Mystery Fuse Keeps Blowing

[Guest]

So recently while riding my signals, fuel gauge, and gear indicator went out. When I went to check the fuse I noticed that it and another fuse blew. I replaced the signal fuse and everything was fine but when I replaced the other fuse it blew immediately. I managed to ride home without any problems. When I checked my service manual the fuse wasn't listed. It is the 30 amp fuse that runs right off the battery and is usually mounted by the starter solenoid. I figured it could be the solenoid so I went to start the bike back up and it fired fine. No problems anywhere. Does anyone know what this fuse is hooked up to?

[hannibal]

What year and model is the first question you'll be asked. Typically, I think there are four fuses installed: main plus one for each of the 3 circuits. There is a fifth unswitched circuit that's unused from the factory. I don't think any of the factory circuits use a 30A fuse, so maybe something was added by a previous owner. Any aftermarket accessories like heated grips or extra lights?

[BigD_83]

Is it a glass fuse? Or a blade?

Let's have some more information, and a few pictures. You can include more than one per post if you use a web-host for your images

[jbfrench]

In my confusion I forgot to post the really important stuff. 1980 GS550L. I replaced the glass fuses with blades about 2 months ago but I was very very diligent in making sure that the right connections were made. In fact, after switching to blade fuses my fuel gauge started working properly again. But that's a different story. There are no aftermarket accessories. When I replaced it the fuse was by itself and mounted to the starter solenoid in what looked like an OEM mount.

This is the OEM fuse holder that I had replaced originally.

This is the same red wire from the above image. The original fuse holder was mounted where the screw for the current fuse box is.

[Redman]

No fuse should be a 30.
Main is a 15 and others are 10s. (at least on 850s and 1100s)

If main fuse blows immeadiatly that sounds like a problem with the R/R.
Try disconnecting the r/r and see if main fuse holds then.
But this doesn't explain any thing about your signal fuse.

.

[BigD_83]

No fuse should be a 30.
Main is a 15 and others are 10s. (at least on 850s and 1100s)

If main fuse blows immeadiatly that sounds like a problem with the R/R.
Try disconnecting the r/r and see if main fuse holds then.

I was thinking the same thing. Of late, there have been a number of R/Rs connected directly to the battery with rather large amperage fuses...

[Gorminrider]

I looked it up here http://www.cmsnl.com/suzuki-gs550e-1...5.html#results and can't see any such thing...just a 4-fuse block and as said above nothing more than 15A and some 10A so I think someone fudged that from some other bike or boat entirely and it's not OEM.
The starter motor itself has no fuse.... I think someone was trying to run the whole bike somehow with that single fuse. (on the other hand, It's true some old Honda's have a single 30Amp master fuse link but they are more a Fusible-link not a glass fuse....)

[posplayr]

If you wired your R/R the questionable way you would need at least a 20 amp fuse(sometimes they need to go higher).

All those bare power out on the fuse box are very scary. I would get some shrink tubing.

[Crankthat]

http://www.partshark.com/oemparts/a/...e73/electrical

Note 23 and 24

[bobgroger]

My 850 had a problem for the longest time of blowing the main fuse and the signal\fuel gauge\gear indicator fuse. When I tore down the bike over the winter it was pretty obvious. The hot terminal of the horn was a few thousandths from a bracket on the frame. Rotated horn, OK since.