testing Badlands module
Bill Cattell
one on me (well... in a glass actually - although it's getting springtime
out there I still don't want a beer bath).
I have a '95 Sportster that has been having electrical problems for
several months now. I've been all through the wiring looking for
shorts-to-ground, etc but have come up empty.
I had a Badlands module installed a couple years ago on a rebuild that
turns the rear turn signals into combo running lights / turn signals.
Everything has been /still seems to be working ok (the rear lights
still light and blink when the signal switch is hit).
Other than the obvious signs (lights light up, etc) what other tests can
I do to ensure the thing is working ok and not putting an excessive load
on the system?
At this point I'm open for suggestions. I've been working on this for
about 6 months. It gets kind of old pulling into the garage and having
to put Bike on a charger (new battery in Nov. '01).
TIA,
Bill
Bill Cattell
I finally found Badlands Motorcycle Products' phone number and just by
chance decided to give them a call. I talked with Bob & Rick (the owners
/ designers) and found out that the Badlands module I have is about 5
years old and that they had recalled them a few years ago.
After talking about the unit and the testing / troubleshooting I've been
doing Rick suggested that I should consider replacing it with a newer
model. It seems that the module I have had been sub-contracted out to another
guy and they weren't too pleased with it.
I'm doing a trade-in with them and getting an updated Illuminator module.
Judging from the tech docs on their site it looks fairly easy to install
and according to Rick is much more reliable.
I'll post another follow-up after I get it and install it.
I'm quite impressed with Badlands' customer support and helpfulness.
Bill
Lee Petersen
>
> A follow-up...
>
> I finally found Badlands Motorcycle Products' phone number and just by
> chance decided to give them a call. I talked with Bob & Rick (the owners
> / designers) and found out that the Badlands module I have is about 5
> years old and that they had recalled them a few years ago.
>
> After talking about the unit and the testing / troubleshooting I've been
> doing Rick suggested that I should consider replacing it with a newer
> model. It seems that the module I have had been sub-contracted out to another
> guy and they weren't too pleased with it.
>
> I'm doing a trade-in with them and getting an updated Illuminator module.
> Judging from the tech docs on their site it looks fairly easy to install
> and according to Rick is much more reliable.
>
> I'll post another follow-up after I get it and install it.
>
> I'm quite impressed with Badlands' customer support and helpfulness.
Guess I ought to call them and find out if mine would be
included in the recall; I put an Illuminator on the bagger
about 3 years ago but it has been working poifectly ever
since but I'd hate to start losing charge the other side
of Navellint, Nebraska. Let us know if that fixes your
problem Bill. Otherwise, you'd better take a look at the
alternator.
Lee
--
Eat eggs, chips, and spam before replying by e-mail.
T. Copeland
<wcattell...@attbi.com> enlightened us with:
>A follow-up...
>I'm doing a trade-in with them and getting an updated Illuminator module.
>Judging from the tech docs on their site it looks fairly easy to install
>and according to Rick is much more reliable.
>
>I'll post another follow-up after I get it and install it.
>
>I'm quite impressed with Badlands' customer support and helpfulness.
Interesting...are they giving you a credit on the old one, swapping it
or what? Any idea how long they subbed out the work to the "less than
satisfactory" source? Mine is about 3-4 years old, but seems to work
fine so far.
And yeah, with the directions that come with it, it's pretty easy to
install.
T. Copeland
96 FXDS
Softailguy
-snipped-
> but I'd hate to start losing charge the other side
> of Navellint, Nebraska.
>
> Lee
You will be pleased (and likely surprised) to know that there is a
decent independent MC shop just East of Navelint, Nebraska. It's on
highway 2 and they get the bulk of their business from bikes traveling
to/from Sturgis (the trailer folks even stop now and then for a soda
and/or a t-shirt). It's called Fat Bob's MC Shop (the owner's name is
Bob (and he's not skinny)), the t-shirts are "cool" and the place is
easy to find as there is a tree in the cornfield next to the shop...
<G>
Cheers!
Doug Hahn
'98 FXSTC
Bill Cattell
The module that was recalled was a dual-function module... turn signals
and rear running lights. They were replacing them wiht their newer
module which is a three functions - running lights, turn signals and
brake lights (use the running lts/turn signals as brake lights too).
I described what I had done (basically checked each wire, ohmed it,
checked for shorts-to-grn, etc) and just asked them how to verify the
module was working ok (other than the obvious - the rear turn signals
acted as running lights). That's when Rick told me about the recall.
I thought about the alternator but it seems to be working. I base this
on some observation. When the battery is running low and I hit a turn
signal or the horn I will often lose the speedometer - the light goes
out, I have no speed reading and the odometer blanks out. When I gen the
motor or start poicking up speed (the RPMs go up) I get them back.
That's just "seat-of-the-pants" troubleshooting but it gives me some
level of confidence that it's working.
After I put in the Badlands module and replace handlebar switches and
wiring [IF] the problem still remains then it's into the shop.
TIA,
Bill
Bill Cattell
> On Wed, 13 Mar 2002 02:42:51 GMT, Bill Cattell
> <wcattell...@attbi.com> enlightened us with:
>
>>A follow-up...
>
>>I'm doing a trade-in with them and getting an updated Illuminator
>>module. Judging from the tech docs on their site it looks fairly easy to
>>install and according to Rick is much more reliable.
>>
>>I'll post another follow-up after I get it and install it.
