Topic: 97 Harley Wide Glide question?

[dhall57]

Other than just having sohc4 Honda's I know there members here like me that have Harleys also. Has anyone had this happen? Started it up the other day to ride it to work and within just a few minutes I noticed  smoke coming from the left side of case near oil filter. Of course I killed the engine as quick as I could. I looked down and saw where the voltage reg. pigtail plugs into the case was halfway melted away.What do you think, bad voltage reg. or stator or maybe both. Here's some pics.

[754]

 Nasty just search on line, should find root or probable cause.. good luck.. They used to sell a little cover to keep plug from working loose..

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Can't say for sure but my bet would be the reg. If stator wasn't working properly would it put out the voltage to cook it? Make sure your reg hasn't worked loose and is giving a bad ground.

[grcamna2]

Get a new set of electrical connectors and give it another try..it may have just loosened up as mentioned from vibration and shorted itself out;be good to test the charging output at you're battery terminals after that.Do you have a Shop manual for it ?

[Leino]

I work in a Harley Davidson shop and my professional opinion is, there's no Harley-problem a gallon of gas and matches wouldn't solve 

[dhall57]

I work in a Harley Davidson shop and my professional opinion is, there's no Harley-problem a gallon of gas and matches wouldn't solve 

Leino, Well I guess there is no doubt what side of the fench your on when it comes to Harleys I can't complain one bit though, 35,000 miles and all these years later this is first problem I've ever had

[Leino]

Leino, Well I guess there is no doubt what side of the fench your on when it comes to Harleys I can't complain one bit though, 35,000 miles and all these years later this is first problem I've ever had

Just kidding about burning them, but every Harley I work on makes me want one even less.
That goes for most modern Japanese and European bikes too so I'm not being picky 

Don't tell Sam but I rode a Dyna with 8000km on the clock and it actually felt pretty good...

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

40,000 on my 2003 Fat Boy since new and not the first problem. Leino, what's your job at the Harley shop? Is it a Harley dealer or does your shop just work on Harleys? How are the newer Harleys doing versus the older Harleys?

[Leino]

40,000 on my 2003 Fat Boy since new and not the first problem. Leino, what's your job at the Harley shop? Is it a Harley dealer or does your shop just work on Harleys? How are the newer Harleys doing versus the older Harleys?

My actual job is to work on all non-Harley bikes but I seem to end up working on all bikes that roll in through the doors.
It's not official Harley dealer, just a shop specialized in them. Last week I was asked to fit a 200mm rear tyre on a Softail of some age and model, changed the narrow belt and everything, still didn't fit 
The struggle continues tomorrow. Bikes owner told me to use any means necessary... sparks and beating coming right up 

[Leino]

To finally answer the original question, looks to me like the connection got loose and fried right up.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I'm sure working at a non-Harley dealer shop can really present some interesting situations. That makes you a master-of-all. Glad you're here with us. Someone asked me if I work on my own Harley. Told them I'm thankful that I don't have to learn how to since working on a 40 year old Honda is more than enough 

The earlier softtails had 150 tires then went to 180. Some may be at 200 now. My 03 is a 150.  "Any means possible" could mean a whole new rear end kit! You'd better ask what his spending limit is because it is possible. Thats one good thing about Harleys, they are designed to let you spend as much money on them "as possible" 
 

[Leino]

I'm sure working at a non-Harley dealer shop can really present some interesting situations. That makes you a master-of-all. Glad you're here with us. Someone asked me if I work on my own Harley. Told them I'm thankful that I don't have to learn how to since working on a 40 year old Honda is more than enough 

The earlier softtails had 150 tires then went to 180. Some may be at 200 now. My 03 is a 150.  "Any means possible" could mean a whole new rear end kit! You'd better ask what his spending limit is because it is possible. Thats one good thing about Harleys, they are designed to let you spend as much money on them "as possible" 
 

I'm the master of nothing 
This particular softail... I pulled a 130 out of it, (stock swingarm) and he wants me to replace it with a 200.
Someone told him it's doable so I guess I'm gonna do it somehow 

[Sam Green Racing]

I told you you wouldn't it.