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82 GS450L R/R electrical problems
Shockingly, a GS has electrical issues! Who woulda thunk it?
Anyhow, here's what happened. I was driving home from work on the GS, and about 4 miles from home it conked out, the lights slowly fading off over the course of about 2 seconds.
I pulled over and saw smoke coming from the left frame cover. I pulled it off to see some melting wires. Fun.
I got the bike home with the help of a trusty neighbor, and soon after I checked it out.
The red wire that goes from the battery to the R/R was fried at many different points along the way.
At first, I thought it was the fault of the previous owner, who had spliced the red R/R wire into the main red battery lead in a pretty half-assed attempt. But after I replaced all the damaged wiring, it was still acting funky.
Every time I went to attach the battery, it would spark like crazy. So, obviously, something is drawing current. My first thought: there's another short somewhere along the way.
But just to be sure, I completely removed the R/R and just twistnut-capped the end of the red wire.
Voila! The battery can be attached with no sparking, and turning the key to the "on" position produces a nice shiny headlight and dash cluster.
This leads me to believe that the R/R is the issue. My first thought it to just replace it. But looking it up on alphasports shows me that it costs $156.00! Seems a bit steep to me.
So here are my two questions:
1.) Any reason to believe that the problem is NOT the R/R?
2.) Any way to find a cheaper part replacement?
Thanks guys, you're always the best.
Anyhow, here's what happened. I was driving home from work on the GS, and about 4 miles from home it conked out, the lights slowly fading off over the course of about 2 seconds.
I pulled over and saw smoke coming from the left frame cover. I pulled it off to see some melting wires. Fun.
I got the bike home with the help of a trusty neighbor, and soon after I checked it out.
The red wire that goes from the battery to the R/R was fried at many different points along the way.
At first, I thought it was the fault of the previous owner, who had spliced the red R/R wire into the main red battery lead in a pretty half-assed attempt. But after I replaced all the damaged wiring, it was still acting funky.
Every time I went to attach the battery, it would spark like crazy. So, obviously, something is drawing current. My first thought: there's another short somewhere along the way.
But just to be sure, I completely removed the R/R and just twistnut-capped the end of the red wire.
Voila! The battery can be attached with no sparking, and turning the key to the "on" position produces a nice shiny headlight and dash cluster.
This leads me to believe that the R/R is the issue. My first thought it to just replace it. But looking it up on alphasports shows me that it costs $156.00! Seems a bit steep to me.
So here are my two questions:
1.) Any reason to believe that the problem is NOT the R/R?
2.) Any way to find a cheaper part replacement?
Thanks guys, you're always the best.
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