Air Suspension - Manual Override?!

[speedrcr]

ok, long story short....dead battery...got one from my dealer and it looks like the poles where swapped ....lots of sparks and we think a fried EHC!

But, I can't get it to the dealer (not that I wish I had another option...only one dealer and no thrilled with their....customer support!) because the air suspension is dropped and I can't get it on a trailer or any other towing option!

Is there a manual override for the factory air suspension on a '05 Bull Dog?!

The dealer says "I don't know if there is one"...well are you not a dealer....or find out for me....but nope! They will not help me unless I bring the bike in....so damned if I do....damned if I don't!

Also sent a email to Big Dog...a week a go and have not heard back!

A little frustrated with BD support....I live in a major market, but now we have only one "dealer" and....well let's just say I wish there was an option!

....sorry ranting a bit!

Any help or ideas?

 

[pig pen]

Just an idea but maybe you could get it on a trailer.Get the front tire on the trailer deck , then roll the rear tire up on some pieces of wood to decrease the angle. So the back and the front tire are the same height then push her in.

 

[05chop]

ok, long story short....dead battery...got one from my dealer and it looks like the poles where swapped ....lots of sparks and we think a fried EHC!

But, I can't get it to the dealer (not that I wish I had another option...only one dealer and no thrilled with their....customer support!) because the air suspension is dropped and I can't get it on a trailer or any other towing option!

Is there a manual override for the factory air suspension on a '05 Bull Dog?!

The dealer says "I don't know if there is one"...well are you not a dealer....or find out for me....but nope! They will not help me unless I bring the bike in....so damned if I do....damned if I don't!

Also sent a email to Big Dog...a week a go and have not heard back!

A little frustrated with BD support....I live in a major market, but now we have only one "dealer" and....well let's just say I wish there was an option!

....sorry ranting a bit!

Any help or ideas?

This is all I could find for you look at the picture of the compressor with the red and black wire.You could remove the red wire and run 12volts from your battery to get the compressor pumping.All of this is above the starter after you remove the side covers. I have a manual that i can get for you in the morg if needed.2006 Big Dog Mastiff Motorcycle Adjustable Air Ride Suspension - Hot Bike Magazine

 

[lee]

you should be able to do it with an air compressor. When my bike first landed here in the UK thats how Andy did it because he didn't know how it worked. Let me know if you want me to ask him how he did it. Won't be til tomorrow though.

 

[kickstart]

Follow the air lines under the bike and you will find a block with a valve just like on your rims, put some air to it that way. Just don't over do it.

 

[speedrcr]

Will a little portable electric air compresser be enough....or will it take a "tank" one?

Do you know where it is on the shock....I assume totally under the bike, correct?!

Thanks for all the help....my dealer is useless....but I still need to take it to them anyway since they are the only one in the Chicago area....feel like I'm caught between a rock and a hard place....like they didn't know this...or willing to make a phone call to find out! The dealer I bought the bike through went out of biz and now they are the only one left.

Because the wrong battery jazzed things up, I need to have it checked out....just wish I didn't have to use them and give them more cash when they have not done a thing to help...."when you get it to us, we will take a look at it"....thanks for all the help!

 

[05chop]

If your going to use an air compressor be careful first you have to install a shrader valve that will not let the air back out when you are trying to air up suspension. Remove both red and black wire from the compressor then hook up correctly to the battery when shock is aired up remove the wires attached to battery.The side panels have to come off if you have ECH problems anyway.

 

[speedrcr]

If your going to use an air compressor be careful first you have to install a shrader valve that will not let the air back out when you are trying to air up suspension. Remove both red and black wire from the compressor then hook up correctly to the battery when shock is aired up remove the wires attached to battery.The side panels have to come off if you have ECH problems anyway.

So I need to add this "shrader valve" to the valve coming off the shock? Not sure if the battery is any good and it's not hooked up...and we are pretty sure the EHC is fried?!

 

[05chop]

Why cant you just use the compressor on the bike? If you are going to use a shrader valve then go into the pressure gauge line make this easy not hard! The fitting on the shock is going to be a bitch to get at in the down position.If you dont have regulated air kink the hose with your hand then install air.

 

[speedrcr]

Why cant you just use the compressor on the bike? If you are going to use a shrader valve then go into the pressure gauge line make this easy not hard! The fitting on the shock is going to be a bitch to get at in the down position.If you dont have regulated air kink the hose with your hand then install air.

