Starer Fuse tripping '79 GS1000

[Guest]

Working on my father-in-laws 1979 GS1000E. All of a sudden the bike is blowing the 15 amp fuse (furthest right of the three in the picture, lit up here to show blown) when I hit the starter button. I think the other two fuses are for the coils, so I'm assuming this is the to protect the starter circuit. When I touch a long screwdriver across the starter relay terminals, the bike does turn over, once I'm able to get good contact on the terminals. There is some corrosion on them. Any idea what my problem here is? 20 minutes before (and probably since 1979), the bike was turning over fine with no blown fuses.

[posplayr]

Disconnect the Regulator from the harness (no need to remove the stator) if that stops blowing(short in the Regulator) then the Regulator needs changing and at that point upgrade to combined Rectifier/Regulator (R/R) and make it series SH-775

[Redman]

Looks like that is the .org/wht wire with the fuse what is what goes the the coils and to the kill-switch-starter- utton.
if fuse is blowing when push the start button then suspect a problem in that circuit after the start button to the clutch switch to the starter solenoid.

note that fuse (and other two) are usually 10 amps and only the main fuse is 15.

if the main fuse blows as soon as replace it, then I would suspect the r/r. (Which is usually what is going on when someone says “15 amp blows as soon as.....”.)

Other comment: I don’t really know the Es (nor 79s)
but that doesn’t look like Suzuki stock fuse block, doesn’t look like stock connectors.
but we can see the wire colors and tell you what wire powers what.
but I will let someone more familiar with 79 Es do that.

[Steve]

That fuse powers the ignition circuit. That includes the coils and the starter solenoid.

If it does not blow until you push on the starter button, look for a break in the insulation between the starter button and the solenoid. If your bike has a "safety" switch in the clutch, be sure to follow the wire from the right hand grip (starter button) to the left handgrip (clutch switch), and THEN to the solenoid.

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[aaronc70]

That fuse powers the ignition circuit. That includes the coils and the starter solenoid.

If it does not blow until you push on the starter button, look for a break in the insulation between the starter button and the solenoid. If your bike has a "safety" switch in the clutch, be sure to follow the wire from the right hand grip (starter button) to the left handgrip (clutch switch), and THEN to the solenoid.

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Gentlemen,
Thanks all for the tips. GS Whisperer was the winner here. boogered starter switch wires.jpg Found these wires crossing from the starter switch over to the left hand side of the bike. Once I pulled them apart, the bike turned over fine. I'll wrap them up tight and get back to other ongoing repairs- oil leaks & carb cleaning/tuning. Thanks again!