Red/Black and solid Red

If you've got a wiring diagram handy it's wires 22 and 43

 

22 is the pos feed from the starter / battery , so your problem is on the 43 wire on out , if it's a grounded wire and not a shorted component you could try checking the harness , unhook both battery wires , connect your meter { on ohms setting } , one lead to chassis ground and the other to the 43 wire { pull the fuse and stick the probe in the 43 slot } , with key off should be infinate { open } , turn the key on and your meter will show zero or low ohms { shorted to ground } and start feeling / squeezing along the wiring harness and keep a eye on the meter , if it starts jumping around you found the bad spot .

 

I recall trying to do that with one of the wires that comes out of the ignition switch. I did have 1 or 2 ohms (basically a short) between it, and the chassis ground. Your squeezing idea is a great one, I'm gonna give that a shot!

Thanks for the help, I'm a bit disappointed I haven't fixed this yet in all honesty. I'm nearly done getting my associates degree in electrical engineering tech and I can't find a short in a wire! haha.

 

Have you tried unplugging the speedometer and see if the fuse holds ?

 

Speedometer as in the wheel speed sensor, or the cluster? I've tried neither but would the ATV even start without the cluster? Not sure if there is some kind of engine management in that thing

 

The cluster , if the fuse holds then go from there on out { or it could be a bad speedo } .

 

Fuse still blew with the cluster removed. gonna keep checking the wiring loom.

 

Did you try unplugging the switches on the left handlebar ? { headlights , kill switch , reverse overide }

 

Just unplugged that switch after finding that the Red and black wires that come out of the ignition switch had 0 ohms to ground. After unplugging the switches on the left handlebar, I found R/W 40 is 0 ohms to ground.

Between 34 Green and 40 R/W there is no resistance, and both are shorted to ground. I've traced both wires back to the fuse plugs, and can't find anything, and they're still shorted. Gotta look at it again later.

 

My 06 Hawkeye did that to me and found a wire with insul rubbed off about the top of the steering column.