Guys:
I just got another oil leak fixed and a new battery installed and my 1997 GS500 was in tip top shape. But then I noticed that the high-beam indicator was kind of blinking on and off as I hit bumps and stuff. I traced some wires around and wiggled things to try to isolate the problem, but I couldn't find it and gave up. Then, a few weeks went by with no trouble until last Friday, when the bike just totally died on the expressway. I got off to the side enough to notice that the main fuse was blown. I looked for obvious shorts and then tried putting in my spare, well knowing that it would probably blow too. It did, and so I called a flatbed tow truck and caused a huge traffic jam.
Does anyone have any experience with the blinking high beam? Is that my problem? How do I start trying to find an electrical problem like this?
Thanks in advance!
Definitely a short. Look for bare wires or connections touching each other. Sometimes wires get pinched when you do maintenance.
Opened it up and looked all over. Found one bare wire and taped it up nicely, thinking that would fix it. It fired up, I drove it 100m, and it blew the fuse again. Can't find anything else. Is there a systematic way to locate a short? I'm getting sick of taking this bike apart all the time. I wonder if there are any bike mechanics who would be able to find it easily without charging $500.
Systematic approach:
A)Disconnect all unnecessary devices from voltage source.
Reconnect devices until the fuse blows. Last device added is cause.
Troubleshoot that device.
B) Disconnect one device at a time until the fuse stops blowing.
(will need more fuses this way).
C) If culprit is a 'necessary' device, neither of those will find it.
Since it is your headlight indicator blinking. I would expect it to be either: dimmer switch, headlight, warning bulb, or associated wiring.
I would start by disconnecting the headlight, then warning bulb. If that didn't work i would (according to wiring diagram) disconnect wiring plug with wh,or,bk/wh,bk/bl,bk,bl,gr wires.
But really i would start with an ohm meter and looking for shorts... would have a friend shake the bike to simulate bumps/vibration.
(I think your high beam warning light blinking is a coincidence, since it is a load. Therefore it can't cause the 20A required to blow fuse unless the bulb is shorted. More likely to be a hot (12v+) lead finding ground somewhere, between battery and loads. I'm guessing a faulty headlight dimmer switch.... just a hunch though.)
Thanks for the advice. I untaped a lot of stuff and all the wires look good. The dimmer switch seems fine, with nice looking wires and solders. The headlight goes from dim to bright perfectly. Just the indicator is messed up (now it doesn't even light up at all!). I'll check around the headlight next since that's where the power for the high-beam indicator comes on.
What's a warning bulb?
Yea something like this is happening on my virago. The bike has a weird combination of neutral switch, clutch cut out and side stand cut out glitches that make it act wonky ... I touch the clutch and it works fine ... Like that switch is getting pressed when the lever is all the way out, I have extra play in it and it works fine with my finger on it.
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: ntouran on April 23, 2011, 11:12:52 AM
Opened it up and looked all over. Found one bare wire and taped it up nicely, thinking that would fix it. It fired up, I drove it 100m, and it blew the fuse again. Can't find anything else. Is there a systematic way to locate a short? I'm getting sick of taking this bike apart all the time. I wonder if there are any bike mechanics who would be able to find it easily without charging $500.
So you're here in Seattle? There are lots of us here - the West Seattle GS500 Club. We're always glad to help. Each of us has a specialty. I like cosmetics and electrical, other guys are into valves and other parts. Join the group!
Update: The blinking bulb socket has 12V continuously. If I flick the bulb in the socket a bunch of times it turns on and off. A different bulb in the same socket works fine with no flickering. So I think gs500e was right saying that blinking bulb was a coincidence and that the short is somewhere completely different. Turning the engine on and wiggling ever wire in sight doesn't result in a short. It's only when I put it together and ride. Maybe I loosened some wires by the alternator when I was in there a month ago, but I'd hate to open that back up.
Quote
So you're here in Seattle? There are lots of us here - the West Seattle GS500 Club. We're always glad to help. Each of us has a specialty. I like cosmetics and electrical, other guys are into valves and other parts. Join the group!
I'd love some help. How do I join? I can't find you on google.
Bam! Found it. The taped set of wires going from the battery up to the headlight along the right-hand side wasn't properly hung and had gotten down and rested on the cooling fins, subsequently melting and exposing wires. Can't believe it took me this long to see that. Stupid headlight indicator distraction! Anyway, the key was to loosen all wire fasteners all over the bike and then wiggle sets of wires one by one until the fuse blows. That isolates it and you can quickly find the problem. Awesome. I'm back on the road!