1979 GS 750 L electrical problems??

[tlepac]

I have a 1979 GS 750 L I have three issues with it:
1. No title--will work on this if and when I get it running
2. Carburetor issue--not getting gas--I have had the carbs apart and cleaned twice now and still no gas to the cylinders. I know the bike will run b/c when I spray a bit of starter fluid in the carbs directly it fires right up!
3. ? Short issue--When I first got the bike the starter would turn over sometimes and sometimes not. Just no response at the push of the starter button. This has now progressed to where it doesn't turn over at all when I press the starter button. I thought it was the starter relay as there is no "clack" on first hitting the starter button but I purchased another relay and carefully cleaned all the connections with contact fluid and same symptoms. If I short the two posts of the starter relay the starter turns over but not as fast as with a bypass direct from the battery + to the starter. I think this is telling me that the problem is a shrt issue. Also when I first got the bike the turn signals worked and now they come on but won't blink. I am not sure if this is a burnt out relay due to my futzing around or part of the overall electrical problem.

Also installed a horn and it worked fine at first but now not working consistently. Not sure if this is part of the same problem or not.

At this point I could really use some directions and advise. Thanks in advance for any help! BTW the battery is brand new--Didn't have one when I got the bike

Terry

White Bear Lake, MN

[ryonker]

Funny!

I own a 79 750L and I live in White Bear Lake too.

Where do you live? I'll come over and check it out with you.

Let me know if you are interested.

Rick

[tlepac]

Absolutely if you would like!

I am home all week
I live on Floral Drive. Give me a call for directions.
651-407-6167

[Dave8338]

Something, somewhere, has resistance in it. Have you checked ALL of your grounds and electricals in the head light as well as the rest of the bike?

Cleand up the main fuse block?

Does the battery have a fresh charge and 12+ V static?

The starter issue sounds like the switch needs to com apart and get cleaned up.
Welcome to the GSR...GO Gophers

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. tlepac,

I don't think I have given you a proper welcome so let me do just that...

Please click here for your mega-welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike!

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[tlepac]

Continued

Something, somewhere, has resistance in it. Have you checked ALL of your grounds and electricals in the head light as well as the rest of the bike?
Rick Came over and we went through most all of them---Thanks Rick! No real ideas on what is going on yet
Cleaned up the main fuse block?---Have done so and the problem seems to be more in the starting circuit

Does the battery have a fresh charge and 12+ V static?--yes

The starter issue sounds like the switch needs to com apart and get cleaned up.---This is probably my next step. Any one out there with any tips, Experience? Visuals would be great!

Thanks for your help

Terry

[ryonker]

Terry;

After coming over last night, I did some reading of old posts and read one that talked about checking the "Switch" inside the connection to the clutch release on the left handle bar. Take it off and clean the connecting point where the wires come in.

Let's keep at this; we will get it going.

Rick

[tlepac]

still not starting GS 750

Rick

As per our conversation last night I have checked and cleaned the contact on the left handle bar and re tried after this and still no go. I think next I am going to get a test light and check for where I have current with the starter button pushed and try to locate the disconnect. I plan on testing the GR/Y wire at the starter relay and work back towards the starter switch from there and then back to the fuse box.

Wish me luck!

Terry

[ryonker]

Good luck!

Let me know how it goes. If you are around maybe I will stop by tonight.

Rick

[tlepac]

1979 GS 750 L with Electrical problem

All

I was reading a thread in which posplayer mentioned bringing a ground from the starter relay to the frame for a no working starter relay where a audible click was not heard when pressing the starter button. When I look at my Clymers it shows the diagram for the starting circuit with the relay being grounded internally. What I am wondering is where from the relay and to what he was mentioning it being grounded to? Can someone get me a clear picture of this? I couln't see the connection points in any of the pix I have seen so far. Thanks in advance!


Also I am not getting the 9 V that i remember being mentioned at the Yellow/Green wire where it connects to the starter relay and have cleaned and checked the disconnect switch at the clutch, the starter switch itself, and all the Molex connectors in the circuit that I can find. I have not been able to get at the Emergency kill switch yet to check/clean it. The manual is not very helpful for this procedure.

Ideas?

Thanks to all

Terry
WBL, MN
[IMG]file:///Users/terryellis/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG]

[tlepac]

1979 GS 750 L electrical problems---update

My Dunwoody trained son helped me to get started on the Electrical diagnosis and we figured out that the disconnect switch wasnt working. Took that out of the circuit in the headlight and still no start despite the G/Y wire now getting power! So I figured I would enhance the ground for the Starter relay so I made up a ground wire with some 14 G wire and hooked this from the Starter relay to the engine ground and guess what? The Starter WORKS!!

Thanks to all that have helped me on this! This is definitely the best bike forum on the internet!

Terry
WBL, MN

[tlepac]

1979 GS 750 L electrical problems---update

Thought I would give a further update on the project. I decided to follow the good advise on the forum here and check valve clearances. This is done now and I only had to replace one shim a shift one to get clearances of mostly .060. I Dipped all of my jets and the lower part of the carbs and have reinstalled everything. I was able to start the bike almost immediately and with just a bit of warm up she is purring! Since I don't have a title yet I just took her down the block or two near home and there is a bit of roughness and hesitation at the low RPM's but when you get in the mid range it takes off VERY quickly!! I still need to balance the carbs with the help of Rick Yonker but I suspect this will smooth things out.

I want to thank all on the forum for your advise and a special thanks to Rick for his help and guidance and encouragement. And thanks to Dre for letting me practice checking valve clearances on his bike!

I am trying to see if a transfer of title is possible in MN since the bike is still titled with a PO --so far they(DMV) won't let me know who that is---Privacy Laws--but won't contact the PO for getting transfer either! Gonna keep at them to get this resoved and hope to be riding soon!

Terry

[posplayr]

tlepac

Glad you got your bike running. You did not post any voltages, so hoping your charging is in order.

Maybe you could get your Dunwoody trained son to do the following to make sure:

1.) Measure battery voltage at idle and 4000 RPM
idle should be 12.6-13.2V (depends on speed of idle)
4000 RPM should be 14.0-15.0v (depending upon how good your connections are)

2.) Measure voltage drop from R/R (+) to Battery (+)
should be less than 0.5V preferably 0.25V
if not could be corrosion in the fuse box.

3.)Measure voltage drop from R/R (-) to Battery (-)
should be less than 0.5V preferably 0.25V
if not could be corrosion in the grounds between R/R , frame and and battery.

[tlepac]

That was such a good explanation I think even I can check it out! Thanks for the info. I will check it out. I rode the bike a bit and it seemed to do fine but I haven't yet done any measurements since the ride---around a 15 miler. Waiting on the title hassle.