| Author | Message | ||
     Doug_s |
hi all, this am i noticed no left turn signal action on my way to work - the front bulb came on, no blinking, the back bulb nothing. so, when i got to work, i checked the bulbs - both fine. i peered under the rear fender and saw one of the two wires from the signal - the black one - dangling. the wire was severed past the connector. but, it is unclear to me where the wire broke off - no loose end anywhere. is it possible that it's buried up inside the corrugated plastic sleeve of the wiring harness that feeds all the rear lighting? i'd like to find it at lunchtime w/o getting too dirty at work; i really don't like riding in dc area rush hour w/o turn signals, and would like it working for the ride home. thanks, doug s. | ||
| F_skinner |
Doug, you may be able to find the disconnected wire but it will be better to take the tail section off and turn it upside down to get a better view. The tail section harness is independent when disconnected and it should be an easy fix. If you remind me I will take a picture and try to isolate all the connections tonight. Frank | ||
| Ratbuell |
Black should be ground, check nearby bolts for a ring terminal with a wire-end poking off. I'd have to check mine, but I want to say it's a large ring terminal that goes to one of the taillight bolts under the tail section. Multiple grounds at one spot. If ya get stuck, send me a PM and we can get together and find it.  | ||
| Doug_s |
thanks, frank/joe... i agree this should be an easy fix; i am hoping it is as you say, joe. i looked for something like what you are talking about, but my bike is parked under cover, and it's kinda dark. i will pull the bike out at lunch; hopefully i will find this, w/better wisibility... doug s. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Shop manual shows colored wire (looks like one red, one blue) are power; the other wire from each signal just shows the ground symbol but not where it goes. I've got too much crap in the tail of my bike (taillight flasher, motionsensor/security system...), but I'm reasonably sure they go to the large bolts that hold in the taillight. I know for a fact that one of those is the ground, for the taillight, tag light, signals...look for the bundle of black wires | ||
| F_skinner |
I think there are actually three wires that terminate there. I will try to remember to take a picture later today. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Should be more than that - left turn, right turn, tag, tail, and the lead that goes to the battery (1 in, 4 out)... | ||
| Doug_s |
there's a bunch of wires under the tail from the harness, but only two go from each turn signal. one might be dark blue, not black... i am gonna go downstairs i a little bit, and check it out... if i can see it, i will be able to make the fix, thanks to my leatherman, haha! my leatherman bailed me out twice on my '78 ducati darmah, alongside the road - once w/a broken throttle cable, the other time the ignition switch disintegrated when i hit a pothole... doug s. | ||
| Doug_s |
well, it is amazing what can happen when you can see!  yes, there was a ring for the wire, attached to a small grounding stud w/lock-nut. it serves both l&r turn-signal grounds; in the light, it is obvious that a second wire was attached, below the sleeve. it was easier to simply wire the left turn signal ground to the right turn-signal wire at the wire's connection, then to unscrew the lock-nut and attach it there. and, the protective sleeve at the connection now fits even better. left turns and lane changes will now be safer on the way home!  thanks all, doug s. | ||
| F_skinner |
Glad you got it figured out... I used to commute to several places in DC when I was stationed at Ft Meade. L Street mostly. I got to like taking the train or Tram (I cannot remeber what MD called it) LOL... I did some work in VA at one of the Federal Agencies there. I did not care for it most due to the traffic. Ride safe. | ||
| Doug_s |
ya, traffic here sucks. i have read only los angeles is worse. and my commute is quite ugly - from frederick md to arlington va, which means ~45 miles each way. sometimes i take the back roads, which is pleasant enough; the main highways mean i-270 & the dc beltway. tolerable on a bike, as bikes are allowed in the hov lanes, if i leave early enough in the am going in, and the pm going home. the freeway riding is actually fun when it's not totally backed up. 45-60 minutes average on the bike; 50-90 minutes in the car. i could take the (marc) train, & then the (metro) subway, but it would be 2 to 2.5 hours portal-to-portal each way; that's yust way to ugly... best, doug s. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Glad you got it! | ||
| F_skinner |
Just for future reference. The turn signals are not hooked up so four wires are hanging loose. Three wires (ground) to the post with two wire ring thingys.   (Message edited by f_skinner on April 30, 2010) | ||
| Bartimus |
Ring Thingys?  Us electrical types call them "ring lugs" | ||
| Doug_s |
damn, frank, why is yours so clean? is this one of yours that doesn't get ridden? i think it's cleaner than the parts of my bike that normally CAN be seen!  doug s. | ||
| F_skinner |
Ha, I was wondering if someone was going to notice that. It is for S2T number 240 (the restoration project) |
