Electrical Problem in '74 75/6

[Markst1]

I'm getting impatient with the long winter. Spent last weekend getting the bike ready for spring. Totally redid the front brakes, installed new IKON shocks, new Parabellum Scout fairing. All looks good. Then today I went to start it up. Battery is maintained on battery tender. Turn the key and the headlight and tail light work, but nothing else. No dash lights, no turn signals, horn, starter...nothing.
I have had intermittent problems with one of the fuses inside the headlight shell in the past (for low beam?).
Any suggestions on where to start looking?
Thanks :dunno

[flash412]

I have had intermittent problems with one of the fuses inside the headlight shell in the past (for low beam?). Any suggestions on where to start looking?Right there.

[Bobmws]

You're dealing with a 30 year old wiring harness. At 16 years my 90s exhibited similar problems. I found the leads from the battery, both pos. and ground, to be corroded to the point they wouldn't pass large current loads. Bypass them with a set of bike jumper cables and see if that doesn't solve your problems. While you're at it, clean all the electrical connections.

[MikeC]

Did you check your kill switch on the right?I dont know if older ones have it but I have scared myself before on my 76 R90S by bumping the switch on a road trip.

[James.A]

I had a similar experience with a /5, which has the same hand controls as your 1974 /6. (no kill switch) I discovered that the alternator rotor had gone "open circuit" which caused the anti-restart relay(starter relay with a twist) to disable the starter function. Everything worked except the starter. To defeat the anti-restart, pull the blue wire from the starter relay. Weird but not un-heard of. Remove your tank and starter cover to jump directly to your starter motor. If the starter turns when energized directly, good luck with the wiring diagram. A thoughrough cleaning of all wiring connections is always a good idea. Be sure to keep us updated on your progress.

[Markst1]

Thanks for the suggestions. On the way to get into the headlight shell, the problem became clear to me. When I put the turn signal back on after mounting the fairing, I inadvertintly put the hot wire of the turn signal to ground. When the turn signal was activated, the upper fuse blew, and with it everything else except the lights.
Thanks again

[cjack]

Thanks for the suggestions. On the way to get into the headlight shell, the problem became clear to me. When I put the turn signal back on after mounting the fairing, I inadvertintly put the hot wire of the turn signal to ground. When the turn signal was activated, the upper fuse blew, and with it everything else except the lights.
Thanks again

Lesson #1...always check into the last thing you did before the problem occurred.

[Boxerkuh]

I also think that there is a Lesson #2 out there.... Last spring I was developing a problem with my horn... fixed it, but the bike was giving different electrical problems. To make a long story short... the horn was actually shorting out and one of the diodes on the starter relay broke... Now if the horn caused the starter relay, the starter relay caused the horn, or both happened at the same time and are unrelated, I don't know. But I am taking it more serious to clean all the connections once per year now.... because after all the bike is 20 years old.... Food for thought... :eat :drink