concern about my battery cables

[machGS]

hello, new to this forum...I have a 77/78 gs750 that I'm tired of kick starting. wouldn't mind kickstarting only if it was reliable enough...So I picked up a battery today. Before I went to install it i checked continuity with a cable to frame to see which was (-)neg..Turns out I'm getting continuity with both cables to frame ..and cable to cable continuity.. So I didn't install battery fearing I would have an immediated hot wire or meltdown..Any tips or ideas on tracking this down..thanks

[BassCliff]

Hi Mr. machGS,

You'll want to use The Stator Papers to troubleshoot your charging system. You'll also want to clean/check every electrical connection and ground on the entire bike, from headlight bucket to tail light, including the fuse box, the ignition switch, blinker stalks, solenoid, etc. Don't forget to clean the battery cables and the ground strap connection on the bottom of the engine.

Does the bike run OK now without melting any wires or blowing fuses? Does the starter work? If you have a dead short between the positive battery terminal and frame ground I wonder how the bike runs at all. You may have a bad starter, solenoid, rectifier, regulator, or worn/melted insulation in the wiring harness somewhere that is shorting out. What is the battery voltage at rest? At idle? At 5000 rpm? I'm kind of scratching my head on this one. You'll find some wiring diagrams and manuals on my website. Let's get started.

Anyway, I just stopped by to welcome you to the forum in my own, special way.

If there's anything you'd like to know about the Suzuki GS model bikes, and most others actually, you've come to the right place. There's a lot of knowledge and experience here in the community. Come on in and let me say "HOoooowwwDY!"....

Here is your very own magical, mystical, mythical, mind-expanding "mega-welcome". Please take notice of the "Top 10 Common Issues", the Carb Rebuild Series, and the Stator Papers. Now let me roll out the welcome mat for you...

Please click here for your mega-welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike!

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[TooManyToys]

Did you still have the key on?

[machGS]

Hi Mr. machGS,

You'll want to use The Stator Papers to troubleshoot your charging system. You'll also want to clean/check every electrical connection and ground on the entire bike, from headlight bucket to tail light, including the fuse box, the ignition switch, blinker stalks, solenoid, etc. Don't forget to clean the battery cables and the ground strap connection on the bottom of the engine.

Does the bike run OK now without melting any wires or blowing fuses? Does the starter work? If you have a dead short between the positive battery terminal and frame ground I wonder how the bike runs at all. You may have a bad starter, solenoid, rectifier, regulator, or worn/melted insulation in the wiring harness somewhere that is shorting out. What is the battery voltage at rest? At idle? At 5000 rpm? I'm kind of scratching my head on this one. You'll find some wiring diagrams and manuals on my website. Let's get started.

Anyway, I just stopped by to welcome you to the forum in my own, special way.

If there's anything you'd like to know about the Suzuki GS model bikes, and most others actually, you've come to the right place. There's a lot of knowledge and experience here in the community. Come on in and let me say "HOoooowwwDY!"....

Here is your very own magical, mystical, mythical, mind-expanding "mega-welcome". Please take notice of the "Top 10 Common Issues", the Carb Rebuild Series, and the Stator Papers. Now let me roll out the welcome mat for you...

Please click here for your mega-welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike!

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

BassCliff, I've never had a battery in the bike since I've owned it, I bought it as a parts bike, no title.. It starts and runs , but sometimes I have to kick it 20 times, sometimes 2 kicks..So i thought a battery would be nice so i can see if the starter works. But i was afraid to hook it up tonight once I realized the continuity wasnt separate between pos and neg. The wiring behind the left side cover seems rigged, Is that a module or relay there ? ..The bike has no gauges, headlight, or signals. But the harness is all bunched up with electrical tape

[machGS]

Did you still have the key on?

key was off when i checked my cables..I wish I had checked out the wiring before investing in new battery.

[machGS]

Q's after reading some electrical /ignition threads

Is it true that my 1977 GS750 should not even start(with kickstart) without a battery, unless something has been rigged. Could that explain why my battery cables share the same circuit?

[machGS]

any ideas as to why my bike will run without the battery? ...Would like to get the wiring corrected so I can install battery and see if my starter is useable..

[DanTheMan]

I would unbundle the taped up wiring mess, trace the wires to wherever they're going to and coming from first. It seems that a PO probably connected the wires together to make it run without a battery. Maybe there's even a capacitor of some sort in the mess to simulate a battery for the stator so it'll run?

[machGS]

Starter works!

well I went and started (with no battery)the bike this weekend to check the charging voltage at cables..Checked out good though it climbs pretty high with the throttle. So I went ahead and stuck battery in tray and hooked it up...Well.,nothing, no starter function so I noticed there was no fuse at the wire near rectifier. The terminals were together but no fuse. As i pulled them apart i got a spark. They were just corrolded i guess, but i checked the starter as she fired right up ! ....anyone a clue as to what size/type fuse goes in there?

[BassCliff]

Hi,

That single fuse system would use a 15 amp fuse.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff