1980 GS1100 Dead in the Water

[Guest]

Yesterday I finally titled my 1980 GS1100E and I installed a new tail light (I blew a fuse while doing so and replaced it with a wire to get me home). The bike had been sitting for a month or so and the battery was not fully charged. I charged the battery enough to start it and got on the road to head home. I ended up sitting in unexpected traffic so my battery died completely and I had to have a buddy come and give me a charge from his car. Started right up and road 8 miles home with no issues. This morning I road the bike to the auto parts store to get a fuse and on my way to work it died again. I walked home got my car, drove back and jumped it. It started right up. I turned it off so I could get my helmet and gloves on and when I went to start it again I got nothing. No indicator lights, nothing. I am an electrical novice and can't seem to figure out what the problem is.

Could it be as simple as a bad ground? Did I fry something with my car battery? Did I fry something hard wiring my fuse? Did I fry something hooking up my tail light incorrectly? I appreciate any insight available.

Thank you!!!

[Brendan W]

Could be as simple as it just isn't charging. Find posplayr's sig and do the tests and report back.
If you don't have a meter, charge up the battery, start it and see does the headlight brighten as you increase revs from idle.

[Ticonchew]

Thanks for the reply. I will look up what you suggested but I can't start it. I changed the battery and I'm still getting no response when I turn the key to the on position. No lights, no ignition, no indicators.

[Brendan W]

Which fuse blew ?

[Ticonchew]

The head light fuse blew.

[azr]

Sounds like either a loose connection or a short somewhere. Time to pull out the meter and start hunting. Check even the simplest of things like your battery connections that they are clean and tight. I always take opportunities like this to clean up all the connections, grounds, use dielectric grease when putting everything back together. It does wonders for the bike.

[Brendan W]

Pretty much as azr said. Under the back of the tank there might be two black and white earth wires from the main harness, maybe to the top of the airbox and the battery negative. Check that they haven't fried and that your main fuse is still intact.

[Ticonchew]

Fuse is intact and nothing is visibly fried. I'm going to get some dialectic grease and a multi meter now. I'm starting with the battery and then checking grounds. Thanks for the help guys. Let me know if you all have any other advise.

[Brendan W]

Check the main earth strap from the crankcase to the battery for corrosion of the lugs or the core. You can bypass it temporarily with a jump lead from the case to the batt -ve.

[Ticonchew]

Found it! It was a bad connection from the battery to fuse box. Thanks for all the help guys!!!

[azr]

Love it when the OP finds the solution and posts it to the thread, a huge help for others when they are searching threads for similar problems. Well done, another bike fixed by the owner!

[Brendan W]

Love it when the OP finds the solution and posts it to the thread, a huge help for others when they are searching threads for similar problems. Well done, another bike fixed by the owner!

Amen. Thanks for closing the loop Ticonchew. It all adds to the knowledge pool. You don't hang around either, kinda quick