How to: sidestand relay test (with photos)

[dchrist]

Hi, Everybody. I'm posting up some photos of my side stand relay test. maybe one day someone will find them useful while testing their electrical system...

I used the steps laid out in chapter 9 of the clymer manual but you should know I believe there is a typo in there that will render your test invalid.

rant. Step 6 instructs us to test between the #2 and #3 terminals of the relay with 12 volts applied. It's my opinion that you should connect the ohmmeter between the #1 and #2 terminals of the relay in order to get any kind of connectivity. I came to this conclusion by studying the relay test from the clymer manual for a different bike (klr650). I'm pretty sure a relay works the same regardless of what bike its on and after having a brand new relay fail the gs500 clymer test and pass the klr650 clymer test I am inclined to believe the klr650 manual... /rant.

ok. After you have removed the relay from the bike step one is to be sure that you have oriented the unit properly... there are no labels on the terminal so it is quite possible to get it backward or upside down. although the illustration makes it pretty clear how the orientation should go.



Then its a matter of testing between the #1 and #2 terminals with no power supplied. Notice i get a reading of infinity or NO connectivity on the ohmmeter.



Now connect the positive lead to the #3 terminal and the negative lead to the #4 terminal and test with the ohhmeter. Please be very careful while you do this because the 12 volt battery has a lot of juice. If you cross the leads you are going to get all kinds of sparks and a shock. If they stay in contact for any amount of time (say just a few seconds) the clamps will get white hot in no time. You wouldn't believe how bright and hot it gets so take care.

If you test according to the clymer manual and connect the ohmmeter to the #2 and #3 terminals the relay will again get NO connectivity. The relay fails the test. DO NOT test between #2 and #3 it is my opinion that this is a typo in the manual.



Test for connectivity between the #1 and #2 terminals. Notice here that with 12 volts applied I no longer have a reading of infinity on the ohmmeter. In fact I have LOW RESISTANCE. which is what I'm looking for. The relay passes and can be considered in working order.



So, there you have it. The side stand relay test.

d

[beRto]

Very nice write-up! Thank you.

To help with future searches, you might consider adding "HOW TO" to the title.

I used the steps laid out in chapter 9 of the clymer manual but you should know I believe there is a typo in there that will render your test invalid.

rant. Step 6 instructs us to test between the #2 and #3 terminals of the relay with 12 volts applied. It's my opinion that you should connect the ohmmeter between the #1 and #2 terminals of the relay in order to get any kind of connectivity. I came to this conclusion by studying the relay test from the clymer manual for a different bike (klr650). I'm pretty sure a relay works the same regardless of what bike its on and after having a brand new relay fail the gs500 clymer test and pass the klr650 clymer test I am inclined to believe the klr650 manual... /rant.

I agree that the Clymer procedure includes a typo. The Suzuki shop manual states that both measurements should be taken between #1 and #2:





For reference, the following thread describes some of the background:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=41558.0

[dchrist]

fixed 

Thanks, beRto.

[starwalt]

Nice job. Maybe we can get a mod to put it in the FAQ?