Blowing Ignition fuse....somebody help!

[Anonymous]

I have a 1980 GS1100E and the ignition fuse keeps blowing.

What could be the cause?

P.S. I do have new ignition coils on the bike...if that matters.

Thanks!

Rudi

[Anonymous]

blown fuse

You have a short to ground circuit, which causes high amperage draw, which causes high heat, which causes the fuse to melt, thus protecting the wiring as is the purpose of the fuse. Now you need to find that short to ground.
You need to systematicly isolate the short. Does the fuse blow during operation, or does it blow as soon as you turn the key on, or does it blow when you hit the starter button etc etc. Then you can go to the wiring schematic and start to isolate by disconnecting components or elec plug assemblies in the areas you've already isolated. If you have a multimeter and know how to use it, you will find that short in no time.
However, if trouble shooting is not your best attribute, or if you don't have the schematics, try the following:
In all my years of turning wrenches for the airlines, I've found that if you look at where the last mechanic had his dirty little fingers last, you will probably find the new problem he created with his carlessness. You say the coils are new, therefore, whom ever installed them probably removed the gas tank and the side covers, thus exposing just about the entire elec system. Due to the simplicity of the system, I would focuse my inspection on the assosiated wiring of the coils and the wiring tywrapped to the frame. Or you could simply follow the wire from the fuse to the fault.
I'll take a look at the schematic tonight and maybe have a better answer for you.
Good luck

[Anonymous]

Thanks!

Furface,

I appreciate the help! To answer a question, the fuse blows after the bike runs for a while. NOT when I initially turn the key. I would estimate that it took 5 minutes with the bike running for the fuse to blow.

Does that point to anything in particular? (other than the possibility that its a short to the ground wire)

Thank you, again!

Rudi

[Anonymous]

Re: blown fuse

You have a short to ground circuit, which causes high amperage draw, which causes high heat, which causes the fuse to melt, thus protecting the wiring as is the purpose of the fuse. Now you need to find that short to ground.
You need to systematicly isolate the short. Does the fuse blow during operation, or does it blow as soon as you turn the key on, or does it blow when you hit the starter button etc etc. Then you can go to the wiring schematic and start to isolate by disconnecting components or elec plug assemblies in the areas you've already isolated. If you have a multimeter and know how to use it, you will find that short in no time.
However, if trouble shooting is not your best attribute, or if you don't have the schematics, try the following:
In all my years of turning wrenches for the airlines, I've found that if you look at where the last mechanic had his dirty little fingers last, you will probably find the new problem he created with his carlessness. You say the coils are new, therefore, whom ever installed them probably removed the gas tank and the side covers, thus exposing just about the entire elec system. Due to the simplicity of the system, I would focuse my inspection on the assosiated wiring of the coils and the wiring tywrapped to the frame. Or you could simply follow the wire from the fuse to the fault.
I'll take a look at the schematic tonight and maybe have a better answer for you.
Good luck

Say Furface
Is there still an auto parts place called Domenicks auto parts in Staford Springs

[argonsagas]

Re: Thanks!

Furface,

I appreciate the help! To answer a question, the fuse blows after the bike runs for a while. NOT when I initially turn the key. I would estimate that it took 5 minutes with the bike running for the fuse to blow.

Does that point to anything in particular? (other than the possibility that its a short to the ground wire)

Thank you, again!

Rudi

If the bike runs five minutes before blowing a fuse, then you have an intermittent short..which means either a loose wire or a wire that is touching the frame somewhere.

When doing your coils, though, you probably had the tank off, so it could be that one of the leads got sandwiched during the intallation. Since that was the last work done on the bike, that's where you should start looking.

[SqDancerLynn1]

What type of coils did you use?? DId the problem start immidetly after the coils were changed? If you installed the wrong coils they could be overheating causing the fuse to blow????

[Anonymous]

Accell coils

They were Accell coils. And the only way I know they are right for my bike is this: I went to a yamaha dealer and asked for new coils for my bike. They typed it into the computer and out came these Accell coils.

Is it possible they messed up? Could these be the wrong coils?

Thanks

[SqDancerLynn1]

They should have sold you 3 ohm coils for electric ign Measure them with ohm meter if they ae not marked. disconnect the 12 v to the coils and leave the ign on for 5 min to see if the fuse still blows. Its a process of elimination to figure out what is causing the fuse to blow

[Anonymous]

thanks!

Thank you for the tip. I'm going to try that this week...will let you know how it went.

By the way, what kind of Suzuki do you have?

Rudi

[Anonymous]

SqDancerLynn1

Questions you asked previously..."What type of coils did you use?? DId the problem start immidetly after the coils were changed? If you installed the wrong coils they could be overheating causing the fuse to blow????"


Answer...I told you that they were Accell coils...but I forgot to answer the second question....NO...this was a problem before I changed to new coils. Not sure if that changes anything you've already posted.

Thanks!

Rudi