Lightning strike gauge/instrument cluster dead
09-05-2013 | 02:37 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 35
From: New Hampshire
Lightning strike gauge/instrument cluster dead
Hey Forum!
My house was struck by lightning Monday. Doing a bit of CSI investigation, it would appear that the path the surge took was through my irrigation system. From there, it traveled through my Harbor Freight bike lift and then from there, through the battery tender cord. The batter tender and GFI outlet it was plugged into literally blew up. Pics below. Most of the cord of the battery tender was reduced to nothing larger than 1 inch and none of the pieces I found had any copper left in it. So on to the bike (2003)...
The 30A maxi fuse blew which I replaced. The backlight on the gauge cluster comes on as do all the indicator lights below. (high beam, turn, neutral, etc.) The LCD is blank and the tack is not working. From trouble shooting per the shop manual, the speedometer appears to be dead as well but I haven't ridden the bike to be positive since it's all stripped down. All the other fuses are fine, I replaced them all 1 by 1 just to be sure. I do have ignition voltage at the brown/blk wire on the connector behind the gauge and the grounds are fine. Can't locate any shorts.
Anybody have a similar issue before? Can't find anything via search to really help but I'm guessing the gauge cluster is just fried. I have track days Monday/Tuesday and I'm hoping there aren't any other issues.
Also, just replaced the R/R (eBay aftermarket) a few weeks ago. Haven't even ridden the bike yet since swapping. (It's a track bike only at the moment) Think the R/R might be damaged as well? Is there a way to test it? The battery seems to be ok. I took it out of the bike and put on a new tender and it appeared to take the charge and go into maintain mode.
Pics:
Here is what was left of the battery tender:
Here is the GFI and wall behind the bike:
Here's a shot where the lightning traveled. It actually split a few of the retaining blocks in half!!
My house was struck by lightning Monday. Doing a bit of CSI investigation, it would appear that the path the surge took was through my irrigation system. From there, it traveled through my Harbor Freight bike lift and then from there, through the battery tender cord. The batter tender and GFI outlet it was plugged into literally blew up. Pics below. Most of the cord of the battery tender was reduced to nothing larger than 1 inch and none of the pieces I found had any copper left in it. So on to the bike (2003)...
The 30A maxi fuse blew which I replaced. The backlight on the gauge cluster comes on as do all the indicator lights below. (high beam, turn, neutral, etc.) The LCD is blank and the tack is not working. From trouble shooting per the shop manual, the speedometer appears to be dead as well but I haven't ridden the bike to be positive since it's all stripped down. All the other fuses are fine, I replaced them all 1 by 1 just to be sure. I do have ignition voltage at the brown/blk wire on the connector behind the gauge and the grounds are fine. Can't locate any shorts.
Anybody have a similar issue before? Can't find anything via search to really help but I'm guessing the gauge cluster is just fried. I have track days Monday/Tuesday and I'm hoping there aren't any other issues.
Also, just replaced the R/R (eBay aftermarket) a few weeks ago. Haven't even ridden the bike yet since swapping. (It's a track bike only at the moment) Think the R/R might be damaged as well? Is there a way to test it? The battery seems to be ok. I took it out of the bike and put on a new tender and it appeared to take the charge and go into maintain mode.
Pics:
Here is what was left of the battery tender:
Here is the GFI and wall behind the bike:
Here's a shot where the lightning traveled. It actually split a few of the retaining blocks in half!!
*LMAO*
09-05-2013 | 08:22 PM
#8
Rex Kramer-Thrill Seeker
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,312
From: Brookfield, WI
I build houses for a living. On three occasions, I have fixed issues with lightning strikes. First off, I want to say lightnight is...just...AWESOME! Yes, it can literally vaporize copper. After what I have seen with houses and how the lightning can follow just about anything and how far it can go (follow plastic, go through several panes of glass and keep going, travel across granite, ect.), I'm sorry to say that your electrical system is most likey fried. You would be ahead of the game by replacing the wire harness and getting a new battery, and a new gauge cluster (or get aftermarket. May I suggest a Veypor gauge. It rocks!). Your ignition system might have been fried as well. Pretty much anything electrical is fried.
Edit: Will your insurance cover anything?
Edit: Will your insurance cover anything?
Last edited by CruxGNZ; 09-05-2013 at 08:34 PM.
09-06-2013 | 08:24 AM
#9
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 35
From: New Hampshire
Thanks Crux. Still finding things that are fried. Oven, irrigation timer and lots of valves, wireless router, garage door opener, alarm system, etc... Insurance will cover the damage to the house but I'd have to put in a separate claim on the bike which would be separate $500 deductible so probably won't hit that. I'll check out the Veypor gauge. The only stock cluster on eBay is $300!!
I've never seen anything like this as far as lightning goes. We weren't home at the time but it must have been very loud. It hit a tree about 20 feet in the woods behind the retaining wall. Split a few rocks along its path. There were chucks of sod 30 feet from the ditch in the picture above.
I've never seen anything like this as far as lightning goes. We weren't home at the time but it must have been very loud. It hit a tree about 20 feet in the woods behind the retaining wall. Split a few rocks along its path. There were chucks of sod 30 feet from the ditch in the picture above.
09-06-2013 | 07:39 PM
#10
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,053
From: NYC
Hey is that turn 6 at Loudon on a hawk? I love turn 6! This is the SV and Ninja in the same spot.
And man, how bout that lightning huh? I cant believe it hasnt hit me up at the track in Loudon in the camper. The storms in Nahampsha are unreal.
You will have to run tests on the wiring to see whats still connected to what.
