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[Ken1956]

I have had my 2010 SESG for 13 months.  I have an electrical problem where the power blips off from time to time.

In the last couple of weeks, the engine does not start up right away like it used to.  It sometimes does a slower turn on the engine and then starts.  Talked to the service department guy about it yesterday and he suggested keeping the battery tender on it all the time.  I'm sure the 100 cu. engine takes some big amps to turn it over.  He said he's seen HD batteries for these 110 engines only last 2 years.  And HD is selling new ones for $180!  WTF!!

I was cruising yesterday at 50 mph and the power blipped on and off 3 or 4 times on that short trip.  The engine continued to run, but all power cut off/on.  Nothing went wrong when I went home.

This morning I ran up to the store, and the power and engine cut out just as I tried to pull into traffic.

I'm getting ready to do a 700 mile ride up to Laconia, starting next weekend so I can't have this happening on a long trip.

I have a suspicion that maybe my Hogtunes amp may be the culprit, but that's only a guess.  I'm going to contact them to see if they will very my suspicion.

Anyone have the same problem?  Please let me know what you found out. 

Thanks in advance for your help.

Ken

[sadunbar]

I have had my 2010 SESG for 13 months.  I have an electrical problem where the power blips off from time to time.

In the last couple of weeks, the engine does not start up right away like it used to.  It sometimes does a slower turn on the engine and then starts.  Talked to the service department guy about it yesterday and he suggested keeping the battery tender on it all the time.  I'm sure the 100 cu. engine takes some big amps to turn it over.  He said he's seen HD batteries for these 110 engines only last 2 years.  And HD is selling new ones for $180!  WTF!!

I was cruising yesterday at 50 mph and the power blipped on and off 3 or 4 times on that short trip.  The engine continued to run, but all power cut off/on.  Nothing went wrong when I went home.

This morning I ran up to the store, and the power and engine cut out just as I tried to pull into traffic.

I'm getting ready to do a 700 mile ride up to Laconia, starting next weekend so I can't have this happening on a long trip.

I have a suspicion that maybe my Hogtunes amp may be the culprit, but that's only a guess.  I'm going to contact them to see if they will very my suspicion.

Anyone have the same problem?  Please let me know what you found out.  

Thanks in advance for your help.

Ken

Sorry your dealership service department offered such ridiculous and worthless comments - and offered no assistance in diagnosing your issue.

I'd start at the battery and start checking for corroded or loose connections...  Check your fuses for corrosion...  Check the connections at your starter, expecially the ground connection.  It would appear you have a connection somewhere loosing contact intermittently...

[grc]

    What he said.  If you have never had a wrench on your battery terminal connections in the past year, that would be the first suspect.  It is very common for the connections to loosen shortly after taking possession of a new bike (due to under torquing at the factory), and if someone added a battery tender harness they could have also left the connections loose enough to cause what you're experiencing (more connections at the terminal add to the possiblity of problems).  Poor connections could account for the starting issues as well as the intermittent power outages.

BTW, the battery connections should be checked at each service interval for corrosion and security.  If you have your dealer do the services, don't assume that this was actually checked.


Jerry

[Ken1956]

Thanks guys.  I checked battery connections today.  They were tight but they was an ever so slight amount of corrosion.  Nothing of concern in my experience.

I didn't think about checking the connections to the starter and ground.  That's a very good idea.

Thanks.

[bobbyst66]

I too have had that same situation i would be riding down the road usually at bar 30 and i would be cruising along and my bike for a moment would shut down and lights out and come back on as if nothing has happend. I have a 2010 SESG that i have installed hog tunes along with a battery tender terminal. upon investigation i was able to turn the bolt for about maby a thread to tighten things up a bit but still had on occasion that same problem so finally i got some locktite put a few drops on the threads and haven't had a problem since...if it happens again then i will start splicing wires to one terminal ring...That is my .02

[Ken1956]

Bobby,

What bolt are you talking about tightening up?

[bobbyst66]

sorry the philips screw that is on the battery top post

[sadunbar]

sorry the philips screw that is on the battery top post

10mm if you prefer to use a wrench...

[jcd520]

Ground wire!!!!! 99 % of all electrical problems are ground wire related.

[Ken1956]

I hear ya.  Still gotta check.  I haven't had time to get back to it, but I will in the next day or so.

I should have remembered the ground from my years on the Harley forums, especially the Yahoo TC88 group.

Ken

[michaelbmenaker]

I would be concerned about a broken wire. But, that's really hard to trouble shoot.

[Ken1956]

I removed the entire unit Sunday.  I couldn't take a chance with a 2000 mile trip starting this weekend.

I just spoke to Scott at Hogtunes.  He has agreed to take a look at the amp and wiring harness to see if there are any issues.  He also offered to replace the amp if he finds any issues.  Good customer service.

[Ken1956]

I removed the entire unit Sunday.  I couldn't take a chance with a 2000 mile trip starting this weekend.

I just spoke to Scott at Hogtunes.  He has agreed to take a look at the amp and wiring harness to see if there are any issues.  He also offered to replace the amp if he finds any issues.  Good customer service.

Completed my 2000 mile trip up to New England.  I did not experience any issues with the power outages, like I did when the Hogtunes package was installed. 

Hogtunes tested the amp and wiring harness and everything was fine.

So now I don't know where that leaves me.  I'm leery of re-installing the package for fear it will act up again.  Hogtunes had not heard of a problem like this. 

I've run out of ideas why this occurred. 

[Wayne G]

My girls 09 Deluxe didn't have the momentary power blips but it would intermittently pause when she hit the starter then start right up and would never fail to start. The battery was about 11 months old (she left the ign on parked in the garage for a week and toasted the original) I checked all the connections, did the tender thing, checked amp draw on starter. I finally swapped the battery with a buddy who owns a FatBoy, it turned out to be a funky battery. When we installed the bad battery in his bike it started fine for a day then the problem resurfaced.  Result, a new battery.  I would swap/replace the battery at least you would eliminate a major component.  I dont know where you live but here in Florida the heat does some weird things to battery's.  and leaving the ign on!

[Ken1956]

The battery "shouldn't" be an issue, but anything is possible.  I live in Virginia and the battery is about 15 months old. 

The only thing I can come up with a possible loose connection at the battery, during the time of the problem.  When I was removing the unit, I don't remember a loose connection (and I think I would have)... but (again) anything is possible.  I'm keeping the bike on the tender when I'm not riding.  I used to only use it during the winter months.

I find myself in a quandary now.  Hogtunes has certified my amp and wiring harness are fine.  But I would hate to reinstall the unit and the problem reappear.