Did I fry my ignition module?

[Moespeeds]

Ok guys, last night at 2AM I'm putting my rear fender back on, and something sparked off the battery hot. I wasn't sure what it was, but this morning got everything back together and go to fire her up, and no spark. When I turn the key and hit RUN, I get a red light on the EHC, and no light on the ignition module. Upon inspection of the module there is a small black mark, I'm assuming from it hitting the battery. I'm about to replace the pickup on the engine side, connections all look good. What says the peanut gallery?

Thanks,

 

[Raywood]

Bro, you didn't dis-connect the battery when working on your bike???

Sounds like a question for dogvet or Ohmster.

Hope it's to to bad. :flag:

 

[barhopper]

Is your headlight on when you turn it on?

 

[Moespeeds]

Battery was disconnected and taped off, but I had to hook it up to test the new turn signals I put on before I re-installed the fender. Give me a break, it was 2AM! No headlight, turn signals and running lights working, bike cranks, but no sparky.

 

[Raywood]

Battery was disconnected and taped off, but I had to hook it up to test the new turn signals I put on before I re-installed the fender. Give me a break, it was 2AM! No headlight, turn signals and running lights working, bike cranks, but no sparky.

Hey, I've had a few of those 2am sessions but most of my problems stem from to many drinks!

Still sounds like a question for dogvet or Ohmster.
They will want to know what lights you have on the EHC and ignition module when the key is turned on.

Are you sure you didn't forget a wire to a battery terminal? There are a lot of them!

Good luck,
Ray

 

[Raywood]

Battery was disconnected and taped off, but I had to hook it up to test the new turn signals I put on before I re-installed the fender. Give me a break, it was 2AM! No headlight, turn signals and running lights working, bike cranks, but no sparky.

Are the new lights LED's? What kind did you switch to?

 

[Moespeeds]

http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/show-shine/24-show-us-your-big-dog-10.html#post70315

Check them out, Joker Machine. I had to cut my struts and do some drilling to make them fit.

 

[dogvet]

Ok guys, last night at 2AM I'm putting my rear fender back on, and something sparked off the battery hot. I wasn't sure what it was, but this morning got everything back together and go to fire her up, and no spark. When I turn the key and hit RUN, I get a red light on the EHC, and no light on the ignition module. Upon inspection of the module there is a small black mark, I'm assuming from it hitting the battery. I'm about to replace the pickup on the engine side, connections all look good. What says the peanut gallery?

Thanks,

Are you getting power at the ignition coil? Make sure your getting 12v at the coil terminal with the red wire on it. Check for power on the red wire at the four pin connector at the module as well.
Check your ground wires as well. maybe you got lucky and smoked the ground wire if the case of the module touched the hot side of the battery.

Since the module grounds through the ehc, check the resistance to the frame (ground) on the black wire in the four pin module plug.

The red led on the module should at least be flashing when the engine is cranking. Unless you happen to have access to a module you can use to test with, verify all power and ground connections for continuity.

Dumb question, but do you have access to and know how to use an ohm meter?

 

[Raywood]

Are you getting power at the ignition coil? Make sure your getting 12v at the coil terminal with the red wire on it. Check for power on the red wire at the four pin connector at the module as well.
Check your ground wires as well. maybe you got lucky and smoked the ground wire if the case of the module touched the hot side of the battery.

Since the module grounds through the ehc, check the resistance to the frame (ground) on the black wire in the four pin module plug.

The red led on the module should at least be flashing when the engine is cranking. Unless you happen to have access to a module you can use to test with, verify all power and ground connections for continuity.

Dumb question, but do you have access to and know how to use an ohm meter?

This is why I just did Nuclear Powered Submarines. All that electric jumbo comfuses me!!!!

Glad we have you dogvet!!

 

[Moespeeds]

What's the significance of not having the headlight? The whole thing is compounded by the fact that the jackshaft is not meshing properly with the ring gear, so half the time when I'm testing, I gotta stop and pop off the jackshaft cover to mesh it up. Also going at it alone, all the dickheads who are happy to keep their bikes in my garage and use my tools and polishes and ask me to fix their bikes are out riding. This is really pissing me off in case you can't tell. I did open up the ignition box, and the chip or whatever is in there is encased in silicone or some type of rubber, so I don't see how I fried it. I changed the timing pickup also, but still no joy. Don't know how to use an OHM meter I'm sorry to say, although my tester will do OHMs. BTW I'm pretty sure I would get a solid red on the Ignition module when I hit the run button before the trouble started. I'm not getting anything right now.

