• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

GS 850G Headlight

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bufallobiff
  • Start date Start date
B

Bufallobiff

Guest
Two days ago I noticed that my headlight wasn't on and my turn signals weren't working. I haven't had time to troubleshoot but I did take a look at the schematic. They seem to be on two separate fuses. I have recently replaced the left handlebar control that operates the turn signals and has the headlight dimmer incorporated in it. It was an unplug the old one and plug in the new one kind of setup and I can't imagine that it would be the problem but both those circuits reside there.....hmmmm
 
If you did, it's possible the wiring was different in the new one. I'd take a test light and see if you are getting power through the entire circuit.
 
I changed a left switch housing on my '80 850 just before our 555 ride last month. I think the new switch was from an '83 (I have changed the "choke" on my bike, so needed the newer housing). I did have to change some of the wiring, but I don't remember exactly which wires I changed.

.
 
Steve said:
I changed a left switch housing on my '80 850 just before our 555 ride last month. I think the new switch was from an '83 (I have changed the "choke" on my bike, so needed the newer housing). I did have to change some of the wiring, but I don't remember exactly which wires I changed.

.
Click to expand...

It worked fine for a few months up until recently.....
 
Sorry if the question seems obvious but, did the headlight and turn signals work after you did the switch pod swap?

You might be surprised as to how many times I have seen people do modifications and then not check to see if things worked afterwards...

Regarding the headlight: my 1970 GS850G has a headlight on/off switch above and to the right of the high/low switch. Any chance this one is off now? These old switches are getting to be pretty "long in the tooth" and require frequent servicing as compared with newer stuff because of both age and less weather tight design. It is quite often the case that these types of switches simply develop poor connection within the sliding block contacts, especially after the switches have been out of service for a time and then used.

HIH

Norm
 
Steve said:
I changed a left switch housing on my '80 850 just before our 555 ride last month. I think the new switch was from an '83 (I have changed the "choke" on my bike, so needed the newer housing). I did have to change some of the wiring, but I don't remember exactly which wires I changed.

.
Click to expand...

The switch was brand new in a package. It worked great for a couple of months. If I leave the bike sit a while, I can put the key in and the turn signals will work for a minute or two ( unless it's running) and quit, Still no headlight.....................It's like gremlins
 
Hi,

I suggest poking around in your headlight bucket to see if anything has come loose or burned. The only time my headlight went out was due to a bad connection on the bulb socket itself. A dirty connection had caused too much resistance and melted the connector. I have found on my bike that the blinkers will get intermittent or non-functional if the battery voltage is low, perhaps due to a sub-par charging system.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
Perhaps one of your earth connections in that area is loose/dirty. Might be time to clean all your connections. This will take care of all high-resistance connections and make your whole electrical system healthier.
 
Do you have a voltmeter?

If so, switch on, high beam and check for a voltage between the left hand ( bike's left) headlight terminal and a good ground such as an engine bolt.

Also check between the right terminal and ground.

Check between both sides of the main fuse and ground. Let us know the results.

Assuming that you have taken sandpaper to both battery posts and cable ends? Shiny black is not good. Shiny silver or brass is good.

If you do not have a voltmeter advise and we can take an alternate route. These old wiring harnesses are showing their age but as they are very simple wiring systems, not bad to deal with. Try an ST1100 ABS/TCS wiring diagram if you need a headache.;)

Norm
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top