Gear Indicator Issue - How to test?

[1978GS750E]

I 've got a 1978 GS750E that I cannot get the gear indicator to work. I've tested the continuity from the switch (by the sprocket) and all is good. Anyone know how to test the light in the instrument cluster to see if it is good?

And........are they still available? Bike Bandit and Partszilla show them as an obsolete part. I think mine is shot!

Thanks in advance!

[Brendan W]

Open the switch plug and either earth each wire from the indicator cluster in turn with the ignition on or check that you have 12 Volts at each wire. Normally that would indicate a blown bulb. The blue one is usually the neutral and is separate. Some switches can have a long tail and the plug is above the airbox. Are any working ?

[1978GS750E]

I have power going to the indicator from the orange wire. This is one of those "figure 8" type gear indicators, not individual bulbs. I "think" the indicator is activated when the switch grounds thru the switch near the sprocket. The neutral light, which is separate, works fine.

[Brendan W]

Ok, you have supply to the indicator. There should be a bunch of wires heading off to the selector switch. All of them should be live. The selector picks which one to ground and lights up that number or green.

[JTGS850GL]

You are correct that the indicator grounds through a rotating cam just behind the switch. A spring loaded contactor that connects engine ground to the individual switch gear location completes the circuit. If the neutral light is working then you're making contact on that circuit at least. Take the switch out and clean all the contact surfaces. You can ground each one and verify that the indicator is working. If you're not seeing anything after cleaning then it may be a connector issue up stream.

[1978GS750E]

Thanks guys!

OK, I've checked and cleaned all the connectors. The switch by the sprocket is working correctly and I have power going to the indicator but none coming out. I tried grounding each of the connections at the plug above the airbox and nothing! Looks like the indicator is bad???

Is this something that normally goes bad, knowing that the bike is 38 years old and nothing is "normal"? Are there any replacements available? Anyone know where I might find one? My OCD is kicking in and this is gonna drive me nuts until I get it fixed!

[Brendan W]

This might be of some help

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?218368-GS1100EZ-ED-Replacement-Red-Universal-Digital-Gear-Indicator&highlight=gear+indicator

[1978GS750E]

Thanks! Got one coming, we will see how it fits in the instrument cluster.

[uk gs nut]

Now then folks, this might be of interest or not. Those cheap Chinese gear indicators work fine, but if you want to have one stand alone I thought of this. Some automotive electrical relays are the exact size to fit the led display inside. Pull the guts out and with a bit of cutting and dremil work it looks ok, just needs a bit of tinted Perspex for a window and sealing to make it weather proof. Picture shows the relay and the indicator inside the case.

[1978GS750E]

Thanks Brendan W!!!
Finally received the gear indicator and got it wired up. Everything is working as it should. I just need to do some "adjusting" to make it fit in the hole where the original one was in the instrument cluster.

Its amazing what the Chinese can manufacture and ship to the US for $1.95.

[roeme]

Eh, mind sharing the source for your indicator?

[1978GS750E]

I bought mine off of ebay. I just searched "motorcycle gear indicator". There are a bunch of them listed. The ads say "if your bike has an electronic speedometer and tachometer this will work" but it will work just fine. Just had to cross-reference the wiring and it works great. These have a "0" for neutral which I just did not use since I have the green dash light. I paid $1.95 and got free shipping from China. It took about 3 weeks to arrive. Slightly larger that the stock Suzuki indicator but I should have it in the cluster tomorrow with a little sanding.