Bike dies when headlight turned on

[Shamexl]

Hey, Im new at the motorcycle thing so bear with me...

I have a 79' GS750E. Bike runs great BUT I either need a new battery or theres something wrong with the bikes charging system. Im just not sure..

Charged battery, started beautifuly for a few days and then eventually I had to revert to the kick start (32 yr old bike and it fires on the first kick every time.. LOVE it!). Kick starts fine and runs great when im actually riding it but as soon as I come back to idle, the engine dies if the headlight is on. If I turn off the headlight it runs and idles fine.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[OldVet66]

You need to go through every electrical connection on the bike, clean or replace the connectors, and put them back together with dielectric grease. The stator connectors especially like to burn. Basscliff will be along soon with his welcome and a ton of necessary maintenance information to make these bikes happy again. The charging systems were poor from day one. The Stator Papers will tell you how to diagnose the charging system. It's a lot of work, but once done, they are ready for another 30 years of abuse.

[mighty13d]

sounds like your stator isn't putting out power like it should be. You will have to refer to the "stator papers" to check the readings to be sure. This is what you want to use to check your charging system.

[straycat]

If it has switchable headlight, It will also have a contact in the headlight switch to bring on the 3rd phase of the alternator. These contacts can burn and fail.

sc

[Steve]

You are close enough for me to make a house call on a weekend.

Let me know if you want the help.

.

[Shamexl]

Excellent! Thanks for all of the advice. Ill give it all a shot and see what I come up with. Ill post again to let yal know how I made out...

[Shamexl]

You are close enough for me to make a house call on a weekend.

Let me know if you want the help.

.

From Ohio??? lol

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. Shamexl,

Mr. Steve gets around a lot.

Yes, check the charging system. While you're at it, check and clean every electrical connection and ground on the entire bike including the fuse box, headlight bucket, under the tank and seat, behind the side covers, even the turn signal stalks and bulb sockets. Have a look at these links:

The Stator Papers

More On The Stator Papers

GS Charging System Health+Quick Test

Now let me dump a TON if information on you and 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", "Top 15 Tips For GS Happiness", the Carb Cleanup Series, and the Stator Papers. All of these tasks must be addressed in order to have a safe, reliable machine. 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

[Steve]

You are close enough for me to make a house call on a weekend.

From Ohio??? lol

Mr. Steve gets around a lot.

Yes, I do get around a LOT.

Currently in Glens Falls, about 100 miles north of you. Probably here most of the summer.

.

[Shamexl]

I live about 2 hrs south of there. Actually Im in the national guard unit that is stationed in GLens Falls so Im definately familiar with the area... THanks for the offer, and Ill keep you posted.

[Shamexl]

THank you Basscliff! I appreciate it and look forward to spending alot of time here in the future.

[Redman]

Hey, Im new at the motorcycle thing so bear with me...

I have a 79' GS750E. Bike runs great BUT I either need a new battery or theres something wrong with the bikes charging system. Im just not sure..

Charged battery, started beautifuly for a few days and then eventually I had to revert to the kick start (32 yr old bike and it fires on the first kick every time.. LOVE it!). Kick starts fine and runs great when im actually riding it but as soon as I come back to idle, the engine dies if the headlight is on. If I turn off the headlight it runs and idles fine.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Welcome to GSR.

In all your description of the symptoms you havent mentioned any voltage readings.

You will want to have a volt meter.
You have a 30 year old bike, you will want to have a voltmeter.
You have a 30 year old Suzuki GS, you need to have a volt meter.

Tell us more what you find.
But, yes, does sound like a charging system problem, if you put on charger and is better for a couple days.

I suspect that after a few days it is gonna die even if the headlight off. Maybe get it to go longer if dont use the starter at all, just use kickstarter.

But get a voltmeter and check out the charging system.

.