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So my bike decided to start eating fuses this morning

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by aaron_acrusto, Oct 4, 2012.

  1. aaron_acrusto

    aaron_acrusto Member

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    I took the bike out for a 50 mile ride last night. I didn't have one single problem, it ran beautifully, just buzzed along happily the whole time.

    I decided I would ride to work this morning, and as soon as I started riding, I started blowing my turn signal fuse. I checked the leads, and found a bare connector touching the frame. Covered that up with tape, and its still blowing fuses. I even blew a main fuse downshifting to a stop.

    I have done the el13 mod that's stickied here, and switched the wiring as reccomended.
     
  2. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    Check your regulator to make sure that you're not overcharging. It is entirely possible that the regulator has gone on a permanent vacation.

    dave
     
  3. aaron_acrusto

    aaron_acrusto Member

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    Ugh. I don't like the sound of that. What do I check for in the regulator?
     
  4. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    Start the bike, put a volt meter on the battery, and check it. Should be running around 13.5. Give it some throttle, volts should stay around 14.5 +/-. Give it some more throttle.....volts should stay the same. Give it a rev....volts should stay the same.

    Now, if the volts start rising when you slowly increase the rpm's, and continue to climb over 15 etc..... as you rase the rpm's, your regulator is not working. DON'T rev to high or you'll start blowing all the fuses and the main fuse, most of the lightbulbs, etc...... end up frying the TCI, melting wires, etc......

    Dave F
     
  5. aaron_acrusto

    aaron_acrusto Member

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    I checked the other day when I was questioning my alternator. It seems to hold around 12.4 at idle and won't climb past 13.8 when I rev it
     
  6. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    then it's not that. Time to check for other worn wires or shorted connectors.

    However, just cuz it checked ok the other day, doesn't mean that it isn't the problem now. Did the shorting start after you checked the alternator, or before?

    dave
     
  7. aaron_acrusto

    aaron_acrusto Member

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    It's happened before. The same thing. Blow a couple turn signal fuses, replace em, and then blow a main a little later.

    The first time it was happening, I found my tail light wires had some bare connectors pinched between the seat and frame, and I had a loose positive connection on my battery. I fixed those and have put a couple hundred miles on the bike with no issue until today.
     
  8. aaron_acrusto

    aaron_acrusto Member

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    Also, that multimeter reading was from last night before I jumped on the bike
     
  9. aaron_acrusto

    aaron_acrusto Member

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    Ok, so I just got back from work and tested it again. My voltage is kind of all over the place. It was at 13 when I started it, it climbed up to 14.8 as I was revving it, I didn't want to keep going because I did t want to run the engine that long with out a load on it. As soon as I let off the the throttle, the voltage started a steady creep down below 12.5v
     
  10. aaron_acrusto

    aaron_acrusto Member

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    Could having the leads to my tail lamp switched be the cause?
     
  11. aaron_acrusto

    aaron_acrusto Member

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    I switched the wiring leads for my tail lamp under the seat. I went for a quick 15 me ride after work today and did t have any problems. Solved? I certainly wasn't shy about revving it when I rode...
     

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