>>
>>I'm quite impressed with Badlands' customer support and helpfulness.
>
> Interesting...are they giving you a credit on the old one, swapping it
> or what? Any idea how long they subbed out the work to the "less than
> satisfactory" source? Mine is about 3-4 years old, but seems to work
> fine so far.
See the reply to Lee Petersen on what modules are affected.
Yes, they're swapping it out with me. It's costing me $35.00 which isn't
too bad since I think the new modules retail for around $80.
Bill
Dave Schultheis
> I'd hate to start losing charge the other side of Navellint,
> Nebraska.
Damn, Lee, I'm sorry that I missed going through that town on my last
cross-country trip. Is it near East Jesus, NE?
I'll see if I can get by and check those places out next time.
Dave
1996 FLHR-I Road King
A.M.A., H.O.G., bay area net scum, BS#146
EKIII page - http://eddiekieger.com/
r.m.h FAQ - http://www.bamph.com/rmh/
r.m.h parking lot - http://the.rmhparkinglot.com/
--
mailto:dave...@accesscom.com - http://www.accesscom.com/~dave6592
Home of "Experiences at Fry's Electronics" and "Please Use Turn Signals"
Dave Schultheis, San Jose, Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County, CA, USA
Lee Petersen
>
> Yo Lee - How's it going.
Pretty good, all things considered, thanks.
How's your new job holding up?
> The module that was recalled was a dual-function module... turn signals
> and rear running lights. They were replacing them wiht their newer
> module which is a three functions - running lights, turn signals and
> brake lights (use the running lts/turn signals as brake lights too).
Then I must have the newer model already 'cause it's always
had the brake function on the rear turn signals.
> I described what I had done (basically checked each wire, ohmed it,
> checked for shorts-to-grn, etc) and just asked them how to verify the
> module was working ok (other than the obvious - the rear turn signals
> acted as running lights). That's when Rick told me about the recall.
>
> I thought about the alternator but it seems to be working. I base this
> on some observation. When the battery is running low and I hit a turn
> signal or the horn I will often lose the speedometer - the light goes
> out, I have no speed reading and the odometer blanks out. When I gen the
> motor or start poicking up speed (the RPMs go up) I get them back.
> That's just "seat-of-the-pants" troubleshooting but it gives me some
> level of confidence that it's working.
>
> After I put in the Badlands module and replace handlebar switches and
> wiring [IF] the problem still remains then it's into the shop.
Good luck - sorry I'm not much help on evo sporty electrics;
all mine were iron heads with generators.
Bill Cattell
> Bill Cattell wrote:
>>
>> Yo Lee - How's it going.
>
>
> Pretty good, all things considered, thanks.
>
> How's your new job holding up?
The job's fine thanks. Laid back environment, low stress, etc.
>
>
>> The module that was recalled was a dual-function module... turn
>> signals and rear running lights. They were replacing them wiht their
>> newer module which is a three functions - running lights, turn signals
>> and brake lights (use the running lts/turn signals as brake lights
>> too).
>
>
> Then I must have the newer model already 'cause it's always had the
> brake function on the rear turn signals.
>
>
>> I described what I had done (basically checked each wire, ohmed it,
>> checked for shorts-to-grn, etc) and just asked them how to verify the
>> module was working ok (other than the obvious - the rear turn signals
>> acted as running lights). That's when Rick told me about the recall.
>>
>> I thought about the alternator but it seems to be working. I base this
>> on some observation. When the battery is running low and I hit a turn
>> signal or the horn I will often lose the speedometer - the light goes
>> out, I have no speed reading and the odometer blanks out. When I gen
>> the motor or start poicking up speed (the RPMs go up) I get them back.
>> That's just "seat-of-the-pants" troubleshooting but it gives me some
>> level of confidence that it's working.
>>
>> After I put in the Badlands module and replace handlebar switches and
>> wiring [IF] the problem still remains then it's into the shop.
>
>
> Good luck - sorry I'm not much help on evo sporty electrics; all mine
> were iron heads with generators.
It turns out that the stator is the problem. I did some tests described
in the svc manual (yes, I actually RTFM'd) and found about 1.1-1.5 ohms
across the stator leads up front by the voltage reg. Ohming the
individual leads against ground should have shown open but one of them
showed 1-2 ohms.
That's the pits. I don't feel comfortable enough to dig into the casing
and replace the stator. Into the/a shop. I figured I'd give ER-D a call
and get a ballpark figure. I'll give Noel a call down in Red Oak and see
what kind of turnaround and price I can get there.
>
> Lee
> --
> Eat eggs, chips, and spam before replying by e-mail.
You mentioned Neb. - did ya move or are you still in NRH?
Later,
Bill
Lee Petersen
>
> It turns out that the stator is the problem. I did some tests described
> in the svc manual (yes, I actually RTFM'd) and found about 1.1-1.5 ohms
> across the stator leads up front by the voltage reg. Ohming the
> individual leads against ground should have shown open but one of them
> showed 1-2 ohms.
>
> That's the pits. I don't feel comfortable enough to dig into the casing
> and replace the stator. Into the/a shop. I figured I'd give ER-D a call
> and get a ballpark figure. I'll give Noel a call down in Red Oak and see
> what kind of turnaround and price I can get there.
If you want to ride it over here I'd help you tear it
down - not that big a deal.
> You mentioned Neb. - did ya move or are you still in NRH?
Still in RH; the reference to Nebraska was just a poke at
flatlanders and sodbusters.