Neutral and side stand lights. Orange/green wire shows ground with key off

[Sparky]

1982 gs850 gl

I'm usually pretty good at figuring out wiring but I've got a head scratcher here.

My neutral light won't come on and side stand light won't go off. I even bypassed the switch for the side stand and it's still on. I jumped a wire from the negative to the blue wire at the connection under the tank and it comes on. All the gear indicators work properly.

The wiring diagram shows both those lights using the same power so I started tracing that. The odd part is with the key off and a test light probe on the positive terminal I have ground (test light comes on) on the blue wire. But also with the key off the light comes on when I touch the orange/green wire.

With the key on I get nothing. Is this normal? Seems like a dead short but only with the key off. No blown fuses or anything.

[Steve]

OK, I'll take a stab at this.

The neutral light is fed power by the orange/green (o/g) wire that feeds the instrument panel. The o/g wire ends at a connector and continues as a solid orange, which is what feeds both, the neutral light and the side stand light. The other side of the neutral light is the blue wire that goes all the way down to the gear selector switch that is just inboard of your left foot, where it gets grounded when the gear selector is in the Neutral position. You can test a couple of things here. With the tank off, it's easy to see the blue wire. It runs alongside another bundle of wires, but is all by itself. There is a connector above the carbs. Separate that, then ground the forward part of it while the key is ON, the light should come on. If it doesn't, it's likely that the bulb is burned out. You say your light comes on, so test the rear part of the wire. With a test light connected to the positive battery terminal (does not matter if key is ON or not), touch the test light to the rear part of the blue wire. Move the gear selector through the different gears, find the N position, your test light should come ON. If it doesn't, you either have a broken wire or a dirty switch. You will have to get under the bike to get to the switch, and be careful, it's spring-loaded in the blow-apart position. There are parts that will fall out, if you are not slow and careful when taking the switch off.

The side stand light is fed by the same wire and fuse, so if your neutral light is working, the side stand light should, too. With the key ON, power goes through the light, down the left side of the frame through a connector, to the switch. From the switch, there is a black/white wire that goes to ground. When the side stand is in the UP position, the circuit is broken, which turns off the light. If your light does not go off when the stand is up, you might have a bad switch. You can also separate the two-pin connector near the battery, that should turn the light off. If it does, clean or replace your switch. If it doesn't, you likely have a short somewhere, so look for chafed wires along the path of the Green/White wire that feeds the switch. My wife's bike did not come with a side stand switch, I had to look for one. The first one I got (from eBay) had reversed operation, it turned the light off when the stand was down, so make sure you have a correct switch, if you have to order one.

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[Sparky]

Thanks for the reply. For the neutral light I have no test light when I go from positive to the blue wire from the indicator switch. Looks like I'll be pulling that out this week sometime. The side stand light is on no matter what so with that and the orange/green appearing hot I think I have a short keeping it on. I'll have to get my meter out and see if I have 12v on it. The wires are even lighting up at the fuse block when I have the test light clipped on the positive terminal.

I've checked and cleaned the grounds that I've come across including the main from the battery. It's just odd to me that it's only with the key off like it's back feeding. I wonder if I have a bad ignition switch.

[Sparky]

Also when I have the test light clipped to the positive it lights up on the green/yellow that has the diode on it in the headlight bucket with the key off. Following the wiring diagram this connects to the orange/green but it takes the long way around to get there through the oil pressure light and switch. Wondering if the oil pressure switch could be shorted and is back feeding or something. I'll get it straightened out eventually but I appreciate this forum to have a second opinion on things like this

I'll have an airbox Tuesday. Hopefully she'll be running by this weekend

[Steve]

If I understand the diode's purpose correctly, when the key is ON,,the engine is running, and the side stand is down, only the side stand light will be on. When the engine dies (or is killed), the oil light will come on, but the side stand light will also come on, whether it is up or down. The extra light is supposed to grab your attention better.

I could be wrong.

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[Sparky]

Makes since but I'm no expert. I deal with AC power not DC lol. Honestly I appreciate your input on anything.

[Steve]

I'll try to verify that operation sequence tomorrow (later today, actually) when I get out to the shop after work.

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