My GS 850 GL Cruser Project Journal

[mortation]

Good review...thanks. I'll be sure to let you know if I get the oil pressure light working.

There's got to be a way to get the blinker idiot light to work for both sides. I haven't an ounce of electrician in me, so I don't have a clue how to do it, but somebody has to have an answer. Hope they see this thread and clue us in. I wonder if a relay has anything to do with it.

Thanks again, bud! I'd really like to see some updated pics....even if it isn't finished. It was looking real good in those last pics you showed us.

I am going to hit up my buddy who is an EE he may have a clue for me. If not oh well i can live with it for now. Pics are below.

A little dirty from riding and the clear coat DID yellow on the fins so that needs to get sanded off and polished :P

Plus my exhaust looks like complete CRAP. But those things I can pick at over the summer.

[Craiger]

Sweet! Looks like fun to ride.

Those bars really help pull off the "cruiser" look. Have you considered getting some chrome mirrors to complete the look up front? Seems the stockers don't fit in all that well anymore.

By the way, nice compressor (Campbell Housefield). I'll bet it has one of our motors on it. Does it say Emerson?

[mortation]

Sweet! Looks like fun to ride.

Those bars really help pull off the "cruiser" look. Have you considered getting some chrome mirrors to complete the look up front? Seems the stockers don't fit in all that well anymore.

By the way, nice compressor (Campbell Housefield). I'll bet it has one of our motors on it. Does it say Emerson?

New mirrors are on the list I had ordered a set but they were to small and looked like scooter mirrors. So I think I am going to get some bigger chrome teardrops or cross's.

The compressor works pretty good. I really need a bigger one. I dont know who makes the motor, didnt check. Motor doesnt like to be cold. I have to let it run when its cold, the release the tank then let it run again. Have to do that a couple times before it gets warm enough to kick in and fill the tank. When its warm out everything is fine.

[Craiger]

Hmm...I'll have to check around to see what that issue could be with the motor. Being a mechanical designer, I deal more with parts than anything.

Be sure to post some pics of the new mirrors. What you have in mind should look great!

[mortation]

Hmm...I'll have to check around to see what that issue could be with the motor. Being a mechanical designer, I deal more with parts than anything.

Be sure to post some pics of the new mirrors. What you have in mind should look great!

What I REALLY want to do is pay this guy in Moodus $200 to retool my seat so it looks like the more modern cruiser style (The pic way back at the beginning) and cover it in brown leather

Plus my other laundry list lol.

[mortation]

OK here are some updated pictures.

I messed up the paint in a lot of places with brake fluid

I also got two streaks on the tank from gas. So much for being gas resistant. wtf.

This winter I will repaint everything with REAL auto paint not the napa/walmart crap.

AND it looks like I have an electrical issue. Friggin joy. I hope its just the R/R and the new one will be here tomorrow.

[mortation]

and more

[Steve]

I only have three complaints so far with the speedo.

1) ...
2) The directional blinker only works one way. Meaning if I put on my left blinker the idiot light blinks, if I put on my right blinker it doesnt. If I swap the + & - wires on the LED it does the same thing just in reverse so the right causes it to blink but not the left. I am assuming it because of the type of LED.
3) ...

There's got to be a way to get the blinker idiot light to work for both sides. I haven't an ounce of electrician in me, so I don't have a clue how to do it, but somebody has to have an answer. Hope they see this thread and clue us in. I wonder if a relay has anything to do with it.

I am going to hit up my buddy who is an EE he may have a clue for me. If not oh well i can live with it for now.

Good news, guys, NO relay needed, just a couple of diodes. \\/
And no, it not because of "the type of LED". LEDs only come in one flavor. LOTS of colors, but only one flavor.

The stock indicator light uses the lights on the other side of the bike as a ground, so electricity will flow both ways through the bulb.
An LED indicator will not do that, so you need to follow the diagram shown below.


By the way, did you ever figure out the oil light? Try reversing the leads, as LEDs are polarity-sensitive.

.

[mortation]

so you need to follow the diagram shown below.


By the way, did you ever figure out the oil light? Try reversing the leads, as LEDs are polarity-sensitive.

.

Which Diods should I buy? How should they be wired in. I am not sure how to read the above?

As for the pressure switch I did swap the wires. Still no joy. I may have tried to wire it into the wrong spot??

