Topic: Turn signals/headlight issue

[JDrider]

Sooooo I have been plagued with this gremlin since I acquired this bike in October.
1975 cb550k1
Signals wouldn’t turn on and headlight would work every once in a while.
I rearranged all the wiring in the birds nest to match the diagrams.
Finally I have the turn signals working.
But … when I turn the switch for the headlights in without headlight attached. The signal flasher makes a sound but front headlights flash opposite.
Once I connect the headlight the flasher doesn’t work anymore and the headlight coil glows but doesn’t turn on.
Any insight?
Please help me. Lol

[newday777]

Something isn't wired correctly in the bucket.

[TwoTired]

The nuts holding the headlight mount bolts are supposed to have terminals that connect to the green wires in the harness.  Do you have those connected?

[JDrider]

The nuts holding the headlight mount bolts are supposed to have terminals that connect to the green wires in the harness.  Do you have those connected?

Yes, there are grounds on both nuts and they are connected to a main ground.

[Don R]

  It sounds like the running light wires are crossed with the turn signal wires, a shorted out light bulb can act weird also. These is a light blue, black with a blue band, black with an orange band, and a darker blue in the harness, be sure the blues aren't crossed. 

[JDrider]

After checking all the wiring colors and connections.
Everything looks correct.
I have noticed the signal grounds prefer one of the ground connection to another ground connection. 
I didn’t think it should matter which ground connections things are grounded to. Odd.
I also noticed a 9 volts reading on one of the green ground junctions

[bryanj]

Then something is connected wrong

[JDrider]

The ground wire that is acting up is the one that goes from the rear signals to the front.
When checking for continuity from the rear to front, there is none.
So, I’m to assume the wire is broken somewhere in the main wire harness?
What would cause it to have 9 volts?

[TwoTired]

9 volts compared to what voltage source?  Where are your measuring points and ground reference?

[JDrider]

9 volts compared to what voltage source?  Where are your measuring points and ground reference?

I'm getting 9 volts on my ground wire. That same main ground that goes from rear signals to front is also not showing continuity.

[TwoTired]

9 volts on a single wire is unmeasurable without a return reference. Your meter has two probes and they must both be employed to get any reading on the display.

You also need to state how much voltage is available to distribute on your machine.  Is your 12v battery run down to 9v?

No one can troubleshoot/analyze  a system without collecting a list of “knowns” about the circuit.  The less you know, the harder to understand what is happening in the circuit and explain meter readings.

That said, do I assume correctly you have located a broken green wire?  If so, a physical exam of that circuit path is in order.  The rear signal mounts are rubber isolated. Did you check the wire jumper to make a path from bulb base to green ?

[JDrider]

I measured voltage using red probe on green ground coming into headlight bucket from main wiring and black probe on the ground wire nut inside the headlight bucket.
I have a fully charged battery.
My point was that I was seeing voltage on a ground when I did that.
Also, when probing the green ground that is attached to rear turn signal junction all the way to the green ground junction in headlight bucket in question, I wasn't getting continuity.
I was getting continuity when testing all other green wires the same way in bucket.

9 volts on a single wire is unmeasurable without a return reference. Your meter has two probes and they must both be employed to get any reading on the display.

You also need to state how much voltage is available to distribute on your machine.  Is your 12v battery run down to 9v?

No one can troubleshoot/analyze  a system without collecting a list of “knowns” about the circuit.  The less you know, the harder to understand what is happening in the circuit and explain meter readings.

That said, do I assume correctly you have located a broken green wire?  If so, a physical exam of that circuit path is in order.  The rear signal mounts are rubber isolated. Did you check the wire jumper to make a path from bulb base to green ?

[TwoTired]

All the green common ground wires on the bike should reference the battery neg terminal.  All should read zero volts, when using the red probe on any green connection  and keeping the black probe on battery neg (or as near to it as convenient).

[JDrider]

All the green common ground wires on the bike should reference the battery neg terminal.  All should read zero volts, when using the red probe on any green connection  and keeping the black probe on battery neg (or as near to it as convenient).

Yes, I know this. I posted because it isn't. I'm trying to figure out what is going on.

[JDrider]

Found that the one ground wire was broken, Im sure others are too.
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