Topic: Well, I figured out why I wasn't getting continuity on my ground wire

[JDrider]

Looks like its been broken a long time ago.
I reinserted it in the bucket to see where it came to in the loom.
Its right at the point that bends every time you move the handlebars.
Looks ill be cutting open the loom and repairing some wires in that area.

[BenelliSEI]

Good catch! I recently found a ground wire (the one from the batt to the frame/engine case) that had corroded at the frame end to the point there was just powder in the sheath at the bottom end. It had been nicely shrink wrapped, but ZERO continuity.......

[TwoTired]

Pretty much all electrical problems are mechanical defects.

[Don R]

 I've used big shrink tube to replace that hardened loom cover. I think vintage wiring has a replacement also.

[bacongrease]

  I see a beverage there.

 That may be my problem ciphering the electrical issues. 

 

[HondaMan]

Pretty much all electrical problems are mechanical defects.

All the way down to the molecular level, in semiconductors!
I've long contended that all electrical equipment problems are just that - mechanical issues.

[Little_Phil]

Another not on wiring  and not to self: Careful how do you disconnect bullet connectors.
Just been in the headlight bucket to record the colours of the wires as some are non standard. Disconnected a few wires in the process and had headlight bucket just about right out.
After recording everything and repairing/cleaning the whole lot back together the flasher idiot light did not work. Wiring looked perfect to the eye so took some time to discover that the crimp had failed and the wire had receded into the insulation when I had pulled apart the connection.  Then found another on the headlight earth.

[RAFster122s]

Yes, notes to self and others…physical inspection of the wiring terminals with magnifying glass or similar sometimes shows you things you miss if you are not careful.
 The wire is crimped to the copper and the insulated sleeve of the wire. Usually the wire crimp doesn’t fail, but moisture can cause it to fail.
Fortunately we don’t see a lot of wire rot on the harnesses.
I have seen wiring harness failures on cars caused by moisture, green corrosion, and black wire rot as well.
Heck, Volvo made the mistake in the 80s of a wire supplier who made the wire to breakdown for recycling purposes and the breakdown was too accelerated and after 10 years the insulation was deteriorating and failing. Naturally, it had to get fought in a class action suit to lower the price of replacement harnesses to more reasonably prices as well as reimburse those whom had spent the $1000+ most often they cost. The labor rate was generally 8 hours or more too!

Volvo and the Swedes are big on recycling and it wasn’t malicious intent but movement in direction they were going to have  to comply with…
Now Volvo isn’t owned by the Swedes….their engineering took a turn after they went to front wheel drive platforms…not the same longevity and over engineering that was in earlier designs.

[newday777]

I've seen that insulation failure on a friend's Volvos. Just go to the junkyards looking for a good harness and finding all of them defunct.... it was a discouraging adventure.... :'(