[wvak47]

Ok the folks at my local stealership have done it to me again. I truly hate calling them even though at this point I have their number burnt into memory. Although they are friendly to me now (guess I earned my way into their little click) they just don't stock anything I need or have folks that know what the heck I am talking about even though it is their #s.

Can anyone point me in the direction to get these items. HD-42682 Breakout Box, HD-46601 addapter for 2005 XL, and HD-44750 Digital Technician?

I have gotten my codes from the onboard diagnostics, but need this box and addapter to go through the flowchart process on fixing it.

[chucktx]

vybr8ter is a hd tech, hopefully he will be able to help ya out......

[wvak47]

Well according to info I have received, that Digital Tech is aobut $10K+ and requires a weekly update to continue to work. The breakout box and addapter is expensive as well and only allows you to look through a bit more than you can without it. Basically this means the Electrical Section of the Clymer manual is crap.

At this point screw Harley and their BS, I am looking at a 2004-2006 H-D Ignition Upgrade unit from Thunder Heart. It comes with the Smart Link software and is for carbureted models only (I got that LOL). Anyone heard anything about this or used it. It is J&P # 382-014 for $229.99. Just to get the ICM and get it programmed at Harley is going to set me back $200 and then I am dependant on the Stealer again if I have future issues. This way is a bit more expensive but atleast I have the controls and not someone that will keep costing me money.

[VYBR8ER]

I'm going to tell you what you don't want to hear. Harley Davidson and their supplier will not sell you any of the Digital Technician computers, software or the breakout boxes. They are for authorized HD service facilities and have to be sycronized with the factory at least weekly to function. It is what is considered Proprietary Equipment. I know there are other diagnostic computer programs out there that many of the local indy shops are useing, but I don't know where they get it from. I've always felt that this forces customers to use the dealer for major diagnostics and makes my job much harder when someone digs into the electronics to try to save a buck. If you can read the schematic, you'll be able to find the corresponding wires off the ECM plug, the challenge is to get to the signal with the plug still connected to the unit. I've had to repair some mangled wiring when one guy stuck sewing machine needles through the wires and destroyed the insulation. Ended up replacing the harness after chasing shorts and open signals.

[wvak47]

Well VYBR8ER, I had already heard this so it is of no surprise. What this does for someone like me is make me say F Hardley in their snooty over-priced ear. This drives folks like me to aftermarket products and removes additional money from my stealer. If they were to see fit to allow me to work on my own bike the same as I work on my own cars and trucks, I would continue to buy my parts and stuff from them. At this point in the game the warranty on my bike is dead, ain't no SOB worth $64 an hour labor (what my local stealer charges and can't or won't even answer questions when I give them part numbers), and quite frankly I am sick of it being you have to be rich to ride (hell to do anything in this country anymore).

**Rant Note** None of my anger is directed at anyone on the board (especially you VYBR8ER, you just tripped the switch man nothing personal and no hard feelings) all of you who have chimed in on any of my threads have been nothing but friendly and attempting to be helpful. I appreciate everyone here for their replies and concern. Stay safe and how about putting in a mile or so for me today since my Hardley is still sick. Thanks Folks.

[skull2007]

probley should do some stealer shopping. they'll all expensive, but some of them have good employees, and some have bad, and most a combination of both. just got to find the right one for certain things. it's all part of the "harley experence" kinda of like dealing with domestic relations, somtimes we just have no choice. you look around you'll find a helpfull hd employee.

[wvak47]

Oh Skull I can grant you that. The folks from GA all the way back up to WV were awesome. Friendly and helpful as they could be. Unfortunately for me the close one to me isn't that way. They are nice enough and all but don't stock didly for what I need. My biggest issue with it is Harley Corp. But hey I don't have a business that has been around since 1903 so who am I to complain about their way of doing things. I will simply take my meager change to someone other than them whenever at all possible.

[hotroadking]

Get yourself a digital multi meter and a SM for the bike, the wiring on these bikes can be traced with those tools to find shorts etc.

Of course the newer bikes have a more sophisticated electronics package, you can't blame HD, the new stuff is better and allows alot of upgrades like the new throttle by wire.

Those techs have to earn a living, they spend hours fixing and looking for problems, then time on these boards to help us fix things at no cost.

I like to do my own stuff, and my 00 carb bike lets me do most everything.

It's like the new cars, we all want more bells whistles, mileage, performance, you have to move to electronics to control things and stay compliant.

Believe me , if HD didn't have to spend the money on EFI systems from Delphi to maintain compliance and competitive they would still be sticking carbs on the bikes, that CV tooling was paid for long ago.

[chucktx]

im not sure that throttle by wire is an upgrade....

[VYBR8ER]

So far the throttle by wire has been great, haven't had one of them act up yet and it seems to be quite responsive. As for complaining about $64 an hour, be glad you aren't out here on the left coast. My shop charges $95 an hour and we are lower than all of the San Francisco Bay Area dealers by at least $10 to $15 dollars. One of the resons I got into this field was I could not afford to pay someone to do my wrenching and I found that 10 years ago there was hardly anyone who knew anything about fuel injection on Harleys. Before I went to school, CD gave me a real good primer on how the systems worked and sold me my first PCIII which originally wasn't supposed to work on Harleys but the folks at Dynojet worked with us and everything worked out very well. Made me a beleaver in Direct Parts and CD.