RGS - getting zapped through clutch lever

ksoholm

ksoholm

Senior member
Location
Bellingham, WA, USA
Mates,

I rebuilt the switches on my RGS recently, and also installed a ground extension from the switch connector to battery earth, the horn ground. My first ride was today - right off the bat I was getting zapped through the clutch lever. All connectors were cleaned/renewed. No fuses blown. Before I take it apart to investigate, does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

Kristian
 
I tend to agree with Chris. The clutch lever is earthed (grounded) through the handlebars and frame via the steering head bearings. So it's highly unlikely that any voltage could build up in the lever. If there was a power supply that somehow got shorted to the lever then a blown fuse would be the likely outcome. 12V is hardly enough to give you a zap anyway, and I can't see any way that you'd get a higher voltage such as from a HT lead at the clutch lever.  Anyway, why weren't you wearing gloves?

If you were wearing gloves, then that makes the whole scenario even more unlikely.  It's a bit of a puzzle.

I don't know much about biology, but is it possible that you were getting some kind of nerve twinge in your hand that has nothing to do with any external source of electricity?  Perhaps an early symptom of leprosy or plague?  ;)
 
:D

Unlikely the cause is generated from the electrical system on the bike for the reasons above.

What's the humidity like? 

Possibly a 'static' charge that is been accumulated on your body/clothing which is finding its way to another body (the bike frame) which has less accumulated electrons when moving through dry air.    When your fingers touch the clutch lever - the sparks fly! 

Normally only happens in dry air....

Or you could have a brain tumor! 


 
It is very common here to get a zap from a car when you first touch the door handle (I have even seen the spark jump across to my hand!), it is bloody horrible and people laughed at me because I didn't know the trick to first lean your hip into the car door before touching the handle. Not sure if this happens other places or is a result of the low humidity here, but it sounds like the same thing to me and I have no idea why it happens.
 
Just an idea...
HT lead with damaged insulation under fuel tank, connecting to fuel tank, connecting to knee, connected to hand, earthing to clutch lever.
:o
I know there is a bit of insulation in the way, but probably only paint and damp leather, not High Tension type insulation...
 
On the RGS there's a wire straight from the alternator to the left switchgear.
The idea was to take the strain of powering the lights off the system.
But if that was shorting out I'm sure it would quickly lead to burnt out wires.
Check the connector block near the coils for the LHS switchgear, sometimes blackened/melted for this reason.
 
Good ideas gents, thanks. I've wired all three alternator wires directly to the new Shindengen FH020 I installed. Metering everything today, and also checking under tank to see if HT leads are causing issues.

Kristian
 
Not funny. I HATE electrical zaps, and I have also seen the sparks fly from static when my kids used to jump on the trampoline. Entirely possible to get a zap from static of some sort. Never heard of anyone getting a 12V zap through the clutch lever.
 
Andy! Wins the prize. After a few electrical checks, I directed my attention to the new NGK HT wires; while the bike was running, I jiggled them and zap!, one gave good'uns. Earthed a test lead, ran it near the boot, and big fat sparks fed by the new Dyna coils followed from a tiny hole in the insulation. Fixed with double layer heat shrink; this issue was also causing terrible running, BTW.

Thanks, all.
 

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So what tipped you off, the poor running or the HUGE belt. Loved this one. Not a suttle issue for a change
 
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