350 Rancher building up static

[MachineDog]

Whenever I ride my rancher I notice that a static charge builds up on the plastics and all the hairs on my legs start reaching out to grab the gas tank. Really annoying, not to mention the other day I jumped on it and *owe* I thought I burned my leg on the engine. Nope, big static zap. Any idea why this might be happening? Never happened on my old recon, and there's no tire rub or anything like that.

[gery350]

i'd check for ground.
make sure you have a good ground from engine to chassis.

[MachineDog]

Where is the ground wire and what color might it be?

[gery350]

i realized after i posted it that the engine is grounded directly throught he mounts, unlike a car that has rubber engine mounts that require a separate ground wire. regardless of that it has to ba a ground problem. i would look around the frame and tr to find a loose ground wire somewhere.
sorry . hope this helps. gery


note: worst case scenario- if it is static build up on the plastic from you rubbing up on it. you could always run a ground strap to the plastic.

[Fox17]

our rancher does that too. dont know what to do.

[gery350]

run a ground strap to the plastic.
just take a small piece of wire, fasten one end to the chassis and drill a small hole to the plastic and fasten the other end there.
i tell ya thats weird cause plastic is an insulator that doesnt conduct electricity(well most of the time)

[MachineDog]

Actually, the engine is in fact mounted on rubber.

Edit: I think I'll take it to the dealer next week. Hope it doesn't start zapping me in the water at holeylands sunday. lol

[Fox17]

just dont ride through water!!! LOL!