Electrical woes new to us 2007 Roadhawk

[Ozarkryder]

(Crossposted to the Roadsmith and VW powered trike forums)

We just got the Roadhawk home, I did a few short rides as it isn't licensed in Missouri yet, and as the test ride when we picked it up in Minnesota, all went well. Trike handles and ran great.

Yesterday (Sat. 11/7/15) Gloria wanted to go for a ride to check it out. We got about a mile down the road, rounded a corner and the trike dies. Coasted to the side of the road, ignition off and on the trike started. Stopped for gas and all is OK. Rode to a town about 10 miles away, took a slow corner off the throttle, trike dies again. Starts the same, next corner dies again, ignition off and on starts and runs great until the next stop, round the corner and trike quits. This time it sat a while before it started. It seemed to be it quit after low RPMs, then tried to accelerate. On the way home it ran well again, and kept running as I Kept the RPMs up above idle.

Happened again this morning. Ran for a bit, Started a few times, wont start now. I turn on the ignition and the radio, headlight and running lights come on, and there is a single click from the area of the starter (solenoid?) each time I hit the starter button. There are no gauge or dash indicator lights, even though the headlight comes on, high beam doesn't work, the turn signals don't come on. Battery reads 12.78 volts, I checked all the grounds and connections I could find and they all seem good. BTW - 1835cc engine, automatic transmission in a 2007 Roadhawk.
Any ideas where to start?

 

[Sidecarbill]

Internal break in battery could cause this. Keep the voltmeter on the battery when u try 2 start c if drops the voltage way down. Or a dirty battery terminal or loose wire.

 

[Ozarkryder]

Fixed! -epper:
As seems usual with electrical problems, the solution relatively simple, but finding it was the hard part. Never heard of this happening before, but nothing else fits after all the other options have been checked.

On the ride yesterday, the trike would die going around corners. But start up after getting off to the side of the road.So here's what we think happened.

For some reason, the top fuse of the 4 in the fusebox was very loose. Usually blade fuses are hard to remove, but this was so loose I removed it as easy as plucking a leaf off a tree. There is a bundle of wires that run through the bars and comes out at the top of the triple tree, right next to the fusebox. There are 4 fuses, the top one is a 20amp that seems to fuse all the electric except the radio, low beam and running lights. I was talking to the previous owner, and we think the bundle of wires from the switchgear was rubbing against the fuse, and because it was loose in the socket it would lose contact when turning, and when I moved the bars back it would make contact again. The fuse would just barely make and break contact as the wire bundle rubbed against it. It probably arced once too often and finally blew. I got a new fuse, and this one is very tight. I also cannibalized one of Gloria's small plastic storage bowls as a cover so the wires wouldn't rub on the fuses.

An alternate theory on the trike cutting out and then running again is the fuse blew, (I couldn't see a break in the wire, but there was what seems like a burn mark at the bottom of the fuse) and it would make contact again. Sort of like if a incandescent light bulb blows it will sometimes make contact and light again if it is tapped. Neither one of us has ever heard of a blade fuse doing this, so the first theory is more likely.

New fuses in all 4 slots, the Roadhawk runs like a champ, and I couldn't get it to quit on me again. Happy campers in SE Missouri.ThumbUp

 

[Gorilla]

good job on the trouble shooting.

 

[Rev Ray]

I had same happen to me on our 02 wing-motortrike and it was battery cable loose. tightened and it worked great, however it loosened again on the same trip, this time used Loctite and never had problem again. Don that was on 2013 Arkansas get together trip where we met.

 

[Roadsmith Trikes]

Fixed! -epper:
As seems usual with electrical problems, the solution relatively simple, but finding it was the hard part. Never heard of this happening before, but nothing else fits after all the other options have been checked.

On the ride yesterday, the trike would die going around corners. But start up after getting off to the side of the road.So here's what we think happened.

For some reason, the top fuse of the 4 in the fusebox was very loose. Usually blade fuses are hard to remove, but this was so loose I removed it as easy as plucking a leaf off a tree. There is a bundle of wires that run through the bars and comes out at the top of the triple tree, right next to the fusebox. There are 4 fuses, the top one is a 20amp that seems to fuse all the electric except the radio, low beam and running lights. I was talking to the previous owner, and we think the bundle of wires from the switchgear was rubbing against the fuse, and because it was loose in the socket it would lose contact when turning, and when I moved the bars back it would make contact again. The fuse would just barely make and break contact as the wire bundle rubbed against it. It probably arced once too often and finally blew. I got a new fuse, and this one is very tight. I also cannibalized one of Gloria's small plastic storage bowls as a cover so the wires wouldn't rub on the fuses.

