| Author | Message | ||
     Buewulf |
So the bike was running fine as I was riding with a group this morning. We stopped for a minute just to check and make sure all the riders were doing OK and ready to carry on. Uly would not restart. Gauges swept, but starter would not turn. Did get a little click, but that's it. Tried again and noticed that I had to jiggle the key to get the gauges to light up and prime the pump. Still can't turn the starter. Bike did push start (thanks Sagehawk) so I began to make my way home. About two minutes later, it just bogged down and died. I noticed I lost the guages and idiot lights as it did so. I am not equipped to fix anything on the side of the road at the moment, so a tow is in order. But what do you guys think I am dealing with? | ||
| Tootal |
I think you answered your own question. If you had to jiggle the key then there is something loose in your switch. Sounds like it finally lost complete contact internally. I would pull the switch and see if it's fixable or if you need a new one. | ||
| Buewulf |
Yep, that's what I figured. Surprised it failed so quickly without any prior symptoms. | ||
| Buewulf |
Yep, that's what I figured. Surprised it failed so quickly without any prior symptoms. | ||
| Charlie_zulu |
Battery is good? | ||
| Buewulf |
12.74 volts. Didn't check after we bumped it though. Wiggling the key to get the dash back and the suddenness with which it quit once I was underway lead me to believe I have an issue with the switch, but I will vet the battery for sure once I get it home. It could be toast. And I like easy fixes. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Mine got where it would periodically do this a few years ago. I'd turn the key and nothing. Giggle the key, and everything would start working. I removed the front plastic cowl and found a couple of holes in the side of the switch assembly. I got some tuner/contact cleaner from Radio Shack and squirted in the holes, and worked the key a few times. ~4 years later, it hasn't had a problem since. This will be an easy thing to try if you're still stuck out on the side of the road if you've got a Radio Shack (or something similar) nearby. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Autoparts and walmart stores have usually "contact cleaner" as well. WD40 is also not an awful choice in a pinch. | ||
| Buewulf |
Thanks for the contact cleaner tip. That would be great if that is all it is. | ||
| Ratbuell |
If it changes when you turn the bars, it could also be a wiring harness issue. Just in case a switch fix doesn't fix it. And a note from the editor in me: "Jiggle" is to wiggle back and forth. "Giggle" is to laugh like a 7 year old girl. Just sayin'.  | ||
| Djohnk |
I also was able to repair my ignition switch on my '07 Uly. It was very difficult for me to take it apart without damaging it -- had to use two tiny flat-bladed screwdrivers to carefully pry it open, while being observant how it should go back together. After getting it apart I cleaned up the contacts with contact cleaner and some q-tips. One contact was actually melted into the plastic to the point it obviously wouldn't work. I re-melted the plastic by touching a soldering iron to the contact and pushed it back out to where it originally was. I was doubtful the repair would last long so I ordered a used one as a a back-up. I guess a couple of years have gone by and I am still using the one I repaired with none of the original symptoms re-occurring. I knew my ignition switch was going bad because the low-beam headlights were going out intermittently along with some other symptoms. I was able to duplicate the problem by wiggling the key. | ||
| Sagehawk |
Glad you finally got home buewulf! Hope a switch is what it is and no more. Its kinda funny that i have no real mechanical tools on bike for breakdowns. However, i do have a multi meter and full complement of fuses, spare relay, etc that i carry with me. None of that helped today tho. I have no real faith in these bikes electrical systems. Theres enough posts on this board to confirm this. Good luck and if you need anything, give me a holler! Ps. Any more bump starting , lets go straight to fourth gear, and save the skid marks in a police station parking lot! | ||
| Buewulf |
Letter to the editor: Takes too long to correct the auto-correct which is rarely correct.  I'll be taking a look at the harness. I've replaced several wires there already. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Ah yes...the "auto-incorrect" feature. Gotta love that For sagehawk...I've got a bit over 30k miles on my 06 Uly. The ONLY electrical problem I have had that required "troubleshooting", was this spring - my gauges would sweep, and my trip would reset. I figured "dying battery". Nope. Traced it to the hot wire triple-splice in the steering head harness. That said, back in...what...08? 09? My 77 connector failed. My kuryakyn voltmeter told me right away and I fixed it as soon as I got home. And, last winter, my VR died so I installed a Shindengen MOSFET unit. One every 10k miles? Not to bad in my book | ||
