GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: hokierower on August 24, 2010, 06:58:02 PM

Title: Getting ready to start cutting...couple of questions
Post by: hokierower on August 24, 2010, 06:58:02 PM
Hey guys, i'm going to start leaning down the bike but I have a few quick questions:

1. On the indicators (front & rear), do I have to cut the electrical cords to remove the existing ones and then tie in the new ones and tape them up?

2. I'm going to be getting the dominator headlights.  Does the stock headlight have the easy plug-in like the dominators do.

3. Any chance the Street Triple fairing/windshield would fit on top of the the dominators?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Getting ready to start cutting...couple of questions
Post by: ragecage23 on August 24, 2010, 07:26:12 PM
1. No, you don't. They unplug.

not sure about the others.
Title: Re: Getting ready to start cutting...couple of questions
Post by: tt_four on August 24, 2010, 07:38:41 PM
Triumphs have their own special little setup for headlights and flyscreens. They don't mount onto the forks, they have a mount that bolts to the front of the frame. The dominators are way smaller than triumph headlights(they're closer to Buell headlights), but you can make anything work. I'd be more curious about how well the GS gauges will fit inside the triumph flyscreen, but I think they definitely will. Just get some aluminum bar and start bending it up and you can come up with something! Ooh, and also keep in mind the GS is a small bike, and the speed triple is a big bike, so the flyscreen will probably look kinda huge on the GS, but it's still worth a shot if that's what you wanna do.

As far as the dominators, I don't know what it takes to wire them up, but a couple people have done it, and it doesn't seem too complicated.
Title: Re: Getting ready to start cutting...couple of questions
Post by: hokierower on August 24, 2010, 07:43:09 PM
Quote from: ragecage23 on August 24, 2010, 07:26:12 PM
1. No, you don't. They unplug.

not sure about the others.

Really?  I undid the bolt and pulled them out and it looked like the wires went straight to the unit.  Didn't see a plug.  Where is it?
Title: Re: Getting ready to start cutting...couple of questions
Post by: black and silver twin on August 24, 2010, 08:18:25 PM
there are two bullet connectors on each turn signal, they are about a foot down the wire. just follow the wires and you will find them. almost all aftermarket signals use compatible bullet connectors so install of the new ones should be a breeze, unless the wires on the new ones are too short. I have had 4 different sets of signals (I get bored easily) and only 2 had long enough wires, and one of the sets with proper length wires was the stock ones! If you need to add wire just get crimp connectors and some wire its pretty easy.
Title: Re: Getting ready to start cutting...couple of questions
Post by: hokierower on August 26, 2010, 09:44:34 AM
So sure enough the aftermarket signals crods didn't reach far enough and the aftermarket hardware wasn't compatible.  Can I pick up an extension wire at any auto store (Advance, Autozone, O'Reilly) or is it something I'm going to have to crimp myself?
Title: Re: Getting ready to start cutting...couple of questions
Post by: bassmechanicsz on August 26, 2010, 11:04:02 AM
I don't know about finding extension wires but i would just cut the wires and solder/heat shrink wrap a piece of wire in the middle to extend them to what you need and then some extra so the wires aren't held snug.
Title: Re: Getting ready to start cutting...couple of questions
Post by: hokierower on August 26, 2010, 11:42:53 AM
Quote from: bassmechanicsz on August 26, 2010, 11:04:02 AM
I don't know about finding extension wires but i would just cut the wires and solder/heat shrink wrap a piece of wire in the middle to extend them to what you need and then some extra so the wires aren't held snug.

Sounds easy enough.  Do you know what gauge the wire/connectors are?  Can I just wrap it in electrical tape rather than buying heat shrink wrap and w/e tool I'm gonna need to shrink that stuff?
Title: Re: Getting ready to start cutting...couple of questions
Post by: Big Rich on August 26, 2010, 01:56:53 PM
Probably 14 gauge, but you'll know it when you see it. 

The problem with electrical tape is that eventually, it will come loose. Heat shrink tubing costs a little more, but is easier to use and lasts longer.
Title: Re: Getting ready to start cutting...couple of questions
Post by: ragecage23 on August 26, 2010, 02:07:40 PM
Quote from: Big Rich on August 26, 2010, 01:56:53 PM
The problem with electrical tape is that eventually, it will come loose. Heat shrink tubing costs a little more, but is easier to use and lasts longer.

But! for people like me (who screw up often [don't hate, I'm still learning]) electrical tape can be removed without cutting the wire, where as heat shrink tubing cannot.
Title: Re: Getting ready to start cutting...couple of questions
Post by: Big Rich on August 26, 2010, 02:18:46 PM
True, I've done the same.

A couple small zip ties on both ends helps a lot (but still need cut off)

Title: Re: Getting ready to start cutting...couple of questions
Post by: the mole on August 26, 2010, 05:11:06 PM
Use the heat shrink!
Shrink it with a heat gun if you have one, or just use a match or lighter carefully! Once you try it you'll never use tape again.
You can cut it off if you need to.
Title: Re: Getting ready to start cutting...couple of questions
Post by: bubba zanetti on August 26, 2010, 05:24:25 PM
If you use electrical tape on electrical joints you should be wearing a blue and white stripped apron.
Title: Re: Getting ready to start cutting...couple of questions
Post by: hokierower on August 26, 2010, 07:11:39 PM
Alrighty then, big update!

First of all, managed to fix my seat lock problem by taking off the the rear fender and going in through the bottom, removing the fairing, then pushing it open.  Only problem is that I managed to break the latch mechanism holder so it won't hold the cable now.  I either have to figure out a way to put them together or buy a new assembly (hopefully there's a shop locally which has one).

Then took my turn signals and my new solder iron and proceeded to get to work.  I was hesitant in my earlier posts because somehow, in 23 years of living and being a big nerd, I had never soldered anything.  Well, I got to work and managed to get all the connections together and working and then used heat shrink to close it all up.  So major success!!!

So now I just have to put it all together and figure out the seat issue.