ummm... acting like positive ground?

[Jedz123]

Ok guys here's one for you.
I just finished uo the GS550 today. Carbs are perfect, electrics we are all set it ran and idled great. So I took her out on he maiden journey. This am when maybe a mile down the road all the lights went off... Bike still ran though but had no lights,no horn notta. I brought it home pulled the seat and started to look at the fuse box. All fuses where fine. Pulled out my test light and noticed that there was power going through my air box, grounds on the airbox. Etc. Frame and motor was ground but the aribox and everything touching it was hot!?!?! Any ideas. I plan on checking everything out tomorrow I'm off to work now.
Never seen anything like this...

[Steve]

Not a "positive ground" in the way that you are thinking, it's more of a "lack of a GOOD ground".

Depending on where you had your test light connected (battery - post would be best), if a ground wire was missing from the airbox, it would still be "positive" in relation to the battery post. Connect your ground wire, that difference will be gone.

Test lights are good for checking difference in voltage (enough to turn on the light, at least), but won't tell you which direction it's going.

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[Jedz123]

Thanks a million Steve! I must be missing a gound somewhere then. I was grounding the test light on the battery and the motor... Both times anywhere on the air box it was regitstering as positive.

[Steve]

Thanks a million Steve! I must be missing a gound somewhere then. I was grounding the test light on the battery and the motor... Both times anywhere on the air box it was regitstering as positive.

Moving wires around can make things rather interesting.

Click HERE to see my latest escapade (last month) with mixed-up wires.

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