1983 Suzuki GS1100ED --- "Big Boy"

[cowboyup3371]

I hear Ed's words coming into play here - To Measure Is To Know

[chef1366]

Does it have anything to do with the kickstand switch?

[Tech73]

I work at a casino as a Slot Tech and when I go to trouble shooting a machine I swap parts unplug parts and so on to find the problem. Now I know you can't just swap parts on your motor cycle but you can unplug things as you go along to find the problem. If you unplug something and it works then plug it back in to see if it stops working. Then you'd know that's whats causing it.

[Flaming Chainsaws]

Does it have anything to do with the kickstand switch?

I don't think it would but it's worth checking.

[Flaming Chainsaws]

I work at a casino as a Slot Tech and when I go to trouble shooting a machine I swap parts unplug parts and so on to find the problem. Now I know you can't just swap parts on your motor cycle but you can unplug things as you go along to find the problem. If you unplug something and it works then plug it back in to see if it stops working. Then you'd know that's whats causing it.

I have a spare check panel control unit and a spare gear position sensor. I can try those out.

[Tech73]

Don't change it, just unplug it and if the lights come on then plug it back in to see if the lights go back off. If they do then this might be the problem but if nothing happens then it wasn't the problem.

[chef1366]

Ground your oil sending sensor out. If the lights come on the sending unit is not grounding out inside your motor. The plunger should ground on the engine case.

[Flaming Chainsaws]

Ground your oil sending sensor out. If the lights come on the sending unit is not grounding out inside your motor. The plunger should ground on the engine case.

So I take the green/yellow wire from the oil sending unit and connect it directly to the negative battery terminal?

[chef1366]

Ground it anywhere. With the key on.

[Flaming Chainsaws]

Ground it anywhere. With the key on.

Bill,

I made a small length of wire. One end is a bullet connector and the other end is a 1/4" ring terminal. I disconnected the wire clip for the green/yellow wire then plugged my wire I just made in. Then I connected the ring terminal end on the negative battery post. Key is turned to ON. NO LIGHTS!

Now what?

[Tech73]

FC, take it off the battery turn your key on and touch the wire to the ground on the crankcase. Do this with the key/power on to see if it changes anything.

It sounds to me (and I think Bill) that it's some thing in the engine doing this. We think this because you turning the engine over and they don't come on but when you turn the starter for a second your putting the crank in a different position maybe freeing what ever is doing this.

[Flaming Chainsaws]

FC, take it off the battery turn your key on and touch the wire to the ground on the crankcase. Do this with the key/power on to see if it changes anything.

It sounds to me (and I think Bill) that it's some thing in the engine doing this. We think this because you turning the engine over and they don't come on but when you turn the starter for a second your putting the crank in a different position maybe freeing what ever is doing this.

Will do! I can rotate the engine to different positions and see if anything changes as well.

Now how about this? The lights only work with the clutch cover OFF! So weird!

[chef1366]

That is one the most crazy "WTFs" I have heard yet.
Where Jeeprusty with his cloud theory?

[chef1366]

Maybe the boot is off on the starter where the cable hooks up and is grounding so slightly to the dust cover or the crankcase?

[chef1366]

Have you considered the ignition switch?