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[kona76]

Here we go again....My SE FatBoy is back in the shop. The entire charging system now being replaced. But this time it might be my fault !!

The other night when I got stuck at 1:00am in front of a well known bar; which is a block away from the local Police Department here in the SFV, California; I thought my problem was the 3 year old battery which had just sat without a charge for over two months. So, I did replace the battery with original Harley Davidson parts. And, without checking the charging system, I went ahead and did my heat cycles as instructed by the lead mechanic.

My mistake was not waiting 3 hours for a tow. See, the police drive right by the front of the bar, many times during the wee hours of 1:00am - 3:00am. The AAA Automobile Club, said "30 minutes for a flatbed with a jump". The AAA called 40 minutes later to say: " Sorry, it is a 3 hour wait for a flat bed". What was I to do? I would be sitting in front of a bar till 5:00am and right on the front line.

I sent for my portable booster, and some tools to get me the heck out of there. It was embarrassing enough with all of the locals coming out of the bar to see me broke down after many of them came out earlier to say what a great bike I had. The conflict of interest was too consuming, I didn't think about the torture I might put on new engine, and I jump started my SE FatBoy. I limped home, with no lights, EFI Failure, RPM's too low to worry about pistons and rings settling in for the long term usage and difficult to be seen without any front lights as well. I ran 3 red lights because it was going to stall. No way could I keep it stable enough to make it all the way home. But I did.

I wish the stator and alternator had been checked before I left the shop, but that's hindsight now. The ride home might have burned out the stator due to the alternator failing. OUCH !! I didn't know, I swear. I do now, but just a bit too late...

Back to the shop with my SE FatBoy, New Battery installed, fully charged again. Paul and Mark both helped check the alt and stator for the proper meter readings, both in fault. I am screwed once again.

Now were talking $139.00 for an alternator, maybe the same for the stator and a few hours labor.............who knows, another $500 to $600 right?

I will update this when I get the bike back from it's other home, the shop. I am thinking of a new name for my beloved SE FatBoy>>>>>>THE Black Hole.....Do you like it? It swallows OCD Money and gravity, light, stars........etc...

Mike K.
kona76

[ccr]

You just don't seem to be able to catch a break.

I am so sorry.

Hope the problems start to stay away from you and your beloved fat boy.

 

[Hoist!]

Damn Mike, that really sucks!!!

You can't seem to catch a break with that thing. That bike is turning into a real money pit. Been there, done that, and looking for it to end too. I hope this is the last of it for you and me for quite sometime! Good luck man!

Hoist!

[Hugh Janis]

Mike, sorry to hear.  Wow, your Fatboy bends light.  That's something others at the bar can't say.  Keep us posted.  What did the damage?  Was it the jump?

[miker]

Good Grief!

[kona76]

Mike, sorry to hear.  Wow, your Fatboy bends light.  That's something others at the bar can't say.  Keep us posted.  What did the damage?  Was it the jump?

Yeah, she sucks the black right out of night sky, for a price. And that price is astronomical, no pun right? Now that's bitter humor, west coast style. Somebody throw me a fish....

I am of the understanding that the drive home, approximately 4-5 miles, burned up the stator due to the alternator failure. "That the output had nowhere to be dispursed', and when coupled with riding this type of distance, "it's no wonder the stator is fried". The "Quotes" are from the shop mechanic, who has seen this many times before.


Mike K.
kona76

[AUSSIE_FLSTFSE]

Kona,
There are no words for this!   

Cheers
Aussie

[MikeD]

Mike,
If it wasn't for bad luck, you wouldn't have any!