Radio Losing Memory

[the2knights]

Hope someone can head me in the most likely direction to go. Last few days the radio has lost memory and time reset about 5 times. Battery should not be the problem. I saw it happen as was shutting bike off once, as well as once when turning ignition on. Other times were while it was parked and unattended. I am assuming I have a short, but not sure which is most common place to look first! Hoping is external connection and not something inside the radio.

[joerod777]

I have the opposite problem. I'm losing my memory and my radio is fine :)

[bikerking.biz]

Check the 3 amp fuse in the fuse block by the battery. Good chance that one is blown.

[doug of so fla]

There are 2 inline fuses on the back end of the radio. One of them is the memory fuse and I think it is 1amp. Check that one and also the other one, and where those wires enter the radio it is very common for the wires to short out against the radio because of vibration, If that is the case when you fix them make sure you attach them to something solid with a ty-wrap or adhesive so they won't do it again. To get to them, remove the headlight plastic ring and then the four 10mm bolts that hold the headlite in and lift headlite out and let it hang down and you can see the rear of the radio with the 2 white fuse holders.

[the2knights]

THANKS for the tips. Snuck the bike into our office at work tonight and took the headlight out. Seemed to just need a little better connection on the fuse. Stretched the spring and sprayed a little contact cleaner and seems to be ok. The ride home will answer for sure, but seems to be good. Last 2 days it would not hold memory every time it was shut off.

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

"Into our office"? I certainly hope that by office you mean garage, otherwise if it's an honest to goddess office then you got a set on you!

[the2knights]

Technically it is a storage area attached to our office, parked right next to the fridge. Even though I rode, I didn't really feel like working on bike outside. Was only 12 degrees, so was worth risk getting inside!

[debron]

Was only 12 degrees, so was worth risk getting inside!

Good decision!

. . .and where those wires enter the radio it is very common for the wires to short out against the radio because of vibration. . . .

Thanks for the tip. Mty radio's memory is fine (also better than mine!) but the 3 amp fuse back there keeps blowing. That may be the cause. . .

[Turbo4x4]

Was only 12 degrees, so was worth risk getting inside!

Good decision!

. . .and where those wires enter the radio it is very common for the wires to short out against the radio because of vibration. . . .

Thanks for the tip. Mty radio's memory is fine (also better than mine!) but the 3 amp fuse back there keeps blowing. That may be the cause. . .

The nice thing about getting older is that you can't remember what your local stations are anyway, so you never know you have a problem :-)

[suzib6sw]

Thanks for the tip. Mty radio's memory is fine (also better than mine!) but the 3 amp fuse back there keeps blowing. That may be the cause. . .

Ron.. just as quickie, check the feel of all the front panel buttons.. Its not just the one screw that comes out from the LCD PCB.. Also check there are 3 tiny screws still in the tape door flap. (Will need a mirror).. Any one of those floating about in the radio will cause it to blow..
If the insulation has chafffed where the wires enter the radio too.. Also IF the wire has been left long when soldered to the PCB it may be touching the chassis inside the radio.
Finally, there is a 12V line from the radio to the power amp to throw a relay in there.. It may be you have had water in there at some time.. As the amp is easiest to remove and open up, I'd check in there first when you have the plastic off next time..

Pete

[kjsett]

THANKS for the tips. Snuck the bike into our office at work tonight and took the headlight out. Seemed to just need a little better connection on the fuse. Stretched the spring and sprayed a little contact cleaner and seems to be ok. The ride home will answer for sure, but seems to be good. Last 2 days it would not hold memory every time it was shut off.

For the first time my office is an option (at work). Course it is a garage attached to the small school we run. I now park the bike inside, but summertime it will get hot in there (plus my tools are at home). It does have a swamp cooler, but i don't know how well that will help.
Just saying, here in Phoenix we kinda flip our riding season and work conditions.
Have fun,
Ken

[debron]

Thanks for the tip. Mty radio's memory is fine (also better than mine!) but the 3 amp fuse back there keeps blowing. That may be the cause. . .

Ron.. just as quickie, check the feel of all the front panel buttons.. Its not just the one screw that comes out from the LCD PCB.. Also check there are 3 tiny screws still in the tape door flap. (Will need a mirror).. Any one of those floating about in the radio will cause it to blow..
If the insulation has chafffed where the wires enter the radio too.. Also IF the wire has been left long when soldered to the PCB it may be touching the chassis inside the radio.
Finally, there is a 12V line from the radio to the power amp to throw a relay in there.. It may be you have had water in there at some time.. As the amp is easiest to remove and open up, I'd check in there first when you have the plastic off next time..

Pete

Thanks Pete, I'll check those out, though I don't know what a PCB is.

[suzib6sw]

Thanks Pete, I'll check those out, though I don't know what a PCB is.

PCB= Printed Circuit Board :-)

[gery]

My radio also lost memory. I checked the fuses 3A and 1A the back of the the radio - what could be another reason?

gery

[suzib6sw]

Probably the 1 amp fuse behind the headlight OR the 3 amp fuse in the fusebox under the false tank.
The question remains however, why did it blow?.. Old age, vibration, screw dropped out of the front holding the PCB to the buttons?..
before replacing, check the feel of all the front panel buttons.
Do they all feel positive and clicky or are the ones on the right (HS LOC ) etc more "wooly" than the ones on the right?.. If thats the case, then its a radio out..

Cheers..
Pete
Edit...
that will teach me not to read the original.. Sorry..
Ok.. the probable cause is a broken wire where the brown/white wire exit the fuse holder either end.. It may also be the pads that fuse touches are corroded and need scratch to clean. Its possible the wire may have broken where it enters the radio. .. check for 12V at the fuse holder.. Also check the 3 pin power plug. center pin is ground, one side is switched 12V with the ACC circuit and the other side is constant 12V for the backup/clock/memory.

[gery]

Radio memory works. Thanks to all of you. Guilty was the 3A fuse in the fuse box.

gery

[suzib6sw]

Radio memory works. Thanks to all of you. Guilty was the 3A fuse in the fuse box.

gery

Excellent..

To set the clock, turn the radio off, press and hold the ME button and then press H or M by the side of the display.. Also watch for the AM/PM indicator when setting the hours.

To set the presets, tune to a station, then tap ME and then press 1 and repeat for each station.
To set the correct volumes, when stationary, set handlebar volume to 2or 3 bars on the LCD.
If no intercom or CB, set both left controls to minimum.
Set outer right to about 2pm and inner right to max.

If you have a CB/intercom, set inner left to a comfortable volume in the headset, and set outer left to mute the music down and for a sufficient amount of time before it comes back after you stop speaking.

Enjoy :-)
Pete

[gery]

Everything I set. Thank you.

One more question - whether the standby radio, do not discharge the battery?

gery

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

Everything I set. Thank you.
One more question - whether the standby radio, do not discharge the battery?
gery

Gery, The radio will discharge the battery but very slowly. If you run your bike every few weeks and your battery is good you will be ok. I have an AGM sealed battery and mind held charge for two months and still started my XII.

[suzib6sw]

Everything I set. Thank you.

One more question - whether the standby radio, do not discharge the battery?

gery

Yes Gery, it will discharge the battery.. A 1 year old cheap lead acid battery will discharge to below 12 volts in about 2-3 weeks.
I would recommend a battery tender of some kind.
I detailed how to turn off the LCD display on the clock with no power applied in a post in the Tech forum BUT the clock and memory still draw power and the saving of no LCD is micro amps so there is no real advantage. If you pull the 3 amp fuse in the fuse box, then the radio will not draw power when off, but you will have to reset memories and the clock every time.

Pete