Hitchcocks Forum

Hi all. My 2010 Electra efi lost all its electrics this morning as I set off for work. I've got it going again (blown fuse). Not sure why it blew, but suspect a short circuit. I've tidied up some of the wiring to deal with that, so fingers crossed. Anyway I didn't have a spare fuse, so I swapped a working fuse from one of the other of the 3 fuseholders next to the battery. The bike runs fine with just two of the three fuses in situ. Everything else works - lights horn indicators etc. so I'm wondering what the circuit with no fuse does. Im guessing that the fuse I replaced is for the 'run' circuit. According to the wiring diagram it looks like the fuse I removed might be something to do with the charging circuit as there are two other fuses in the battery and 'regulator/rectifier circuits. I guess that means that everything will work, but only until the battery goes flat. Am I on the right lines. The bike works without the third fused circuit connected and with it connected. I don't want to damage anything by running the bike if I shouldn't and I don't want to get stranded if the battery goes flat. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks. Martin

Buy another fuse.

Don't buy another fuse, buy 2 so you have a spare lol

I will buy a whole box of fuses, but will it be ok to go to the fuse shop on the bike?

I'm only guessing it is ok, without checking the wiring diagram to see what it does, I doubt it would cause any problem, no different than if it blew while you were riding, if everything was working you would not know. No chance it is a spare fuse incase you blow one?

The fuse you removed is probably on the charging circuit... if your lights work then it isn't the lighting circuit, and if the bike runs then it isn't the ECU circuit. Buy lots of fuses!




Now... why did it blow? Well, it could just be that the fuse is old and had its time but... maybe not. Check for a lot of things but mainly chaffing wires. Open the headlight, check behind there for worn wires and tape up if you have any. Check all cabling for the electric start (e.g. behind the headlight and also the wiring to and from the right hand switch gear) - make sure its in good order. Check your tail light wiring loom (runs from near the battery, under the mudguard at the back and into the tail light). Check at both points where it 'enters' the mudguard for wear, but also check inside the tail light for wetness.




Given that it might be the charging circuit thats blown then check your reg-rectifier output - it shouldn't really get above about 14-15 volts (i.e. the battery should run at about 14-15 volts when revving the engine with nothing else on). If it is much higher than this then your reg is probably goosed hence the blown fuse. But... also check the wiring from the reg to the battery (e.g. all the red cabling which leads into and out of the fuses at the battery). If there is any damage to the cable there (e.g. due to heat) then fix it...




But it might just be blown fuse cos its 5 years old...

Thanks Norm & Michael
It seems odd that a fuse could go and there be nothing to spot that it had. It wasn't the charging circuit that blew, that was the one I borrowed
Fuses now replaced and spares stashed, so I'll keep fingers crossed and give it a go tomorrow. M

Jack there is the possibility that it is just a spare fuse holder, seen that before

There is a current running through the wire, so it's not a spare fuse holder. There are 3 fuses shown on the wiring diagram and also a holder for a spare fuse in each of the 3 fuse boxes.

I would go straight to the rear lamp wiring under the rear mudguard- every time we have had a fault - its been the tyre wearing through the harness .. - worth a look