 

[dogvet]

What's the significance of not having the headlight? The whole thing is compounded by the fact that the jackshaft is not meshing properly with the ring gear, so half the time when I'm testing, I gotta stop and pop off the jackshaft cover to mesh it up. Also going at it alone, all the dickheads who are happy to keep their bikes in my garage and use my tools and polishes and ask me to fix their bikes are out riding. This is really pissing me off in case you can't tell. I did open up the ignition box, and the chip or whatever is in there is encased in silicone or some type of rubber, so I don't see how I fried it. I changed the timing pickup also, but still no joy. Don't know how to use an OHM meter I'm sorry to say, although my tester will do OHMs. BTW I'm pretty sure I would get a solid red on the Ignition module when I hit the run button before the trouble started. I'm not getting anything right now.

I know what you mean about the dickheads!

Thunderheart made sure that opening up the module wouldn't do anybody any good. they seal up everything they make!

Verify that you're getting power and ground to the module. Since the red light isn't coming on at all, the module either isn't getting power or it's taken a shit on you...

You could try this, unplug the four wire plug to the ignition module. Take the plug on the harness side and (with your volt meter on DC volts) put the red lead on the red wire and the black lead on battery negative. With the key and run switch on, you should read 12v. Next, put your postive meter lead on the positive battery post and the black lead on the black wire in the plug. With everything on, you should also read 12v. If you do, then your geting power and the module is probably dead.

IF you don't get power in one or both tests, then your not getting power from the ehc.

 

[Moespeeds]

Got power (12.5v) at the coil, and at all places above. Module has a black mark on the side from where it hit the battery, so I guess that's all she wrote. So what's a new module cost? A friend recommended I ditch the Big Dog part and just go with a new Crane ignition. He says the whole setup will run about $450? BTW thanks for all the help guys, I'd be lost without this forum.

 

[Gas Man]

The way I understand it...

With the key on
hit run and get red ignition light on EHC which sends power to the ignition and from the ignition to the coil.

Is your ignition module located in the nose cone? If so I would think a crane hi4 is in order and yes about $450 (if I remember correctly). If its the one that is under the seat (I suspect not), let me know cause I have my old one I'll make a good price on.

 

[Moespeeds]

JP Had the Dyna Single Fire setup (dual coils) for $300? Or am I missing something there?

S Single-fire Dyna® 'S' Ignition Systems for 1970-99 Sportster® & Evolution® Big Twin J&P Cycles®

 

[Gas Man]

Vulcan has a set of dyna single's and they got the straight connectors (only place I know to get them) so you can re-use your wires
3 OHM Dyna Single Tower Coils- Black :: Ignitions & Coils :: Motorway Engineering Co.

But to use those you need a new motor and coil mount... you can get that from vulcan as well.

And I would get a standard crane ignition if that's where you want to go with itl.

 

[GymRat]

Check out Jireh for pricing...you should be able to save some on the crane ignitions and coils.

 

[Moespeeds]

So Gas, Big Dog only wants 210.00 for a new module. Dealer is telling me it's bike specific? Anyway, as far as the coils go I have a cool bracket and chrome engine mount sitting here. I can get those S-fire coils from Vulcan and pop them on, and the Big Dog ignition module will work with them, or do I have to change to a compatible ignition module?

 

[alhall88]

Moe if you want to keep the big dog ignition that will be dual fire you can still run dual single fire coils you will just have to jumper the coils. But I gotta ask why? A new ignition will only run around $225 and as a bonus you can pitch the big dog ignition and the thunderheart module.

 

[Gas Man]

And as Al siad it would then be tunable.

 

[Moespeeds]

I guess that's what I'm trying to decide. I don't know dick about how the ignition system works, so I'm really in the dark here. I would like to pitch the Big Dog module, but then what? Is that ignition system I linked what I need? How much wiring will I have to do?