Topic: Electrical Woes

[ben_jamin321]

I recently replaced my steering head bearings and fork seals on my 77' 550K ...all went well, except now after hooking all the wires back up I think something might be screwed up with my turn signals. With the engine not running, the left front signal will flash on/off but i think too slowly. The right front signal will flash on and then just stay on. The thing is, when the engine is running they seem to work fine. Is this normal? I guess it doesn't really matter much since you dont typically use your signals with the engine off, but I'm still a bit curious... Also, are the rear signals meant to work as running lights? Right now only the front signals are working as running lights. Thanks!!!

[kettlesd]

Id say you have a marginal ground contact in the right signal. Ill bet a beer that if you fix the goround connection it will work again just fine.

Sean

[750goes]

second that suggestion

[ben_jamin321]

Is that the two green wires connected to the bolts on either side of the headlight bucket? The connections looked ok, should I just be looking for corrosion? Thanks much!

[kettlesd]

Yes, but the ground connection relies on a mechanical fit connection at the signal-stems. Make sure there is good contact.

[ben_jamin321]

I'll give that a shot - cheers!

[medic09]

As to your other question re: running lights (caveat emptor, I have a 750, not a 550), most of these bikes (all?) did not have rear running lights.  Front signals were; rear were not.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I use my turn signals as a volt meter whenever at a standstill. When the battery is in a good state of charge the signals blink faster and the beeper beeps faster. When it starts to slow down while I'm temporarily stopped at a signal, etc especially in city traffic I rev the engine to get the charging output up so as not to drain the battery further. When they stop blinking/beeping I get my ass home or on the highway to get a little charge back into the battery. Unfortunate but an inherent symptom of our charging systems when they are getting old, have been neglected and need help. Just remember the charging system doesn't provide any charge until you get up to 1700-1800 rpms.