nightmare of a bike, BF and I were the good samaritans -- BF did the bike thing -- I got the dude breathing, etc until the ambulance arrives. Turns out dude is related to my BF -- so....

here's where the nightmare begins -- BF told dude we'd (not he'd, WE) would put humpty dumpty back together again... and so far we have...

Nightmare on Electric Avenue....
Problem 1:
We have headlight on low beam with running lights -- all turn signals, brake lights, marker lights.. good.

Headlight on high beam -- dim bulb, glowing running lights, no turn signals. Tried better ground on headlight -- no luck, same thing.

And the indicator light for the high beam glows all the time -- no matter if high beams are on or not.

Problem 2:
Have no starter --

We did not disassemble the hillbilly wiring harness -- only replaced housings, turnsignal bars, fenders, etc... 99% metal work on the repairs.....

This is not a factory built bike --- is a MID USA frame with and S&S motor and some H-D parts thrown in ----- I wish I'd known this to begin.

Anyone have any ideas where to begin with the Nightmare on Electric Avenue?

[Dave63]

Originally Posted by Banannie

Nightmare on Electric Avenue....
Problem 1:
We have headlight on low beam with running lights -- all turn signals, brake lights, marker lights.. good.

Headlight on high beam -- dim bulb, glowing running lights, no turn signals. Tried better ground on headlight -- no luck, same thing.

And the indicator light for the high beam glows all the time -- no matter if high beams are on or not.

Problem 2:
Have no starter --

We did not disassemble the hillbilly wiring harness -- only replaced housings, turnsignal bars, fenders, etc... 99% metal work on the repairs.....


This is not a factory built bike --- is a MID USA frame with and S&S motor and some H-D parts thrown in ----- I wish I'd known this to begin.

Anyone have any ideas where to begin with the Nightmare on Electric Avenue?

Look for pinched wire on control housings on handlebars, or in light wiring going to rear brake lights and turnsignals.

Retrace steps and you'll bind two wires bare and pinched together.

[AlienX]

since the lights work normal until hi beam, then problem is in high beam circuits, since you have verified the ground is good (directly to the neg terminal of battery) that's what it sounds like, poor ground, voltage looks for the next easiest path, back feed into highbeam indicator when on low, all dims when on high cause that ground and where it is back feeding is now an active circuit.
I have also seen head light bulb wired wrong, using the ground terminal of the bulb as a hot will give the same symptom. good luck hope victim is ok, and pays you after the law suit

[AlienX]

for no start, thats easy voltage drop trace of the starter circuits. starting with the switch, need a voltmeter. test light can work too.
switch provides small current to relay, relay supplies larger current to solenoid, solenoid provides largest current to starter motor, all work on 12v. volt drop each componant in the diagram, (lead of voltmeter on each side of componant) switches and relay contacts as well as solenoid contacts should read .2volt.
relay coil, solenoid coil & starter motor windings should show 12 volt drop. this is where a bad ground would show up as not a full 12 v drop.
hope this helps

[Banannie]

Oh thank you thank you thank you! I figured we have some sort of back feed issue. I'll wait for the coffee to finish brewing, get a few cups down my throat and head back out to the Nightmare on Electric Avenue.