joel
Registered user
Had a small electrical problem on my GS a few days and I wondered if anyone here has had similar or can shed any light on what went wrong. Here's what happened...
I first noticed a problem after my usual ride to work (about 35 miles) after switching the bike off I was pushing it into a parking space and noticed when I put the front brake on the neutral light and ignition light came on
and I could hear the fuel pumps run too. I then noticed that the back light was on. All this and the ignition switched was off!! Anyway I took out a fuse so that the back light went off to stop the battery going flat. When I went to ride the bike home in the evening I put the fuse back in. This time the back light stayed off, so I started her up (there were no problems starting) and rode off home with the intention off checking whats up when I got home. Anyway as I rode home every time I used either the back or front brake the ignition light came on but only dimly. this also happened when I put it into neutral and the neutral light came on. I thought something might be up with the charging of the battery so I avoided the motorway and went home on the A Roads and spent the next couple of days on the train to work.
So the weekend comes and after a quick scan of the Haynes manual wiring diagram I start to check things out. There are
a couple of fuses blown, from the left of the bike these are the 1st and third fuses. Thinking that most of the wiring is under the tank I try to take of the petrol tank, wishing I hadn't filled up on the way home as it now has an almost full 30 litres in it!! anyway after struggling for some time I get all the hoses disconnected and bolts undone. I managed to move the tank back but could not get the one of the fuel hoses out from its path though the frame. At this point as I could not see much from my limited view under the tank I decided to put it back together and take it down to the bike shop and get an expert to take a look. So I got the tank back on which was not too hard and replaced the two blown fuses.
Switching on the ignition the ignition lights came on as they should, and the only thing I could spot was althought the back light was on, the brake lights did not work using either front or back lever. So anyway I decide to turn her over just to make sure. The bike starts with ease just like it always does. After about 10-15 seconds though I notice smoke coming from under the tank so I think 'thats not good' and switch off the ignition. The engine cuts out only the lights on the display panel all stay on. Not sure which ones now as I was starting to panic but my mind thinks that every light was on, ignition, neutral and maybe even indicator ones. My big panic was cos the smoke was still pouring out and I could see that wires beneath the tank were glowing bright orange, so I blinding start ripping every fuse going out but that makes no difference - worse still we have an integral garage so I am starting to worrying about the house going up as you know what its like disconnecting fuel hoses, there has definitely been spillage.
Anyway the missus has helpfully parked her car in front of the garage door so I cannot even wheel the bike out. So I called out to her to come and move her car pronto (some blue language here, but I felt justified), but the smoke and orange glow are still just as bad. Anyway she comes out and moves the car so I wheel the bike out which is still smoking badly. The only thing can think of is disconnect the battery, only as you probably know this means taking the tank off. so lucky I know how this works as I have just it. So off comes the bolt on the right and I just get the tank up enough to take off one of the battery leads. I guess this must have taken about 5 minutes but it seemed longer. The smoking had stopped but I don't know if this was when I disconnected the battery or it has simply burnt itself out.
So my big question is does this usually happen with GS's or was I just unlucky and apart from a new loom what else am I lightly to have to replace.
Thanks for reading.
PS forgot the mention that when the bike shop took it all apart they found a big section of the bike loom burnt out with five wires welded together, also the loom was burnt right up the the ECU, so maybe thats gone too.
I first noticed a problem after my usual ride to work (about 35 miles) after switching the bike off I was pushing it into a parking space and noticed when I put the front brake on the neutral light and ignition light came on
and I could hear the fuel pumps run too. I then noticed that the back light was on. All this and the ignition switched was off!! Anyway I took out a fuse so that the back light went off to stop the battery going flat. When I went to ride the bike home in the evening I put the fuse back in. This time the back light stayed off, so I started her up (there were no problems starting) and rode off home with the intention off checking whats up when I got home. Anyway as I rode home every time I used either the back or front brake the ignition light came on but only dimly. this also happened when I put it into neutral and the neutral light came on. I thought something might be up with the charging of the battery so I avoided the motorway and went home on the A Roads and spent the next couple of days on the train to work.
So the weekend comes and after a quick scan of the Haynes manual wiring diagram I start to check things out. There are
a couple of fuses blown, from the left of the bike these are the 1st and third fuses. Thinking that most of the wiring is under the tank I try to take of the petrol tank, wishing I hadn't filled up on the way home as it now has an almost full 30 litres in it!! anyway after struggling for some time I get all the hoses disconnected and bolts undone. I managed to move the tank back but could not get the one of the fuel hoses out from its path though the frame. At this point as I could not see much from my limited view under the tank I decided to put it back together and take it down to the bike shop and get an expert to take a look. So I got the tank back on which was not too hard and replaced the two blown fuses.
Switching on the ignition the ignition lights came on as they should, and the only thing I could spot was althought the back light was on, the brake lights did not work using either front or back lever. So anyway I decide to turn her over just to make sure. The bike starts with ease just like it always does. After about 10-15 seconds though I notice smoke coming from under the tank so I think 'thats not good' and switch off the ignition. The engine cuts out only the lights on the display panel all stay on. Not sure which ones now as I was starting to panic but my mind thinks that every light was on, ignition, neutral and maybe even indicator ones. My big panic was cos the smoke was still pouring out and I could see that wires beneath the tank were glowing bright orange, so I blinding start ripping every fuse going out but that makes no difference - worse still we have an integral garage so I am starting to worrying about the house going up as you know what its like disconnecting fuel hoses, there has definitely been spillage.
Anyway the missus has helpfully parked her car in front of the garage door so I cannot even wheel the bike out. So I called out to her to come and move her car pronto (some blue language here, but I felt justified), but the smoke and orange glow are still just as bad. Anyway she comes out and moves the car so I wheel the bike out which is still smoking badly. The only thing can think of is disconnect the battery, only as you probably know this means taking the tank off. so lucky I know how this works as I have just it. So off comes the bolt on the right and I just get the tank up enough to take off one of the battery leads. I guess this must have taken about 5 minutes but it seemed longer. The smoking had stopped but I don't know if this was when I disconnected the battery or it has simply burnt itself out.
So my big question is does this usually happen with GS's or was I just unlucky and apart from a new loom what else am I lightly to have to replace.
Thanks for reading.
PS forgot the mention that when the bike shop took it all apart they found a big section of the bike loom burnt out with five wires welded together, also the loom was burnt right up the the ECU, so maybe thats gone too.
