Mystery Ground

[gs550marc]

Maybe I'm not reading my wiring diagram correctly, but there is a ground that I can't seem to figure out where to put. It is the ground cable that branches out of the main cluster of wires coming from the front of the bike.

Other grounds that I have grounded:

-Battery Lead
-Ignitor box ground
-The one by the rectifier

I wish I had a picture. Let's just say I accidentally bolted it down on the starter relay and got lots of thick white smoke from the burning cable. (stupid, stupid mistake).

This is the one cable I forgot didn't label when removing all the wires to clean them up.

Any help appreciated, thank you.

[Nessism]

If it's a harness ground it doesn't matter where you bolt it down, just as long as it's a reliable point. Take some photos of the ground you are concern about so we can see and offer better advice.

[posplayr]

If it's a harness ground it doesn't matter where you bolt it down, just as long as it's a reliable point. Take some photos of the ground you are concern about so we can see and offer better advice.

Ed, after a review several harness schematics I found that most all of the GS models there are two B/W harness grounds with ring lugs.

1. One of these is typically connected to the solenoid frame
2. the other to the battery box/frame.

The (1) solenoid wire would appear to be a ground for the solenoid but it also is what delivers ground currents to the R/R(-)

The (2) frame ground at the battery box actually provides a path for all frame return currents to get to the R/R(-) through the common ground point connecting all B/W wires in the harness.

Simplified diagram showing how current flows from the R/R(+) through the red wire and returns back through various Black/White ground returns. The green wires are the two recommended additions to improve current flow back to the R/R(-) . If you remove either A: or B: green wires you should be able to visualize how the current gets back to R/R(-).

Addition of A: makes the R/R be connected directly across the battery.
Addition of B: allows frame currenst to flow back to the R/R(-) without going through the harnes B/W or past the battery. Without current flow is less direct and creates additional voltage drops that can affect charging.

[argonsagas]

If it's a harness ground it doesn't matter where you bolt it down, just as long as it's a reliable point. Take some photos of the ground you are concern about so we can see and offer better advice.

That covers it quite well.


You might also add a second cable between negative battery terminal and the frame., to ensure a definite ground, as the original connections tend to get dirty and/or loose.

[posplayr]

That covers it quite well.


You might also add a second cable between negative battery terminal and the frame., to ensure a definite ground, as the original connections tend to get dirty and/or loose.

There is a quote attributed to Einstein that may have arisen as a paraphrase of the above quote, commonly given as “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.” or “Make things as simple as possible, but not simpler.” See this article from the Quote Investigator for a discussion of where these later variants may have arisen.

I think your reference obfuscates the minimal complexity with a perception of apparent simplicity, with trailing exceptions.

[Redman]

Maybe I'm not reading my wiring diagram correctly, but there is a ground that I can't seem to figure out where to put. It is the ground cable that branches out of the main cluster of wires coming from the front of the bike.

Other grounds that I have grounded:

-Battery Lead
-Ignitor box ground
-The one by the rectifier

I wish I had a picture. Let's just say I accidentally bolted it down on the starter relay and got lots of thick white smoke from the burning cable. (stupid, stupid mistake).

This is the one cable I forgot didn't label when removing all the wires to clean them up.

Any help appreciated, thank you.

Schemsatic doesn really show where on the frame to ground the black/white wire(s).
Like said above, the ones with ring terminals go to the batt-, the battery box (solenoid, R/R) and to the fame. The other ones witrh bullet connectors are for various devices like turnsignals and such to plug into.

Concrn I have about what you stated about connecting ground wire to solenoid is that it sound like you hooked up a ground wire to the battery+ and turned the ground wire that runs thru the wirning harness into a toaster element. Could have caused damage inside gthe wirning harnees, or could have burnt off the other ground wire at batt- or frame ground.

.

[Billy Ricks]

Make sure it's a black wire with white tracer, those are grounds. You have a black wire in most GS harnesses that is actually a hot wire.

[gs550marc]

So I figured out the whole mystery ground. It wasn't much of a mystery as much as it was my ignorance and lack of knowledge on the subject.

So the n
Bike is all together and several of you may know me; I planned the trip up to newfoundland but only made it as far as new Hampshire because only two cylinders would fire after a while of riding.

The case now is that it fires on 2 from start up. With a test light I was able to get a light from the ignition coil connections all the way to the ignition coil. To be sure of this I pulled plugs 2 and 3 and the bike continued to run on cyl 1 and 4. Caps and spark plugs are new and obvious lay aren't getting spark. I may sound repetitive but I'm just trying to rule out any questions you may have for me.

All I can think to do is test the signal generator? And ignitor box? (I don't know how to do this)

Any ideas? I'm with the bike ready to dive in, delicately.

1980 gs550L

Thanks in advance

[gs550marc]

I just started fiddling around with the connections from where the signal generator connects to other wires (I assume igniter box etc) and turned bike on to have it run on all four. As it was running I stuck the test light into the different connections. When I stuck it into the white wire, they bike would die.

Thoughts?

[terrylee]

If you have manual there is a test you can do for the ignitor, if not should be one on Basscliff's site. I would check as much wiring and connections as you can, could be something melted or broke or just dirty. Clean all connections, or even replace them with good spade type. terrylee

[gs550marc]

I was able to get the connectors situated well behind the side cover. I was able to run it on all 4 around the block but am not 100% on how reliable that fix is. You maybe right in replacing this connector. Thanks for input.