But you'll always have turn 6
And man, how bout that lightning huh? I cant believe it hasnt hit me up at the track in Loudon in the camper. The storms in Nahampsha are unreal.
You will have to run tests on the wiring to see whats still connected to what.
But you'll always have turn 6
09-06-2013 | 08:33 PM
#12
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 35
From: New Hampshire
Thanks Joe. Wow, great call! Yep, turn 6. "The Bowl". I'll be there Monday/Tuesday if the Hawk checks out. It seems to run fine. Just no LCD, speed or tach. I'll test the RR tomorrow as you suggest. Just put on SS front lines, swapped the coolant for engine ice and put in some new spark plugs today.
09-06-2013 | 08:38 PM
#14
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,053
From: NYC
Is it tonys track days? Say hi to Tony, Geno and Steve if so. Engine ice? You should really run water and water wetter on the track, it will save other riders some crashes if you spill.
Be really careful if you have no tach. Sadly thats probly the ecu box, but its very easy to overrev the motor without one and blow it up, which you probly want to avoid.
Be really careful if you have no tach. Sadly thats probly the ecu box, but its very easy to overrev the motor without one and blow it up, which you probly want to avoid.
09-06-2013 | 08:46 PM
#15
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 35
From: New Hampshire
Sure is. Free plug for Tony:
http://Tonystrackdays.com
I actually thought engine ice and water w/ water wetter were about the same. No?
http://Tonystrackdays.com
I actually thought engine ice and water w/ water wetter were about the same. No?
09-06-2013 | 08:49 PM
#16
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,053
From: NYC
I think there are 2 types of engine ice, but wetter is like a capful for the full cooling system, is more heat efficient (which shouldnt be an issue at high speeds).
But the wetter dries better and isnt slippery. Ask at the track but I always hated the idea of crashing out other riders like that.
But the wetter dries better and isnt slippery. Ask at the track but I always hated the idea of crashing out other riders like that.
09-06-2013 | 09:51 PM
#17
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 295
From: Everett, Washington
Looks like you're lucky the whole house didn't burn down!
I would suspect you'll be in the market for a new instrument cluster, and engine computer.
Lightning is terrible stuff because it goes all over the place in an electric circuit and pops whatever components in the system can't deal with a power surge.
I would suspect you'll be in the market for a new instrument cluster, and engine computer.
Lightning is terrible stuff because it goes all over the place in an electric circuit and pops whatever components in the system can't deal with a power surge.
09-07-2013 | 01:23 PM
#21
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 35
From: New Hampshire
I took the bike for a quick ride and it seems to run fine. I just left the cluster unplugged. If the ECU is fried, what symptoms would I see? I left the battery in it last night and it got drained so there is obviously a short somewhere. I really don't want to cancel the track days. My thought is to just put it on the tender in between sessions. I did this last time too when my RR was dead. Any tips on how to test the ECU? What a PITA this has been. But yes, lucky there was not a fire.
09-07-2013 | 02:31 PM
#22
Out of my mind, back in 5
MotoGP
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 6,109
From: Skurup, Sweden
I took the bike for a quick ride and it seems to run fine. I just left the cluster unplugged. If the ECU is fried, what symptoms would I see? I left the battery in it last night and it got drained so there is obviously a short somewhere. I really don't want to cancel the track days. My thought is to just put it on the tender in between sessions. I did this last time too when my RR was dead. Any tips on how to test the ECU? What a PITA this has been. But yes, lucky there was not a fire.
The things that are high on the list of likely casualties, are the battery, the R/R and cluster, actually... if other fuses are OK, the rest SHOULD be fine... No promises though, with lightning...
09-08-2013 | 11:29 AM
#23
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 295
From: Everett, Washington
Tweety is right. I defer to his judgement and experience.
I heard about a rider who was struck by lightning going down Interstate 5 here in Seattle the other day. Here was able to pull the bike over to the shoulder and stop. When he pulled his helmet off, he found his hair was burnt. They guess the lightning followed the rainwater on him down his back and through the bike to ground. I didn't hear whether the bike was damaged. Talk about lucky!
I heard about a rider who was struck by lightning going down Interstate 5 here in Seattle the other day. Here was able to pull the bike over to the shoulder and stop. When he pulled his helmet off, he found his hair was burnt. They guess the lightning followed the rainwater on him down his back and through the bike to ground. I didn't hear whether the bike was damaged. Talk about lucky!
09-09-2013 | 07:41 PM
#24
Thread Starter
Member
Squid
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 35
From: New Hampshire
Well, I made it through two sessions by putting the battery on a charger in between. What ended my day was oil leaking from what appears to be both valve cover gaskets. I haven't dug into it much beyond yet though. Not sure how an electric surge could have caused that but it didn't leak before it. I figure I'll call the insurance company tomorrow to see what they recommend before I try to diagnose/fix the issues myself. What a bummer.
09-09-2013 | 08:17 PM
#25
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 201
Well, I made it through two sessions by putting the battery on a charger in between. What ended my day was oil leaking from what appears to be both valve cover gaskets. I haven't dug into it much beyond yet though. Not sure how an electric surge could have caused that but it didn't leak before it. I figure I'll call the insurance company tomorrow to see what they recommend before I try to diagnose/fix the issues myself. What a bummer.
Probably fried the gaskets with heat. Your bike is probably now magnetized to. I had to get a ferry permit for a little Piper Warrior that was struck by lightening and the mag compass would always point directly to the engine because it was magnetized. If you have a compass, walk around it with one and see where the needle points. I say this because it was enough that the engine had to be scrapped. The crank would collect all the shavings from the engine oil. And we all know what metal shavings can do to an engine if they aren't filtered out.
Turn this in to your insurance company.
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