80 GS-850 No gear indicators at all

[Furious D]

I did a search but only found references to the LCD gear indicator or bulbs going out.


Mine has lost all gear indications. Instrument lights, turn signals, brake lights, neutral light, they all work . I did have the carbs and tank off so I may have bumped something. I did a quick once over and found nothing.

I am guessing I lost power to the switch? Any ideas what color wire that would be?

Also this weekend I wanted to hook up the turn signal indicators on the sidecar but when I did that side would not flash, Just stays lit. I guess its the extra length of the wire adding too much resistance.The bikes signals were disconnected .Will the GS accept a standard automotive heavy-duty flasher? If so is it a 2 or 3 terminal?

Thanks.

I really need to get a manual!

[BassCliff]

Hi,

You'll find a manual and wiring diagram on my website. Please help yourself.

Check your fuses, grounds, and connectors under the tank.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Redman]

FD,

Have emailed you a schematic.

When you ask what is the power to the gear indicator switch, the answer is that the power doesnt connect to the gear indicator switch.
The power connects to the 5 number lights and to the netural light, and a wire from each light goes to the gear swtich, and the gear swtich connects to the ground.

And you say the netural light works, so the gear switch must be grounded, and the connectors all together.
So, I would look into the power to the gear number lights. THe schematic makes it look like a light blue wire, but that part of the schamatic doesnt look too specific.

About t/signals. Extral length of wire should not cause a problem.
Typically when one side flashes and other side does not, the problem is that on the side that does not flash flashes the other bulb is burnt out or disconnected. You didnt say if both bulbs on that side were on solid and didnt flash, so I am wondering if you just saw the one not flashing and maybe didnt notice that the other was not an at all. If one is burnt out, there is not enough current draw to make the flasher flash.


.
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[Furious D]

Thanks Redman, Of couse I didnt notice that it wasnt work until I filled the tank. I think I will wait till its about half full ( or is it half empty? ) to pull the tank. That thing is pretty heavy with 6 gallons in it.


As far as the turn signals go I had the rear bike signal disconnected , the front was left alone, and the sidecar light pluged into the rear t/s on the bike. both light lit up but would not blink. I did check the ground on the light and its good, less than 2 ohms resistance between the light ground and the battery - . I put it back to original and it works fine.

I know this will work. This is the setup the original owner ran for almost 30 years. I wonder if the housing for the sidecar light needs grounded? I will try to run a jumper to it and see if that fixes it.

3/22/11 - swapped the flasher with a heavy-duty one and it works now

[Furious D]

Found the problem today.

There was a molex connector under the tank that was loose.



I have been running the car turn signal flasher for a week and it works great. It flashes a little faster but that was expected.

[BassCliff]

Hi Mr. Furious D,

Thanks for the update. It never hurts to go over the wiring harness and check everything. I'm glad it was something simple. Nice work.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff