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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: stockstang on April 11, 2006, 01:19:21 PM

Title: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: stockstang on April 11, 2006, 01:19:21 PM
So today my bike starts acting up. I start it up and then when I go to take off it dies. Further more now my all my lights are out and nothing electrical works. So I check the 20 amp fuse on the starter solenoid and it was blown. I try a few fuses and everytime I turn the bike on they would blow. I can hear sparking coming from the ignition switch and once i saw a small spark up around the key. Any ideas as to what could be the problem?
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: LimaXray on April 11, 2006, 01:26:51 PM
There's a short somewhere, probably a wire rubbing against the frame finally managed to ground itself.  Stop trying to start it and leave it off.  First look to see if there is anything obvious.  Do you have a manual?  If so look at the schematics for each wire harness and figure out which wires should and should not go to ground.  Pull out the battery, and then check through each wire harness with a multimeter that no wires are grounded that shouldn't be.  This should help you pin point the problem, but it will be tedious.
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: 3imo on April 11, 2006, 01:34:58 PM
Quote from: LimaXray on April 11, 2006, 01:26:51 PM
There's a short somewhere, probably a wire rubbing against the frame finally managed to ground itself. 

DING DING DING DING.. LImaXray.....Coooommmeee  on doowwwwwnnnnnnn!!!! :thumb:
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: 3imo on April 11, 2006, 02:11:34 PM
http://www.gstwins.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/14186/thumb_wire.jpg

here is a wiring diagram. I don't know what year but it may help.
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: 3imo on April 11, 2006, 02:12:49 PM
didn't quite work. I will try another host page.
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: LimaXray on April 11, 2006, 02:14:12 PM
lol I was going to say I didn't know they made wiring diagram postage stamps
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: 3imo on April 11, 2006, 02:14:34 PM
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f191/eimoytiana/wire.jpg)
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: LimaXray on April 11, 2006, 02:16:40 PM
grab a multimeter, a 6 pack of your favorite beer, and have a great evening  :thumb:
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: 3imo on April 11, 2006, 02:18:58 PM
Most likely between two of the following.

regulator/rectifier, Battery, and Ignition switch.


could be something else down the line, but being the "sparks" were seen at the ignition switch.  I'd bet on a short somewhere betwix these three.

good luck. :thumb:
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: 3imo on April 11, 2006, 02:21:12 PM
Quote from: LimaXray on April 11, 2006, 02:16:40 PM
grab a multimeter, a 6 pack of your favorite beer, and have a great evening  :thumb:

don't you mean "My" favorite beer?  I did provide the diagram. come on... Sam Adams please


(http://www.gstwins.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/14186/thumb_tato_beer.JPG)
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: Alphamazing on April 11, 2006, 02:21:55 PM
3imo... you know you can edit your previous posts so you don't have to keep posting new ones, right? :laugh:
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: 3imo on April 11, 2006, 02:25:35 PM
yup.  :cheers:
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: LimaXray on April 11, 2006, 02:26:57 PM
Why reuse an old post when you can start anew?

The short can be anywhere really, but I would start at the ignition switch wiring harness. 
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: stockstang on April 11, 2006, 09:40:03 PM
Well looks like I got some work to do. Nothing is visibly creating the short. So I will look into the areas you guys suggested.

Is it possible that just the battery ground maybe need to be cleaned up on the motor?
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: budget speed demon on April 11, 2006, 11:01:40 PM
so who wants to know how to hotwire a gs? I can show you with that diagram. :thumb:
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: MarkusN on April 12, 2006, 12:19:21 AM
Quote from: stockstang on April 11, 2006, 09:40:03 PMIs it possible that just the battery ground maybe need to be cleaned up on the motor?
No. A bad ground will make electrics stop working, but not blow a fuse.
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: 3imo on April 12, 2006, 06:13:24 AM
Quote from: budget speed demon on April 11, 2006, 11:01:40 PM
so who wants to know how to hotwire a gs? I can show you with that diagram. :thumb:

I could show you with a screw driver and a hammer.  I did a gixxer in less than 2 min.  f*cker lost his keys.  now he's got a community bike.  :laugh:
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: tussey on April 12, 2006, 06:27:48 AM
Quote from: 3imo on April 12, 2006, 06:13:24 AM
Quote from: budget speed demon on April 11, 2006, 11:01:40 PM
so who wants to know how to hotwire a gs? I can show you with that diagram. :thumb:

I could show you with a screw driver and a hammer.  I did a gixxer in less than 2 min.  f*cker lost his keys.  now he's got a community bike.  :laugh:

You serious? Bikes are that easy to jump start? CRAZY.
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: 3imo on April 12, 2006, 06:34:33 AM
hotwire/jumpstart = apples/oranges

I wasn't talking about a hotwire.  you can take  a small screwdriver into the key cylinder and do enough damage internally that it will turn with a screwdriver.

I was lucky cause the guy could still use his key, and I left no marks outside the cylinder. but you could use a screwdriver to start his bike.