Sorry, not enough coffee yet this morn....what are you suggesting is the easiest way to do this....understanding....suspension is dropped, EHC is fried and not sure if the battery is damaged...and it's in storage in a not great spot in a dark garage....fun, fun!

Thanks for all the help!

 

[05chop]

EHC is out of the picture remove red and black wires from compressor on your bike.Do you have a small battery charger? Use it on the battery in your bike takes only 30seconds to air up.

 

[speedrcr]

EHC is out of the picture remove red and black wires compressor on your bike.Do you have a small battery charger? Use it on the battery in your bike takes only 30seconds to air up.

So find the wires coming of the Compressor (need to find that)....disconnect them...run wires from the compressor to the battery or charger (will the trickle chager work?) to the compressor....then Will I need to go through the factory steps to raise it (doing the "start" and high/lowbeam)...or will it just run the compressor?

 

[05chop]

Drag the bike out of the cave it in so you can see.If you have a set of jumper cables this can be a 12volt source from your car using small wires from cable to bike. If you have shop air or small tank follow the air line from the shock and plumb it in there with a shrader valve then kink hose with your hand to regulate air into it. be right back got to go down to garage.

 

[speedrcr]

Drag the bike out of the cave it in so you can see.If you have a set of jumper cables this can be a 12volt source from your car using small wires from cable to bike. If you have shop air or small tank follow the air line from the shock and plumb it in there with a shrader valve then kink hose with your hand to regulate air into it.

Ok, brain dead here.....I assume this is 2 different ways to do this correct?!

One is a "electrical" solution getting power to the compressor by hard wiring the the compressor....take the red & black wires directly to the battery....correct?! I assume the red & Black wires go into the EHC at some point....so I pull that side off and go directly to the battery?

Or a "air" solution, which I use an external air compressor that I will have to get a "shrader" valve to pull off....

Do I have this correct....which way do you suggest....the "electrical" solutions sounds the easiest?!

 

[05chop]

Do you have a air pressure gauge near the rear valve cover? Convert the fitting there so you can hook up a shrader valve is one way of doing it. Im looking at my air ride manual it shows the compressor is 12volts run with a relief solenoid so im assuming you can hook 12volt to red wire and it should run the compressor.The relief valve is where im not sure if its 5volt or 12volt run, but im assuming it dumps the air pressure only so you wont mess with this.Yea I know I need my fingers to communicate with my brain so it not so confusing for you to read.

 

[kickstart]

You should already have the Schrader vlave on the connector Block. Mine does. Reread my first post.

 

[speedrcr]

Thank you....I did read your posts.....I was waiting until BD responded as well....I have sent two emails to their customer service group on my issues as well as the support....ya right....of my dealer.

I didn't want to do any more damage to the bike! You would think there would be a simple override to a factory system....just for what I am going through...no power, no air!

Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[speedrcr]

Well this is the response I got back from BD....

First....

Me: Is there a way to raise the air ride without power? I can't trailer it with the suspension dropped....is there a manual way to lift it.

BD: No, there must be 12 volts into the system to lift it. This can be from any source, the motor does not need to be running. Perhaps a 12 volt battery charger or jumper box, will get the compressor operational and allow you to lift the suspension to the elevated position?

Then after a few back and forths....
BD: There are two wires that come out of your compressor. If you will put 12volts to the BLUE wire it will power the compressor and your bike will raise. Your system should retain the air pressure if it maintained it before. To recap: Red alligator clamp from your twelve volt source to the blue compressor wire and the black ground clamp anywhere that will serve as a suitable ground.

They said there is no way to do it with air?! ....not disagreeing with info I got here, just sharing BD responses.

 

[speedrcr]

For the electrical solution...Well I tried what BD recommended (see above)...and so far it did not work!?

They say the there is no Schrader valve on the bikes?

 

[Raywood]

For the electrical solution...Well I tried what BD recommended (see above)...and so far it did not work!?

They say the there is no Schrader valve on the bikes?

Then sounds like your pump is dead. Simple wiring to power it up so if it's not working then it must be the pump.
As for a schader valve, I would think it would be pretty simple to drill a hole somewhere, thread it and install the valve. This would make it a manual air suspension which should be ok.