GS400 wiring harness compatible with GS300?

[tyson916]

Hello all,

Thank the powers that be for this forum! I apologize in advance if this topic's been discussed but the search didn't yield any results for me.

I decided in the summer to ride my 1982 GS300L from Vancouver to Winnipeg cause not doing so would never lead me to this great site.....

Here's proof





Needless to say, I had to park the bike at a mechanic's house (Ducati nonetheless) and fly home.

Here's how it went down: During the whole trip, the bike would stall or lose power periodically under load and start right up once off the throttle. Outside of Winnipeg, the bike died and it turned out the in-line fuse blew. Replacing it got me 1/2 block and then blew again. Subsequent fuses blew immediately and that's when it went to the mechanic's house. It is his opinion that I find a replacement wiring harness and my search has concluded that these are impossible to find on-line. So if someone has one....

There's a guy selling a used harness from an 81 GS400 close to me so I am wondering if these are compatible and if I should pick it up. Also, is there anyway to tell if buddy's harness is any good and working? I am not an electrical guru in any way and would hate to buy somebody's trash.


Thanks for any help anyone can give!


Here's the ad in full:

Electrical parts that fit multiple Suzuki gs model bikes. Parts are from a 1981 gs 400. The following are offered as a package:
2 ignition coils
1 rectifier
1 starter relay
1 turn signal relay
1 igniter
1 metal plate that the above mentioned, except coils, mount to.
ALL plugs are factory and unmolested.

• Location: richmond
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

[BassCliff]

Hi Mr. tyson916,

It is possible to modify a wiring harness to fit a different bike but you should know what you're doing.

As for that ad, that doesn't look like a complete harness. It's just a few ignition and charging system parts along with a turn signal relay.

You might find some information in your "mega-welcome" that could help. Let me share some GS lovin'.

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

[SVSooke]

Basscliff is right as ever.A full harness would look more like this
This is one off a 83 GS750ES and would not work on your 300.Gives you some idea what to loook for though.
Good luck.

[Matchless]

As for all the work required to replace the existing harness, just remove it from the bike and go through it carefully, tidy it up and clean all the terminals at the same time.
The problem could also be on any of the parts that plug into the harness.
I would suggest trying to pinpoint the problem and then determining the repair.
I have had a faulty rear brake switch causing the fuse to blow every time and it would have become a bit expensive if I had started replacing the harness first!
Get a wiring diagram, disconnect everything, at the back, sides, engine and front. Put a fuse in and see if it blows when you switch the ignition on. Now start plugging back until the fuse blows and then follow that part on the wiring diagram. After every plug goes back test lights, flashers brake lights, horn etc.

[atrent]

In place of a fuse try connecting a bulb and as you disconnect the various plugs watch the bulb for a change in intensity. When you find the point where there is a significant change you have likely found the faulty section and it should now be fairly easy to pin point the problem. There is also the other method known as the smoke test. You merely put in a very large fuse and watch for smoke. :-) maybe even a bit of fire. Not really recommended.