| Buewulf |
My electrical failure average is one every 2500 miles. | ||
| Sagehawk |
I feel fortunate in that one fuse and one fan is all ive had to go out. I keep reading of all the things that happen on these bikes and try to do pre emptive fixes or maintenance and so far those two items are it. Its just that ive owned other bikes and put a lot harder miles on them with none of these issues. One failure in 2500 miles is way too much, one in 10000 is still too much and some machines rarely if ever have these types of failures at all. Anyhow , every buell is different in its own peculiar way. You guys take care and have a good thanskgiving! | ||
| Buewulf |
Forgot about the BAS. So that changes my average to one every 2125 miles. Sagehawk, just be glad you've got a good example. Hopefully she'll remain a reliable mount for you. It is a disappointment for me certainly, and I have had a failure every year I have had the bike (except for year 1) right around this time of year. Due to time constraints, even relatively easy fixes tend to keep the bike out of commission for a while. There is at least something positive about this failure: I almost took the Husky on that ride so you could check it out instead of the Uly. But I was intending to take the Buell to Mississippi to meet up with my wife and kids for Thanksgiving at the in-laws and wanted to make sure everything was working as it should since I am always a bit paranoid about that bike. (BTW, if you've never ridden Mississippi backroads, it is fantastic!) I am thankful to have find out that things were amiss on the ride Sunday than to have found out on the way to Mississippi the day before Thanksgiving. | ||
| Sagehawk |
Does this mean a break in ride for husky to Mississippi? That would be cool! a bit slower with a bunch of fuel stops I bet. Let us know how it all works out for you. and yes, I do want to check out that husky! | ||
| Buewulf |
"Does this mean a break in ride for husky to Mississippi?" Unfortunately, no. There is so much steady-speed droning on the way that I wouldn't want to take the bike on something like that until break-in is complete. Actually, I've been getting about 62 mpg on the Husky. I don't know how well that would hold up at 80 mph for hours on end (which the Husky will easily do), but that is a full 50% better than I typically get on the Uly. So unless the fuel economy really takes a beating at those speeds, I can go at least as far and potentially further on a tank with the Husky. | ||
| Tootal |
Oh man, I just realized you said Husky! I was thinking Huffy! You can get really good mileage on a Huffy! | ||
| Buewulf |
"You can get really good mileage on a Huffy!" That was certainly true when I was younger. At my current portly weight and sad physical condition... not so much. The Husky in question is a TR650 Terra. | ||
| Sagehawk |
Youll have to reposition that earhorn tootal to hear these conversations as they go on! | ||
| Tootal |
What!  | ||
| Ourdee |
Well now that this thread has been "thouroughly" jacked, And RatBuell is giggling like a girl. If Huffy built an airplane would you fly in it? | ||
| Sagehawk |
I would cuz Nigel Carruthers would be the pilot! We all know Nigel would fly anything thats flyable! The next evolutionary step it sounds like. | ||
| Tootal |
I checked out the Husky Buewulf and that is one serious dual sport. Definitely a lot more on the dirt side of the equation than a Uly. | ||
| Buewulf |
Definitely more on the dirt side Tootal, which is what I was looking for. But I have been pleasantly surprised by how well it works on the highway. It is one smooth, powerful Thumper. It is a great 50/50 bike. | ||
| Sagehawk |
I was checking those out when they hit the market. 6999.00 was right in the dr, klr, market. the 9350 bmw or 10000.00 ktm was really out of my range for a 650 cc. did not want to do that. the other bike I had my eye on was the husky nuda. you tube videos were awesome with this 900 vertical twin and words were perhaps a adventure chassis with that motor. when bmw sold husky off, that killed all of those projects. Broke my dreams as I really was interested being a husky fan from the 80's in their hot rod technology. strange how thoughts of electric vehicles and scooters could slight over really useful vehicles. Thusly , bmw is not in my horizon. |
