Boxerworks.com

I managed to "fix" my 1973 R75/5 until it became a paperweight.

This all started because the front brake lightswitch wires were too short and the connections were lost so I got a new starter switch from Hucky.
The terminal block in the headlight turned to dust when I touched it so I got a new one, I was VERY careful to put the wires back where they came from.
I also swapped to LED turn signal bulbs and changed the flasher relay.
After the "repair" I started the bike and no matter which way I turned the signal switch all 4 turn signals it up steady but it started and ran so I decided to deal with the turn signal-issues later.
I went in and showered, came back out and the bike was totally dead.

My plan tomorrow is to put the stock turn signal-bits back in, check the fuses and hope for the best.
Does this sound reasonable to you?
Vince

Maybe. It's always difficult when you change a few things at once. It means it could be any one of the things you changed, or not.

Putting the stock signals in will eliminate the new signals as the problem, but I cannot imagine how that could make what you describe happen. It sounds more like they have a shared lead that you are feeding with current - like for instance: a ground wire (or, rather, a wire that is supposed to be a ground).

I clicked on this one because I thought you were starting a club. When they realize my qualifications, I thought, surely this club will accept me as a member. By the way, I think your idea is the right way to start.

Chuey

The plot thickens:

The white fuse (8A) was blown, the other fuse (it is a red 16A but I thought it should be a white 8A) was allright. I had the stock flasher relay installed (I thought I had the LED one installed).

I'm off to the auto parts store to buy fuses, my local dealer only had the yellow (5A) ones in stock yesterday.

Vince

All four signal light glowing at the same time may be a result of a bad harnes ground. The only other path to ground is through the front signal lights.

Check the connector with the 2 brown wires at the coil mount. Wiggle it vigoursly and watch for a change.

Don't ask me how I know or how long it took me to figure out.

Unclviny wrote:The plot thickens:

The white fuse (8A) was blown, the other fuse (it is a red 16A but I thought it should be a white 8A) was allright.

Vince

Vince - until someone with more knowledge says otherwise, I think both fuses should be 8 amp. They are in my '74 and '76 bikes.

I managed to get some help (my Brother-in-law) who has German vehicle (VW Rabbit) experience.
The bike ain't running yet but the indicator lights are working and it has stopped eating fuses!

He basically disconnected everything in the headlight bucket and started over.

Edited to add:
IT LIVES! it runs, the LED turn signals work and it no longer eats fuses.
The "extreme testing" of Marine STA-BIL was a rousing success, after sitting for 2 months the bike starts and runs fine. I use the "RED" STA-BIL all the time.

Now for the "misses", the turn signal indicator light harness is sitting in the shop because it made the turn signals stop working independently (all 4 come on steady) every time it got installed and the Horn is dead (but the wiring test's good).

Vince

The test ride was a success!, I put almost 100 miles on the bike today starting it several times (both hot and cold) and it ran like a top.

Vince

Congratulations on success.