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TECHNICAL MOTOBRICK WRENCHING In Remembrance of Inge K. => The Motobrick Workshop => Topic started by: orforester on April 03, 2014, 07:33:28 PM

Title: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: orforester on April 03, 2014, 07:33:28 PM
OK, so I cry Uncle.  I have an 85 RS, converting to RT.  I added heated grips, Piaa lights, temp gauge and 4 way Flashers following Ducks website instructions.  The grips work great, gauge lights up, flashers work, lights come on. 

I brushed up the main ground on frame, installed a heavier ground wire to starter, and to the frame. 

So now when I switch from "on" to "park" the 4 way dash light flicks on.  When I hit the starter button the 4 way dash lights stay on.  The lights themselves don't come on.   I have replaced the circuit board in the dash, checked it twice?  I am thinking it is a ground somewhere?  Could it still be the starter? 

I am not good with electrics, so simple instructions are better for me.

Thanks   Bob
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: orforester on April 03, 2014, 09:50:46 PM
I repainted the handlebars, do you suppose it is not grounding the switches?  I know the throttle is grounded by a wire....Hummmmm
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: kioolt on April 04, 2014, 12:39:39 PM
I don't know what all you removed when you repainted the handlebars but you may have pinched a wire when reinstalling something.  I would check for pinched wires on all the stuff that you removed and reinstalled.
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: Inge K. on April 04, 2014, 11:13:15 PM
Check connection at pin/contact #18 at the instrument cluster, ground for 4 way dash light and two of the instrument illumination bulbs.
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: orforester on April 05, 2014, 11:53:23 AM
Will do thanks for the tip!
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: orforester on April 05, 2014, 08:43:09 PM
Ok, with the instrument panel off, still blinks turn signals when turning the key from on to park.  I suspect the right handlebar switch as not making a good ground, as all the grounds on the dash check out good......darn electrical gremlins
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: Inge K. on April 05, 2014, 09:55:45 PM
I suspect the right handlebar switch as not making a good ground,

If your turn signals left/right, cancel, and horn functions, the ground to the handlebar switches is OK.
Haven't got any other idea to solve your problem, tho   :dunno  ...could try a other relay.
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: Scott_ on April 05, 2014, 10:42:15 PM
Can you post the link to Duck's 4-way flasher mod. It would help to know what instructions you were following.
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: orforester on April 05, 2014, 11:33:16 PM
http://classickbikes.com/ckb.tech/0.ckb.tech.files/hazflash/hazflash.htm (http://classickbikes.com/ckb.tech/0.ckb.tech.files/hazflash/hazflash.htm)
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: Scott_ on April 06, 2014, 12:34:04 PM
Check connection at pin/contact #18 at the instrument cluster, ground for 4 way dash light and two of the instrument illumination bulbs.
+1 on pin 18 or the main ground connection under the fuel tank. If you had this one apart, it's real easy to miss a wire putting it back together. BTDT.....

The only other ground point that I can find in the schematics that may have an effect would be pin #5 of the fairing harness connector(for the horns and turn signals and park light). With the ign switch in the "park" position, + power is supplied on pin #1 for the parking lamp, if the return ground path for this is not good thru pin #5 then the power will route thru the "path of least resistance" which also include the front turn signal lamps, and they in turn are connected to they dash indicator lamps......
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: orforester on April 06, 2014, 01:12:35 PM
I am going to triple check the grounds under the tank, as yes they are easy to miss, but I have disconnected the Instrument  panel (whole Dash) from the bike, so wires are not connected to anything and when turning the key the front blinker lights still flash on when going from On to Park. 

I am going to try cleaning the ignition switch next..............
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: orforester on April 07, 2014, 02:23:03 PM
Cleaned ignition switch, no help, but it was corroded.
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: K75RT Keith on April 08, 2014, 09:34:00 AM
Have you considered emailing Duck with your problem and asking him if he has any suggestions?
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: orforester on April 08, 2014, 02:22:00 PM
Yeah I emailed him yesterday, thanks, he is the man!
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: orforester on May 15, 2014, 02:20:40 PM
Once again, Duck was 100% correct.  Finally got new brushes for starter and no more problems!  What a wealth of knowledge he has. 

Thanks :riding:
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: vintagemilano on May 15, 2014, 03:31:13 PM
New starter brushes?? Just cause I'm curious I would be interested in knowing how that helps your dash lights.
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: orforester on May 15, 2014, 04:34:33 PM
According to Duck, dirty starter brushes lead to electrical issues.  It was as described above in my post, flashers coming on when starter pushed, and when key turned to "park".   Only thing I can figure is the grounding issue with the connection of the brushes.  I could have cleaned them, but for the price, new ones were a sure thing.

I can't explain it, only know it worked like a charm!!
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: johnny on May 15, 2014, 04:37:45 PM
doing the roll back pop clutch routine once a month will help keep them clean...

j o
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: K75RT Keith on May 15, 2014, 05:12:16 PM
Seems the way BMW set-up the electrical, worn brushes creates some kind of circuit that allows to electricity to flow to non-related electrical connections making them act incorrectly. 

I can't really figure it out but, cleaning the starter and replacing the bush set solves a myriad of mechanical failures of the electrical system.   
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: WayneDW on May 15, 2014, 08:14:00 PM
doing the roll back pop clutch routine once a month will help keep them clean...

j o

Not familiar with that, Johnny.  Details?
thanks.
Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: johnny on May 16, 2014, 09:41:26 AM
the bugeye motobrick started having the whack electrical issues... butts they all stopped and never returned when i started doing this on a regular basis...

spinning the starter backwards to keep the brushes clean...

sit on your moto in 3nd gear or higher key off...
roll backwards and pop the clutch...
repeat 2 or 3 times...
do this a few times a year...

j o


Title: Re: Electrical Gremlins
Post by: Tuco on May 16, 2014, 10:15:23 AM
thats crazy! But if it works, it works!
Al