| Author | Message | ||
     Onebadx1 |
I've recently had problems with my charging system on my 99 X1. After 2 new battery's & a new regulator/rectifier, Still... not charging! Checked the stator with a multi-meter as per the Buell manual. That was fine. Ok. Here it is! This morning..working on the bike in the garage. Started the bike up to see how many volts the battery had with my meter. I noticed the Front brake line was SMOKING! I thought it may have just been getting hot from the header..wrong! I touched it by hand and it was really HOT! I checked the steel braided brake line with a test light..IT HAD POWER! I couldn't believe it! Behind the headlight, the brake line was somehow shorting out to the frame....? I don't see how this is possible as the frame is not HOT! It's a ground! I didn't see any other bare wires anywhere. The brake light switch works normally. I repaired the short, and everything seems to be working fine now. Has anyone EVER heard of anything like THIS...? or am I LOSING MY FREAKIN MIND...? Please give me some input on this before I check myself into the local mental hospital! THANK YOU.... | ||
| Jos51700 |
What this means is your braided, dedicated-Ground cable is loose. Look around the rear motor mount. This is the grounding strap from the motor to the frame. Usually, they ground through the clutch cable if this happens. I would recommend, for safety/longevity, replacement of brake lines and clutch cable, since the heat damages the plastic (they weren't really built to deal with much heat). (Message edited by jos51700 on May 16, 2009) (Message edited by jos51700 on May 16, 2009) | ||
| Buellistic |
BUELLers: Like Jos51700 states the GROUND STRAP PN 70186-82 must be tight ... Usually you get a "HOT" clutch lever when the STRAP is loose ... "NOW" is the time to check all things "GRD" ... "PLUS", tye wrap all your wiring so that it is not doing the "WIGGLE TEST" while you are riding ... This prevents the "MYSTERY WIRING PROBLEMS" that will happen ... MAY THE LONG LASTING BUELL BE WITH YOU !!! | ||
| Wile_ecoyote |
Yet again Buellistic is on the money. Pay attention to the ground strap and clean it then torque it down. This is why I LOVE THIS PLACE! Jos, Buellistic, great job.  | ||
| Onebadx1 |
Thank you to EVERYONE! The ground strap was tight. I dont know...... But whatever was wrong ..Its good now! Thank you again! | ||
| Lowroad |
i don't believe it. | ||
| Onebadx1 |
I dont either! .....Why would I have 12 volts in the brake line....? Is it possible the stop light switch was/is shorting out...? If that were the case, I'd think I'd blow fusses...? anyway... I'm putting on new brake lines. | ||
| Tdman77 |
Steve - I would take a multimeter and check your ground resistance in various points around the bike. You might have a chaffed wire around the headlight/windshield area. I might not hurt to run a heavy gauge wire from the frame to the forks somewhere to provide a ground. | ||
| Buellistic |
BUELLers: BASIC ELECTRONIC's !!! Current takes the lest resistance path to ground ... Therefore if the GROUND STRAP is loose it will complete the circuit by what ever is available ... If it is a HIGH RESISTANCE GROUND ""IT WILL GET HOT" !!! High current surges blow fuses(meaning it can not handle the current trying to go through it) !!! | ||
| Jos51700 |
Did you clean the ground strap mounting points? Also, specifically WHICH ground strap are you referring to? This is issue might be better for now, but it will NOT go away magically, and risks burning your bike down. | ||
| Onebadx1 |
Ground strap @ the rear, near the Rear tire. Cleaned connection. WORKS GREAT!! Thanks you guys! | ||
| 12mpghwy |
something similar to this happened to mine, when a fuse would randomly blow when the steering head got to specific angles or was locked out. Turned out to be a short inside the headlight, and the fuse was blowing when it was getting enough ground through the steering head bearings. |
