Electrical issues

[Reg Tidy]

When I turn my lights on:
tacho stops working,
left and right indicator idiot lights dimly illuminate.

Noticed there was a 30 amp fuse for the tail light. Supposed to be 10.
Pulled tail light fuse; problem goes away.

Replaced with correct 10 amp fuse. 1 indicator and 1 tail light bulb blow.

I know next to nothing about electrics, but I do have a multimeter and a vague idea of how to use it.

Did a diode test on reg/reg. It passed.

Any idiot proof guidance appreciated.

[Nobby the Bastard]

What happens to the tacho when the fuse for the rear light is pulled and the lights are turned on?

Edit, read your post properly.

You need to go through each wire to the rear light cluster and find the one which has continuity to the frame. Somewhere, one of your wires has chafed just enough for power to go directly to earth (the frame)
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[Pete.]

Some clue as to what model of motorbike would be a great help.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Reg Tidy]

Okay, sounds like a plan. Thanks nobby.

It's a 99' Kwak ZR-7 . Long story; almost as dull as the bike.

[Roberts 1]

I have a problem with my Honda cbr600 fy the battery is over charging I've checked all the earth points and replaced the rectifier but still the same. Any ideas
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Neil

[Steve10RMc]

[Pete.]

[Reg Tidy]

Time is limited right now, but I managed to have another quick ferret.


Unplugged rear cluster (tail, brake and reg plate light):
No change.


Unplugged all rear indicators:
Now just the left indicator light and high beam light illuminate, but a little stronger than before. Didn't check tacho at this stage.


The rear section of the loom has been replaced or altered and covered with cable ducting tube.
I unpacked it and found three earth leads joined into one coming from the main loom. They are just crimped together.
See the pic. It's a bit blurry, but you should get the idea.


After I exposed this join (but still leaving them joined) I tried to recreate the problem again. Started engine, lights on and problem has
gone. Tacho works and no illumination of indicator lights or high beam light.


To clarify about the join. It was as pictured, but wrapped in electrical tape and encased in black plastic eletrical conduit tube or whatever it is called.

EDIT:

Just had another test and this time the left indicator light and the high beam light are lit.

[Reg Tidy]

Okay, so. The fault* is intermittent now.

Have tried what I think is continuity testing of the leads (attached photo) at the back of the loom to the frame.

What I did;

Multimeter set to 200 Ohm. Touch leads together gives base resistance of 0.62 to 0.8 ish
1 lead to frame
2nd lead to each wire

Results;

3 earths: as I would expect read 0.8
Red: goes a bit haywire, but settles at 6.2
Red & Blue: no reading. Display does not change from "1 ."

Green: 1.2
Grey: 6.2

Should all the non earth wire produce no result?

Thanks for all the help so far. This electrical stuff is pretty hard to get your head around.







*Turn lights on = tacho dies. Left, right indicator and high beam idiot lights dimly lit. + The odd blown bulb.

[Pete.]

That earth junction crimp is normal for a bike loom.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Islander]

Is that crimp nice and tight?

[Reg Tidy]

Yeah I realised the crimp was not an issue. And it seems to be well crimped.

So the red, grey and green wires are showing some resistance (and therefore some continuity presumably) to the frame.

Does this mean those wires are the problem?

[Islander]

You're probably measuring the resistance of the load (lamps). Check along the wires for chafing or nicks that could be causing a short to earth.

[Reg Tidy]

I think some dodgy rewiring with badly crimped on bullet connectors for the front indicators might have been been to blame.
I got rid of the bullets and hooked the indicators up with solder and heat shrink.

Funny thing is, after doing that I turned on the lights to see if all was fixed. The indicator idiot light lit up again brighter than they did before and when I turned the left indicator on the right idiot light flashed (pulsed) and when indicating right the left idiot light flashed.

So after switching everything off and think FML. I turned ignition back on a few minutes later and tried the lights again.
All fixed.

I have NFI what is going on, but it seems okay for now.

Maybe it's the flasher relay. Do they malfunction weirdly? Or is it a case of it either works or it doesn't?

Thanks for all the help. I may be back soon.

Also does anybody have any links to any resources where I can learn all about this electrikery stuff in an idiot proof manner?

[Pete.]

[Reg Tidy]

[alains]

think about changing the loom
try to make good tin soldering on your multi shunt wires
____________________
the worst day fishing is better than the best day working

[Reg Tidy]

[alains]

yes make a nice splice (like you do in marine cordage) then tin solder and good insulation
____________________
the worst day fishing is better than the best day working