Tech review of the Harley Davidson charging system. Here’s an easy way to make sure your battery is charging. Everyone is at your house and ready to ride. You saddle up and CLICK, your Harley-Davidson does not start. Bob and Mark review an easy way to check your battery and make sure it’s staying charged.
Next Service:
Drain Fluids Softail
Drain Fluids Dyna
More on Electrical Troubleshooting
Bob and Mark show you how to remove and replace the Harley front wheel on your Sportster. They teach you the proper way to take off the brake caliper and wheel axle so you can do whatever you need to do to the front tire. Once the wheel is off you can replace the tire, retrue the spokes or check the rotor.
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Bob demonstrates how to service the front and rear brake calipers on a Sportster. There are a few changes that Harley has made over the years, so you should be sure to pay attention to the differences; they could affect how you service your bike.
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Now that you’ve fully serviced your Harley Sportster, you can take the opportunity to check all of the safety features on the bike. Make sure the lights are working properly, the horn makes noise, turn signals are operational, and all grommets are in place. Then you should check the throttle, add oil and fill the tires to the correct level. Once your finished with the service, get out and ride!
*****The service manual states you should follow your negation cable down from battery and remove nut that secures the connector to ground stud on the crankcase boss behind the starter motor assembly. You will need to do the reverse during installation.
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Bob teaches you how to adjust the clutch and primary chain on your Harley Softail or Dyna model. Be sure to achieve free play on the clutch cable to verify that you have proper adjustment on the clutch cable pack, and check for the proper specs in your service manual for adjusting the primary chain (if your model has the adjustment window). Bob finishes by mentioning that when you are doing this type of repair, only factory service gaskets should be used.
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I have a 02 Harley Buell Blast 500 and I hooked up battery backwards and my wires smoked up white. I quickly switched battery around and connected correctly and again all my wires went up in again in white smoke so I unhooked battery and put on trickle charge. Is my electrical system going to be okay.
Dear Brian,
Thank you for your patience. In response to your question-
Unfortunately, there is a possibility that this may cost more to repair than the bike is worth. Especially if you can not complete the repair yourself.
It depends on the extent of harness damage and whether or not your ECM was damaged.
You may not be able to determine if the ECM or any other electrical components are damaged until the harness is repaired or replaced.
Suggest replacing or repairing the damaged harness. Then, test for all electrical functions.
https://www.fixmyhog.com/video/simplifying-electricity-002170/
https://www.fixmyhog.com/product/overview-of-electrical-systems-part-1-download/
https://www.fixmyhog.com/video/welcome-to-fix-my-hog-electrical-002169/
https://www.fixmyhog.com/video/watts-law-002179/
Sincerely,
Mark
Fix My Hog
I have an 08 Electra Glide Ultra Classic and the voltage dropped down while riding and the headlights dimmed. I revved the bike a few times and it came back up and brightened the headlights. No issues starting the bike, tho. What could cause this?
Hi Chad. It can be a failing charging system. Make sure that battery cables are clean and secure. Perform a charging system test.
CHARGING SYSTEM
https://www.fixmyhog.com/video/charging-system-diagnosis-002187/
Mark
Fix My Hog
Thank you. I’ll take a look.