An alternate theory on the trike cutting out and then running again is the fuse blew, (I couldn't see a break in the wire, but there was what seems like a burn mark at the bottom of the fuse) and it would make contact again. Sort of like if a incandescent light bulb blows it will sometimes make contact and light again if it is tapped. Neither one of us has ever heard of a blade fuse doing this, so the first theory is more likely.

New fuses in all 4 slots, the Roadhawk runs like a champ, and I couldn't get it to quit on me again. Happy campers in SE Missouri.ThumbUp

Glad ya got it fixed! If you do ever need any technical support on that, feel free to call us and ask for Mark. He's our highly experienced Honda/VW tech and can help with most issues over the phone.

 

[Ozarkryder]

Glad ya got it fixed! If you do ever need any technical support on that, feel free to call us and ask for Mark. He's our highly experienced Honda/VW tech and can help with most issues over the phone.

*Sigh* Guess I'll be calling for some help.
The topmost fuse of the 4 by the headstock is blowing occasionally. Can't figure if there is any pattern to it. If the fuse blows while it is running, the motor still runs like a champ. There will be no current to the gauges, signals, high beam and to it seems the starter circuit. It won't turn over, but there will be a single click if I turn on the key and hit the starter button. My starter questions would be what are the value of those fuses supposed to be, especially the top one? (there was a 20 amp when we picked it up) What is on the circuit for that fuse? Is there a circuit diagram for a guide?

Loving the trike so far, just want to get over this bit of a glitch. BTW - you said to call and talk to Mark - would it be safe to say he is in White Bear? I know that Daytona Beach deals with more of the Roadhawk and Runabout trikes, wondering if they might have seen something like this more lately. Thanks in advance!

 

[Roadsmith Trikes]

*Sigh* Guess I'll be calling for some help.
The topmost fuse of the 4 by the headstock is blowing occasionally. Can't figure if there is any pattern to it. If the fuse blows while it is running, the motor still runs like a champ. There will be no current to the gauges, signals, high beam and to it seems the starter circuit. It won't turn over, but there will be a single click if I turn on the key and hit the starter button. My starter questions would be what are the value of those fuses supposed to be, especially the top one? (there was a 20 amp when we picked it up) What is on the circuit for that fuse? Is there a circuit diagram for a guide?

Loving the trike so far, just want to get over this bit of a glitch. BTW - you said to call and talk to Mark - would it be safe to say he is in White Bear? I know that Daytona Beach deals with more of the Roadhawk and Runabout trikes, wondering if they might have seen something like this more lately. Thanks in advance!

Yes, Mark is here in White Bear Lake and phone number is 800-331-0705. Daytona also services and sells those models but Mark is probably the best resource for this.

 

[Dennis.bolin]

Dennis

Trying to locate fuse box on a 2003 roadhawk signals and radio stop working. Something blew bubs replaced still don't work thanks

 

[Roadsmith Trikes]

Trying to locate fuse box on a 2003 roadhawk signals and radio stop working. Something blew bubs replaced still don't work thanks

It's on the neck of the trike - left side.

Jim

 

[Burnerboy]

This is the reason that I went with a Roadsmith trike, instead of any other brand.....................Cause if anyone needs any kind of H.E.L.P. Roadsmith is always there...

I know that is is non of my business here: BUT thank you R/smith for tuning in to help out Ozark rider.... You have no idea how much your help, here , means to alot of us other Roadsmith riders as well......

I'm from Springfield,Mass. and never met Ozark, but your helping him means an awful lot to me...

Glad your here for us when needed:

Ronnie

 

[Dennis.bolin]

Charging problem

Can someone help me out? I have a 2003 2300cc roadhawk my voltage is running high over 1400 blowing all lights radio and horn does this trike have a voltage regulator if so where would it be or do you think I need to replace generator? Don't have a manual on this trike am stumped thanks to all for your help