Topic: Major electrical problem??

[MikeJW]

I have a 1972 750 which I bought almost 4 years ago. For the past 2 years, it hasn't given a problem of any kind. Tuesday, I was out riding and the bike suddenly quit. I found I had no electrical power at all. I knew the battery was fully charged, so I checked the fuse, which was fine. Turning the key to any position did  not give me any lights: neither headlight, taillight, turn signals nor dashboard idiot lights.....nothing. With no electrics, obviously, I couldn't even kick start. I checked for a loose wire in the headlight bucket and in the triangle under the battery and as I said, the fuse was not blown. I was in an exposed place, so I pushed into an empty parking lot. I noticed it was very hard to push even holding the clutch. The bike has always been very tricky getting into neutral. Once while I was pushing it, the power came back...I saw the idiot lights come on, but then it went away again. My question is- could this all be from a gone bad ignition switch?
I don't know if it is original or not, but I think it may be. Thanks, Mike

[TwoTired]

It can be from a faulty ignition switch , or any fault in the connection between battery and ignition switch. It could also be a battery connection fault/intermittent, (even a loose battery cable).

You could just wiggle bits of bike wiring and watch for light/on off condition.  When you can make the light go on and off by wiggling just one bit, you found it!

[flybox1]

as TT said, check wiring from ignition/controls/bars to headlight and under tank.
look for old, cracked wire insulation.
it gets stiff and exacerbate wire 'wear' if there are major bends/kinks.
I bet a slow side to side of your bars will flicker it on. 
also check the pin connector block under you tank/seat.

[steam-powered man]

+1

turn key to "on" position and wiggle wires behind iginition switch, then others.  at some point the idiot lights will come back.  good luck!