services in full black out

[5ehsx]

Hi there,
my Deadwood is behaving pretty well, until last night, on a motorway, when I had a complete black out of all services: all lights, horn, instruments, everything was OFF, quite unnice.

Randomly services kept working again, but I can't find any logic in how and when.

I'm deducting the accessory rel? is failing, I think it's the only thing that all services pass thru, someone know where this rel? is located?

Any other advice or opinion?

Thanks!

Luca

[Berlin Bob]

check positive side of battery...these do loosen up from vibration

[Donkey Hotey]

Luca, you sure do have the assortment of problems. Yes, what Bob said: check the battery connections first because they do come loose.

The next culprit is simple but time consuming to check. It sounds exactly like what my Deadwood did. That is bad grounds in the electrical area under the seat.

The reason that is complicated is you have to remove the rear exhaust header to remove the cover over the electrical area. Once you get that cover removed, you can see everything.

There is a main ground on top of the engine. You should remove that, clean it and reinstall it. There are also jumper ground wires between that screw and another one on the frame. I believe all the harness grounds connect to the frame, not the engine. The jumper wire between them can fail, come loose or corrode.

Jaimie and Marty used to sell a replacement jumper wire to go between those points. It's probably not worth paying the shipping to buy it from here. Any similar heavy gauge automotive grounding jumper wire will work. You want to have large, clean grounds between all of those wires and the screws they attach to.

When I did this on my Deadwood all the problems went away.

[5ehsx]

Thanx you Bob and Greg, I believe the battery cables are tightened as I changed battery for 3 days ago.
I understand what Greg Is saying, I was behind the elettronic cover for some months ago, It wasn't that cool but when It needs It needs, sometimes a night can be extremely dark riding a bike...
I'back ASAP, stay good so far.

[wytfut]

being you just changed out the battery.... I think you , need to check those cables again.
They really need to be REAL tight, more than what a guy would think. While you are there, make sure the connections are
REAL clean too.
One of our X's in the past, was so notorious at coming loose, I ended up soldering the cables onto the post. Solder doesn't stick real well to the battery posts, but it worked, and all  those issues went away.
The vibration frequency of our V twins, is a very real issue when it comes to the battery cables and a couple of other items...
weird but real.

Plus everything Greg said it also true. Note that the case grounding bolt, most times is covered with loc tite. Loc tite doesn't conduct electricity.

I know... frustrating issue, but in the end very minor. Just be patient, its all worth it.

Bruce...
flatlandersupportingXworld

[wytfut]

also want to bring up...
Atlantic EH used to have some very soft pliable battery cables. The vibration frequency never did rattle the ends loose to the battery on 525, after I got them.

But some time ago, Jamie and Marty couldn't find a source for that type of wire anymore?.... I'm not sure on this, but I do know when I bought cables from them later, they were stiffer (not as stiff as OEM), not like the set I had.

The cables I got back in the day were very limber, and I've never had trouble with them coming loose.

Stuff you learn and forget..... crazy..

[5ehsx]

Hi again, it took me some days to come back to my bike, I came to the electrical panel and once it's open and free I'm replacing all the three relay.
But how should I reroute the ground cables? Just remove the one from the engine or something else?
Thank you!
Luca

[wytfut]

I'm no electrical engineer... but the grounds in this area of the motorcycle are far too light weight for me. I replaced all the grounds with heavier gauge (I went BIG) as I didn't want any resistance due too small ground wires. And being I was a telephone company guy I had plenty of sources for large grounds to fit.
I know us reiterating the battery cables sounds redundant/repetitive/over simplified, but believe us.... our bikes are known for this issue... over and over again, for various issues. Thus the new type battery cables that were offered.
As for the relays....being you are already in there, and you can afford it, replace them.

With the holiday around the corner.... Everyone.... have a wonderful holiday
Bruce