[mortation]

OK so I don't know which Diodes to buy but from what I gather I take the two wires from the harness put a diode in between each with the black end of each diode connecting to the solid wire of the LED. The striped wire from the LED gets grounded.

We shall see if this works :P

[Mike_H]

If your trying to make LED signals work, you'll need a pretty high current diode. Radio Shack has a 3A 50 V model that would work.

For indicator lights, I'm not sure. You'll have to look at the wattage of the incandescent bulb you're replacing, and calculate your current draw using Ohm's Law "Voltage (V)=Current (I)*Resistance (R), and Power (W) = Voltage (V) * Current (I).

For instance a 12 W light, at 12 V would use 1 Amp of power. The resistance of that circuit would have to be 12 ohms.

[mortation]

If your trying to make LED signals work, you'll need a pretty high current diode. Radio Shack has a 3A 50 V model that would work.

For indicator lights, I'm not sure. You'll have to look at the wattage of the incandescent bulb you're replacing, and calculate your current draw using Ohm's Law "Voltage (V)=Current (I)*Resistance (R), and Power (W) = Voltage (V) * Current (I).

For instance a 12 W light, at 12 V would use 1 Amp of power. The resistance of that circuit would have to be 12 ohms.

Thanks, My buddy recommended the 6A 50V diodes which I was gonna get shortly. Not sure which is the right one so maybe I will get both The indicator light is an LED and the directionals are LED's as well. Right now I need to take a brake from working on the bike unless it is absolutely essential. Cause the wife is getting ****y and very jealous of the bike lol.

[Steve]

If your trying to make LED signals work, you'll need a pretty high current diode. Radio Shack has a 3A 50 V model that would work.

Thanks, My buddy recommended the 6A 50V diodes which I was gonna get shortly.

Hey, guys, no need to go Gonzo here, you can get 99-cent diodes that will work. There is NO high current necessary, as you are only going to be lighting ONE little LED with the current going through the diode. :shock:

The link above will show you the standard 1N4003 diodes that are available in a 2-pack for 99 cents. In your stock wiring harness, there is a wire that goes from each side of the indicator light to the turn signals on one side of the bike. The indicator light itself will only pass so much current, so when you turn on the LEFT signals, they will flash, and since the indicator light is connected, it is also powered. The other side of the indicator light is connected to the signals on the RIGHT side, but, since the indicator light only handles a little bit of current, there is not enough to light them, too. The filaments in the RIGHT signals now act as ground wires for the indicator light. The opposite thing happens when you activate the RIGHT signals.

Since your LED indicator is polarity-sensitive, you need to install two of the diodes mentioned above in the lines that used to power the indicator light. Connect the banded ends of the diodes together and the non-banded ends to the wires that used to feed the indicator. Now connect the hot lead of your LED indicator to the junction between the two diodes and the ground lead to ground. This will allow your LED indicator to be activated by either side, but the second diode will prevent current from getting to the other side. By the way, in this application you can think of a diode as a simple electrical check valve. It allows current to flow in one direction, but not the other. That is why the two diodes are connected in opposite directions. Make sure you connect the correct ends of the diodes together, or the indicator won't work for either side.

.

[godmachine81]

I have to say that your bike is probably one of my favorite builds I have looked at on here. I guess your probably asking me why? Simply because you have kept the original look but added style!! It still looks like a GS. You give people like me a lot of hope for my GS instead of a lot of the "ricer" bikes I see. (sorry don't know the biker equivalent for a ricer) Looks like a lot of people hack at their bike too much. But your bike has retained its original style but has a newer look!! What I mean is, by looking at your bike it doesn't look like its near 30 yrs old!! A few touch ups and you'll have that thing passing for a '09 prototype!! Great Work man!! I love it!!!

[mortation]

I have to say that your bike is probably one of my favorite builds I have looked at on here. I guess your probably asking me why? Simply because you have kept the original look but added style!! It still looks like a GS. You give people like me a lot of hope for my GS instead of a lot of the "ricer" bikes I see. (sorry don't know the biker equivalent for a ricer) Looks like a lot of people hack at their bike too much. But your bike has retained its original style but has a newer look!! What I mean is, by looking at your bike it doesn't look like its near 30 yrs old!! A few touch ups and you'll have that thing passing for a '09 prototype!! Great Work man!! I love it!!!

Thanks! A little more work to go but then again I will probably NEVER be "done" lol.

Here are some more gooder pics.