Electrical proplem in Sturgis

[Old Drifter]

that's loaded up for 10 days lol...
i didn't pack much. laundry was available at the hotel. so i brought enough underwear, socks and t-shirts for 5 days. 1 pr of jeans and rain gear.

kinda of a funny story at the hotel housekeeping decided to throw out my dirty laundry (it was in a clear bag on the floor). they found it the next day and laundered it for me.

Wow, you do travel light! I'm used to having two saddlebags and a trunk and still think I'm forgetting something...LOL.

[DC]

Great to know this.  Glad you finally got it worked out.

[tj]

Great news, TJ.   Can you share with us exactly what was pinching the wire?  Might be good for someone to learn the easy way... 

The headlight bucket was rubbing against the inbound power wire for the driving lights. it was on the same circuit as the running/tail circuit.

I've changed the wiring around a bit. The driving lights are now on the acc circuit attached to a toggle switch. The acc circuit is always "on". The indian light is on the running/tail circuit with it's 1st connection on an independent lower rated fuse.

Hope that's helpful to someone.

[mittico68]

at the hotel housekeeping decided to throw out my dirty laundry.

That's the fastest way to keep stuff clean...

[tj]

ok so you are on my list now as a non trailer boy....lol........

so you are home and the problem is solved, where did you cross the line coming back? I crossed over at Pembina just south of Winnipeg and it was super easy. Really nice people to deal with.

we crossed both times at Port Huron/Sarnia...no issues.

[tj]

Glad to hear that you made it back safe and found the problem. Any pics of the Drifter loaded up for the trip?

that's loaded up for 10 days lol...
i didn't pack much. laundry was available at the hotel. so i brought enough underwear, socks and t-shirts for 5 days. 1 pr of jeans and rain gear.

kinda of a funny story at the hotel housekeeping decided to throw out my dirty laundry (it was in a clear bag on the floor). they found it the next day and laundered it for me.

[greenbarn]

Ok gents, arrived home safe and sound. 6000kms round trip!

I found the issue...the power wire going to the headlight bucket was pinched. Wish I would have found it sooner. Easy fix. Did some rewiring anyway.

lol...trailer, no. had to get one of those "i rode mine" stickers for my lid!

thanks again to everyone who replied!

cheers.

Great news, TJ.   Can you share with us exactly what was pinching the wire?  Might be good for someone to learn the easy way... 

[CDNRatMan]

ok so you are on my list now as a non trailer boy....lol........

so you are home and the problem is solved, where did you cross the line coming back? I crossed over at Pembina just south of Winnipeg and it was super easy. Really nice people to deal with.

[Old Drifter]

Glad to hear that you made it back safe and found the problem. Any pics of the Drifter loaded up for the trip?

[tj]

Ok gents, arrived home safe and sound. 6000kms round trip!

I found the issue...the power wire going to the headlight bucket was pinched. Wish I would have found it sooner. Easy fix. Did some rewiring anyway.

ok so you trailer ed from Waterloo down? So was not an issue to go home then just rotten you could not really ride down there....

lol...trailer, no. had to get one of those "i rode mine" stickers for my lid!

thanks again to everyone who replied!

cheers.

[CDNRatMan]

  ok so you trailer ed from Waterloo down? So was not an issue to go home then just rotten you could not really ride down there....

[DC]

I hope you get things sorted out on this tj, once you get home.

[Zoar]

Gents thanks for all the replies!
We're heading home now. I will sort it out when i get home and post what i found.

By the way the drifter was a hit at the rally...lots of great feedback.

Cheers

They were just humoring you. I bet they had someone sew up a Drifter Voodo Doll and some long needles..... 

Just funnin' ya.

Yes, the Drifter does get a lot of admiration everywhere it goes.

[tj]

Gents thanks for all the replies!
We're heading home now. I will sort it out when i get home and post what i found.

By the way the drifter was a hit at the rally...lots of great feedback.

Cheers

[tj]

Checked junction box the other morning, nothing obvious there.

Thanks for the reply.

[tj]

Check the area on the right frame down tube with all the wiring bundled together. Possible pinch point.

Looks ok there...nothing obvious.

Thanks for replying.

[Zoar]

It can't be the rear because when I disconnect the rear lights at the fender the fuse still blows.
The 2 running lights in the turn signal housing have been disconnected. That power and ground are in the headlight bucket, used for the light bar and those connections are good. I even disconnected the light bar and the fuse still blows.

A pinched wire makes the most sense to me. Couldn't find it this morning...will look again tonight.

Thanks for replying.

Yes by disconnecting the light socket you eliminated that fair and square.

Looks like grounded /pinched wire. I hate those. I have a similar situation happening in another application. Hard to find.

[tj]

I think a shorted light socket is a definite potential issue. I know I had that issue.

It can't be the rear because when I disconnect the rear lights at the fender the fuse still blows.
The 2 running lights in the turn signal housing have been disconnected. That power and ground are in the headlight bucket, used for the light bar and those connections are good. I even disconnected the light bar and the fuse still blows.

A pinched wire makes the most sense to me. Couldn't find it this morning...will look again tonight.

Thanks for replying.

[Zoar]

You might also try removing the bulbs from the circuit that's blowing and use an ohm-meter to trace that there's no continuity to ground on the hot side.  Isolate each length of wire to do this.  Also, it could even be a shorted light socket.

I think a shorted light socket is a definite potential issue. I know I had that issue.

[Troll]

Check the area on the right frame down tube with all the wiring bundled together. Possible pinch point.

[DC]

You might also try removing the bulbs from the circuit that's blowing and use an ohm-meter to trace that there's no continuity to ground on the hot side.  Isolate each length of wire to do this.  Also, it could even be a shorted light socket. 

[CDNRatMan]

 Tj find a local place that sells fuses and buy a whole hockey sock full of them and help stimulate the US economy. They might need a lot of help once the wall is built. Oh crap hope you are home before the wall is built. We will not be letting a lot of people in once it goes up.

[tj]

I don't believe Drifters can be hot-wired, something to do with a resistor in the switch block and the CPU detects if this has been bypassed and won't fire the plugs.

Think I read it on this forum.

Ok...thanks

[drifter-paul]

I don't believe Drifters can be hot-wired, something to do with a resistor in the switch block and the CPU detects if this has been bypassed and won't fire the plugs.

Think I read it on this forum.

[tj]

That makes sense.

10 fuses lol...will look again in the morning.

Thanks for the reply.