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1983 Suzuki GS1100ED --- "Big Boy"

  • Thread starter Thread starter Flaming Chainsaws
  • Start date Start date
Ah, I thought it was your headlight. Tests work for those too though, although they obviously don't have a high beam setting. How's the plug at the tail light look? Should be a 4 prong square plug IIRC.
 
Ah, I thought it was your headlight. Tests work for those too though, although they obviously don't have a high beam setting. How's the plug at the tail light look? Should be a 4 prong square plug IIRC.
I cannot remember..... I'll be back in a few minutes with pictures. Wait for me!
 
Hey hey! It takes 10 minutes to remove the seat, tail piece, and take 2 pics. :rolleyes:

The block connector on top and gray wire on top all power the tail/brake/license plate light. All of the others are for the rear turn signals. Then there is one spare ground wire for something....
DSCN4790.jpg
 
I'm going to take a guess on what to do. Poke the hot wires with the positive probe then stick the negative probe onto the negative terminal on the battery. Turn the ignition to ON and see if I get voltage. Should be 12V for them. BRB!
 
I'm going to take a guess on what to do. Poke the hot wires with the positive probe then stick the negative probe onto the negative terminal on the battery. Turn the ignition to ON and see if I get voltage. Should be 12V for them. BRB!
I did the above tests with the ignition switched to ON. I plugged my positive probe right at the block and bullet connector without unplugging anything.

Gray wire (license plate light) = 0.08v

White wire (I think it's the brake light) = 0.04v

Brown wire (I think this is the tail light) = 0.08v

Black wire (rear left turn signal switched on) = 0.09v

Light green wire (rear right turn signal switched on) = 0.09v

So these obviously aren't 12v. What is causing this? The bulbs are good. The fuses are good. So that leaves broken wires... For some reason, I doubt that ALL of these wires are broken but I will unwrap the tape on the harness tomorrow and see what I find.
 
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Turn signals won't be 12v unless they're on. Retest the ones in the tail light plug while pressing on both brakes one at a time. You sure there's not a blown fuse?

P.S. Put the probe right on the negative battery terminal, that will rule out paint giving you a bad ground.

And varify those black wires with a white stripe are grounded well!
 
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Turn signals won't be 12v unless they're on. Retest the ones in the tail light plug while pressing on both brakes one at a time. You sure there's not a blown fuse?
Yeah, I did the brown and white wire with and without using the brakes. And I did turn the turn signals on using the left hand controls. The fuses appear to be good. Let me check with my multimeter. brb
 
And check power at both sides of the fuse. If you have 12v, run a test wire from the fuse to the back side of the connector, see if you can get all five bulbs to light up. Aka: brake, tail, license, and two blinkers. Just dont touch it to any black/white wires. There may be a small spark, like when you hook up jumper cables, don't be scared. If it's a big spark, smoke, or lots of heat, disconnect the wire. Just brush the wire on the plug, don't hold it. It only needs to be on long enough to varify lights are working.
 
And check power at both sides of the fuse. If you have 12v, run a test wire from the fuse to the back side of the connector, see if you can get all five bulbs to light up. Aka: brake, tail, license, and two blinkers. Just dont touch it to any black/white wires. There may be a small spark, like when you hook up jumper cables, don't be scared. If it's a big spark, smoke, or lots of heat, disconnect the wire. Just brush the wire on the plug, don't hold it. It only needs to be on long enough to varify lights are working.
Will do it tomorrow! All fuses are good.
 
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Come on, it's only 12:30 and im up all night at work, bored out of my mind. I'm trying to feed my addiction here.
 
I've made some good progress.

I left the bike on the side stand and removed the clutch cover. No need to drain the oil!
DSCN4793.jpg


Then I tightened down the clutch spring bolts because they were too loose. After that, I wanted to see the clutch spin for half a second so I hit the starter. :rolleyes:

Now I am very surprised. My lights turned on!!!
DSCN4796.jpg


Here is a quick video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5giVeuqX8Q

I quickly put the clutch cover back on then I turned the key to ON and there are no more lights. Started it up, no lights. So I removed the clutch cover again. Key ON, no lights. Turn the starter for half a second with clutch cover off, LIGHTS TURN BACK ON! WTF???

I did that over and over with the same result. Maybe something is up with the oil pressure???

PLEASE HELP ME!
 
Maybe ride with the clutch cover OFF? :D

Sorry have nothing meaningful to say about your problem... :o
 
Could the cover be touching up against a wire or a wire runs through that area and is grounding out?
The signal generator wiring runs underneath the clutch cover but it is completely wrapped up and it not trapped. And there are no wires inside the clutch cover area. This is a very strange problem....
 
Really look that section over again, maybe the wire that's affected isn't there but close by???????
I will keep trying this out later today. The only things that I touch to remove the clutch cover is the clutch cable and signal generator wiring. But I will look everywhere around the area.

I am sooooo close! :eek:
 
I'd start around your starter. Isn't there a gear position sensor in that area? What is #44 in the parts finch (GEARS) and is it a wire or vac? Just an idea
 
I'd start around your starter. Isn't there a gear position sensor in that area? What is #44 in the parts finch (GEARS) and is it a wire or vac? Just an idea
Number 44 is the gear position sensor and that is a wire (I think 5 wires). But that's under the sprocket cover which is on the other side from the clutch cover.
 
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