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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Headed Off a Potential Electrical Problem
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Message started by Digger on 03/05/13 at 19:43:30

Title: Headed Off a Potential Electrical Problem
Post by Digger on 03/05/13 at 19:43:30

As I was working to pull the battery on my Savage today (see signature), the bike started talking to me. After I pulled the port frame cover, I noticed some signs of something rubbing on said frame cover's interior surface:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee201/Digger109/LS650/PortFrameCoverInteriorSurfaceRubbingE.jpg

Hmmm.....

It seems as if the small wire (black and yellow on one side of the connector and black and white on the other side of same) and its white-bodied connector, that connects to the battery's negative terminal, along with the wires that exit out the front of the ignitor box, were responsible for the witness marks:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee201/Digger109/LS650/IgnitorBoxE.jpg

You can see that the potential for a short to ground exists here.

To remedy the situation, I do what I usually do when faced with problems like this...I stuck some 10 mil-thick UHMW polyethylene tape w/ high-strength adhesive on the trouble spots....crisis averted:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee201/Digger109/LS650/PortFrameCoverWithUHMWTapeonInteriorSurfaceE.jpg

While I tending to these humble duties, I couldn't help but notice that my keys and key fob had left some scuffing on said frame cover. I used some 6.5 mil-thick UHMW polyethylene tape here....being fairly thin, it's not very noticeable:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee201/Digger109/LS650/PortFrameCoverExteriorSurfaceUHMWTapeE.jpg

Here is a shot of some of the tape I applied to the aft corner of said frame cover years ago (it looks as if I applied the thick stuff here) where same makes contact with the ignition switch's key cylinder:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee201/Digger109/LS650/PortFrameCoverExteriorSurfaceUHMWTape1E.jpg

I got to this damage a little late, but at least it's been arrested in the years since I first applied the tape.

This tape, which I get at McMaster-Carr, has excellent abrasion resistance and is very tough. I use it a lot - on all my bikes!

IHTH someone!

Title: Re: Headed Off a Potential Electrical Problem
Post by ZAR on 03/05/13 at 20:17:06

Thanks Digger! I don't know how I've missed this but it's on my list now!

Title: Re: Headed Off a Potential Electrical Problem
Post by Serowbot on 03/05/13 at 22:53:04

Way to Sherlock!....
..(it helps that the bike talks to you)... ;D...

Some people call that, instinct... but, that's an instinct you earn from experience...
Inspiring to all our observation skills... ;)...

Title: Re: Headed Off a Potential Electrical Problem
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/06/13 at 10:41:59

This is why guys otta do their own work. HOw many shops are gonna bother?

Title: Re: Headed Off a Potential Electrical Problem
Post by Steve H on 03/06/13 at 15:23:38

Most shops would see that as a future 'hard to locate' electrical problem and make sure they didn't say anything about it.

Title: Re: Headed Off a Potential Electrical Problem
Post by Gyrobob on 03/06/13 at 15:53:32

Good Work!! Nicely documented.

Title: Re: Headed Off a Potential Electrical Problem
Post by Digger on 03/16/13 at 19:51:19

2A353334292E1F2F1F27353972400 wrote:

This is why guys otta do their own work. HOw many shops are gonna bother?

Probably none....