Posted by hogryder on September 10, 1999 at 04:19:48:
It was the fuse. Have not yet figured out why it blew out, I can't find anything wrong. Unfortunately it's a long sad tale about this repair. Here it is.
I rode my HD out to where my wife works. Sure enough, there wasn't a 10mm socket wrench in the tool kit so we decided to tow it home and work on it there. BIG MISTAKE!!! My wife had never even seen one bike tow another and I didn't give her enough details in my instructions. We had to stop for a construction area and I apparently had not told her that when I stop, she has to stop too. She ran up and smashed the right side of her bike into the left side of mine then she fell over (to the left).
Damage to the Savage: Left mirror shattered, left footpeg bent, scratch on right fork.
Damage to the Savage rider: Sore shoulder.
Damage to the HD: Left highway peg slightly bent (by her fork running into it).
Damage to HD rider: Large bruise on left leg from Savage smashing into it, sore foot.
After further instruction in towing (don't run into the bike towing you) we went slowly down the road. More instruction (go easy on the brakes) after almost going over my handlebars. Luckily the rope broke. The Savage has very good brakes, they can stop two bikes easily. 45 minutes and 10 miles later, we made it home. 30 seconds to get the seat off, a quick trip to the hardware store for a 25 amp fuse, and the Savage was running again.
Morale of the story: Throw out the factory tool kit, buy a tool bag, and make your own kit which should include a set of socket wrenches.
Second morale of the story: Don't tow a bike with an inexperienced rider. I've told my wife she can't have a Harley until she rides 10,000 miles without dumping her bike over. She had almost 2,000. Now it's back to 0.
Ride free, and tell your wife not to run into you.