It sucks, but thats why you should garage your baby. if you can't then oh well.
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: Absolute Rescue on April 12, 2006, 08:06:00 AM
I had a similar problem a couple weeks ago, my GS kept popping a 20 amp fuse. I took an hour or so to trace all the wires I could find but none were chaffed or broken. I ended up just taping over all of the exposed wire I could find, I unplugged most of the connecters blew them out and reconnected. I never really found anything conclusive but I've ridden about 100 miles since then with no incident. Check any of your plugs maybe there is some corrosion causing a bad connection. Good luck, I know electrical problems are really frustrating. :icon_confused:
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: MarkusN on April 12, 2006, 08:17:55 AM
Man, you're bold. You know that you just jinxed it with this post, don't you? ;)
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: 3imo on April 12, 2006, 08:25:05 AM
STOCKSTANG -  give us an update when you have something
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: NiceGuysFinishLast on April 12, 2006, 08:46:02 AM
Quote from: 3imo on April 12, 2006, 06:34:33 AM
hotwire/jumpstart = apples/oranges

I wasn't talking about a hotwire.  you can take  a small screwdriver into the key cylinder and do enough damage internally that it will turn with a screwdriver.

I was lucky cause the guy could still use his key, and I left no marks outside the cylinder. but you could use a screwdriver to start his bike.

It sucks, but thats why you should garage your baby. if you can't then oh well.

I'm actually working on my lockpicking skills (for recreation ONLY), and I feel pretty confident right now that I could start a bike fairly quickly with my picks. I assume that bike keys aren't chipped, as that would prohibit the "bash it with a screwdriver until it starts" method...  :laugh:
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: LimaXray on April 12, 2006, 08:55:23 AM
I thought the locks on the bike were disk tumblers and would be a Buddha Loves You to pick.  Do you have disk tumbler picks?  I've never tried to pick a disk tumbler, but I know I can open a pin tumbler (the front door of your house) in a matter of seconds. :icon_lol:

check out southord, they have some great products to play around with: http://www.southord.com
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: NiceGuysFinishLast on April 12, 2006, 09:04:31 AM
Ya know.. I didn't even think about that, but I'm pretty sure you're right. Dammit.  :laugh: Oh well, like ya said, I can open the front door to your house pretty damn quick... And thanks for the link, I may have to pick something up. I've been using a ghetto set that I made myself with a dremel and a blowtorch, out of hacksaw blades.
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: LimaXray on April 12, 2006, 09:41:13 AM
It's an awesome website.  They have this lock pick pocket knife thing that you can put on your key chain and bring it anywhere.  Makes me feel like a ninja  :thumb: 
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: Absolute Rescue on April 12, 2006, 09:47:57 AM
Quote from: MarkusN on April 12, 2006, 08:17:55 AM
Man, you're bold. You know that you just jinxed it with this post, don't you? ;)

LOL Yea I probably did :2guns: :mad:
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on April 12, 2006, 10:12:39 AM
Quote from: budget speed demon on April 11, 2006, 11:01:40 PM
so who wants to know how to hotwire a gs? I can show you with that diagram. :thumb:
it can be done with a paperclip
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: LimaXray on April 12, 2006, 10:21:11 AM
HOW-TO HOT WIRE YOUR GS500:

1) connect the ____ wire to the ____ wire
2) connect the ____ wire to the ____ wire
3) touch the ____ wire to the ____ wire
4) VROOM ride your [stolen] GS500 away!
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: sledge on April 12, 2006, 10:45:05 AM
So you know how to hot-wire eh?? Well big-deal, is anyone impressed? You are not the only one in here who can read a wiring diagram my friend but you ARE the only one with the lack of sense to spell it out, give instructions and make it even easier for some lowlife to steal the bike. You are an idiot and I hope its YOUR bike that goes missing tonight.
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: LimaXray on April 12, 2006, 11:00:40 AM
whoa whoa calm down... anyone who can figure out how to actually do that can read the diagram and figure it out themselves... besides, no one would really hot wire a bike, hot wiring is for the movies, it would take too much time to find the correct wires and splice them together... go take a look at your bike, hot wiring is not practical, I would not have posted this if I thought it was an issue...  There are other threads on here about breaking the ignition lock with a screw driver, go attack those, they are a lot more realistic then hot wiring

oh, and I realize it's obvious how to do it to a lot of people here, I was being a smart ass
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: sledge on April 12, 2006, 11:20:42 AM
 You posted a thread titled "How to Hot-wire your GS" for no other reason than to appear clever and attempt to reinforce your self importance. Sure its not hard if you have the diagram but not everyone does and not everyone can read it. I have had bikes stolen in the past, its not a nice experience and the way I see it you have just made it even easier for some lowlife to steal not just mine but every other GS in the world. Iam wrong....I appologise...your not an Idiot...you are a FU***** Idiot and if it was left to me I would bounce you out of this forum in a instant.
Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: 3imo on April 12, 2006, 11:39:04 AM
good thing it's not up to you.

search hot-wire/hotwire/hot wire.

calm your jets dude.  or I'll steal your bike.  :icon_twisted:

Title: Re: 20 Amp fuse blowing and sparks from ignition
Post by: LimaXray on April 12, 2006, 11:40:41 AM
I meant no harm to you or anyone else.  It has nothing to do with me thinking I'm clever, it is me being a smart ass.  It was meant in jest, in that what I am saying is obvious, and not to be taken seriously.  It is just my sense of humor.  I am sorry that bothers you, I meant no offense by it.  I do not see how it helps anyone hot wire the GS, if you look you will see there is a lot more involved then just connecting a few wires.  Nevertheless, I don't want to upset anyone who sees this as a threat, so I will modify my post.