Ok, so I have been a less-than-dutiful Uly owner. My bike hasn't been ridden in 3-4 months because I have been waiting for the time and confidence to dive in and tackle an electrical issue that finally put my uly out of commission. I am hopeful that it will be a reasonably easy fix and that, with some advice from the knowledgeable members of this fabulous board I will soon be romping the snot out of my bike again like it deserves. The history and issues are as follows:
2009 uly XT with about 34,000 miles. Had a bunch of motor stuff done (heads, pistons, a bunch of electrical stuff replaced) through a local harley dealersheip (on warranty) to diagnose a starting/rough idle issue between 10,xxx and 15,xxx miles or so. Turned out to be a cracked ECM which I figured out and sent to them to deal with. They replaced ECM and notched the seat pan to prevent rubbing but it still rubbed and cracked the new ECM. At this point I replaced the ECM with an EBR ECM (r.i.p. EBR) and relocated to prevent continued rubbing.
All was well between ~15,xxx and ~33,xxx miles. At this point (~august 2015) it began to do a funny thing when starting or riding: if I swiveled the bars lock to lock before starting the headlights would cut out. It didn't seem to do it when riding, but I later realized (after getting flashed many times) that the lights were indeed cutting out when riding as well. This made me rethink riding it, esp at night, so it got ridden very infrequently during the day for a few months. In December it began blowing headlight fuses (if I recall correctly) when trying to start. So it got parked and I rode my GF's blast when I needed extra transportation.
I figured that the issue was a broken wire so I waited for weather to improve (I park/wrench under an EZ-up canopy) and until I had the time/tools (soldering iron, etc.) to tackle this issue. I have now removed the headlight, windscreen, left scoop and am hoping to tackle this issue. When I tried to start it today the needles didn't sweep consistently with lights connected (they swept 3/4 times) and with them disconnected the needles sweep but all I get is a click from near the fuse box, which I assume is a relay in there somewhere.
My questions are:
1. Does my analysis sound accurate? (broken wire causing groun/incomplete connection, probably in wiring harness where it passes behind forks or somewhere behind the windscreen.)
2. Could it also be a bad ground?
3. If it is a broken wire will I be able, with my in-expert soldering experience to find the break, re-solder, and fix this problem?
4. Should the bike start with the headlights disconnected or are they necessary?
5. Maybe just a bad relay? (This would be an ideal solution, I think).
Ok, if you are still reading then I thank you! Any thoughts or advice is welcome. Portland, OR area buellers are welcome to come drink beer and laugh at me while I burn myself trying to solder this damn thing back together.
TLDR: headlights cut out when sweeping bars lock to lock, gauges don't sweep consistently, bike no star
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