Electrickery and pulling the ugly end of a Fat Bob apart.
Motorcycles hey, they are the best then they are the worst.
It all started a few days ago when I stopped at the dealer to grab some plugs for my 20,000km service. The parts lady tried to upsell me a trickle charger thinking I was buying plugs because the bike was hard to start of a cold morning. Cockishly I remarked "Oh I ride too much to need one of those"....
I then headed home, still put off by the whole thought of having to plug my bike in to a wall socket because of lack of use. I walked to the garage to fire it up to heat the oil before dropping it and.....
Crickets chirping....
The bike was flat as a tack. No life whatsoever. I put it down to sitting in the sub freezing temperatures without being started for 2 weeks. Its the original battery so perhaps its on its way out.
So I gave up for the day and resigned to the fact that the following day I'd have to return to the dealer, face the parts chick again and ask for a trickle charger after so confidently stating that I rode too often to need one.
So I handed over 70 bucks and headed home again.
So I get home, put the bike on charge and leave it for the afternoon. Come out and flick the switch, still no life. So like all diligent amateur mechanics I then read the instructions. Evidently the trickle charger needs at least 3V from the battery to pick up and start doing its trickle thing.
Out comes the battery and on to the bench hooked up to my 12V charger for car batteries. Another night passes and the following morning I give the bike a crack - BOOM she rumbles into life. So I complete the 20,000km service and stick it on the charger thinking I'm home and hosed.
We're out all day and get home after dark and as I pull into the car port I see theres a light on in my workshop. I open the door and low and behold the Harley is sitting there with the license plate light on illuminating the entire rear of the bike.
So I start to check the connections under the seat, jiggling everything but the light stays on even thought the ignition is off and the alarm is armed. Best guess at this stage is the wire to the plate light has rubbed through something and is earthing.
Fast forward an hour and I've now jacked up the rear of the bike up for better access under the guard. I've removed the shocks, the fender strut covers, turn signals, fender and eventually the rear tailight assembly. With it all off the bike I plug the rear harness in again and the problem remains - the bloody light comes on.
At this point I'm puzzled because the rear light assembly is off the bike, if its a cable its not in the rear part of the harness because theres nothing earthing the taillight.
I move some wires around the fuse box to get better access to the wiring harness and out of the corner of my eye I see the license plate light flicker. I Move the FP3 around and the light goes out. Voila its something to do with the data cable. After some more exploring I disconnect the FP# and spot a nice little well of water. in the connector. Some compressed air, some heat and some dielectric grease and we're away.
I put the rear of the bike back together and go to bed feeling satisfied that the moto didn't beat me today.
I believe the saying is.
Motorcycles ruined my life, motorcycles saved my life.
Until next time....
It all started a few days ago when I stopped at the dealer to grab some plugs for my 20,000km service. The parts lady tried to upsell me a trickle charger thinking I was buying plugs because the bike was hard to start of a cold morning. Cockishly I remarked "Oh I ride too much to need one of those"....
I then headed home, still put off by the whole thought of having to plug my bike in to a wall socket because of lack of use. I walked to the garage to fire it up to heat the oil before dropping it and.....
Crickets chirping....
The bike was flat as a tack. No life whatsoever. I put it down to sitting in the sub freezing temperatures without being started for 2 weeks. Its the original battery so perhaps its on its way out.
So I gave up for the day and resigned to the fact that the following day I'd have to return to the dealer, face the parts chick again and ask for a trickle charger after so confidently stating that I rode too often to need one.
So I handed over 70 bucks and headed home again.
So I get home, put the bike on charge and leave it for the afternoon. Come out and flick the switch, still no life. So like all diligent amateur mechanics I then read the instructions. Evidently the trickle charger needs at least 3V from the battery to pick up and start doing its trickle thing.
We're out all day and get home after dark and as I pull into the car port I see theres a light on in my workshop. I open the door and low and behold the Harley is sitting there with the license plate light on illuminating the entire rear of the bike.
So I start to check the connections under the seat, jiggling everything but the light stays on even thought the ignition is off and the alarm is armed. Best guess at this stage is the wire to the plate light has rubbed through something and is earthing.
Fast forward an hour and I've now jacked up the rear of the bike up for better access under the guard. I've removed the shocks, the fender strut covers, turn signals, fender and eventually the rear tailight assembly. With it all off the bike I plug the rear harness in again and the problem remains - the bloody light comes on.
At this point I'm puzzled because the rear light assembly is off the bike, if its a cable its not in the rear part of the harness because theres nothing earthing the taillight.
I move some wires around the fuse box to get better access to the wiring harness and out of the corner of my eye I see the license plate light flicker. I Move the FP3 around and the light goes out. Voila its something to do with the data cable. After some more exploring I disconnect the FP# and spot a nice little well of water. in the connector. Some compressed air, some heat and some dielectric grease and we're away.
I put the rear of the bike back together and go to bed feeling satisfied that the moto didn't beat me today.
I believe the saying is.
Motorcycles ruined my life, motorcycles saved my life.
Until next time....
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