1992 R80GS PD = switched live, without ignition interruption?

One thing though, why would there be an auxiliary instruments feed on the later GS/ GSPD bikes when there's no room for the clock/voltmeter to be mounted anywhere.

Is that a Clymer diagram?
The clock for a PD (or any post-91 GS) is a digital thing (look up where it is mounted) and has its own feed from the loom (4 wires, red/white included). There's a feed for heated grips and one for a hazard switch too. The additional instruments connector (according to my Haynes Manual diagram) has 2 wires, red/white and brown so no good for a voltmeter. Perhaps for another auxiliary socket? Can't think of an auxiliary instrument that needs a permanent live. Maybe someone here can....

So, 'not as designed' for me is an interpretation of your original fault - the feed for your speedo going to zero when you start the bike. By design, that 'permanent power supply' should not go to zero when you start the bike. By 33-year old wiring and perhaps more than one owner's modifications and possibly other underlying faults, who knows what design standard your bike is actually at? This isn't a criticism, just a view on the lack of facts available for us to evaluate and help you with, hence my 'what if' approach. What colour wire did you pick for your 'permanent power supply'?

My next 'what-if' is this: you mention "because pressing the starter button interrupts power to every switched live source I have located using my voltmeter and therefore reboots the speedo every time I start the bike) is there a switched live that does not get interrupted by the start button/starter motor?" The switched live circuit is green/black. There is also grey/black for the parking lights. That is switched, too. The green/black circuit goes through the load-shedding relay (it also goes to the indicator cancel button but that is irrelevant here (hopefully)). So if your speedo is connected to the switched live circuit then that is your issue. The answer to your question is no - unless you use the lighting circuit for your speedo. The grey/black lighting circuit does not go through the load-shedding relay.

So maybe bringing the auxiliary instrument feed to bear here is your best bet? Like, connect it to the permanent live feed your speedo requires?
 
So, 'not as designed' for me is an interpretation of your original fault - the feed for your speedo going to zero when you start the bike. By design, that 'permanent power supply' should not go to zero when you start the bike.

So maybe bringing the auxiliary instrument feed to bear here is your best bet? Like, connect it to the permanent live feed your speedo requires?
Thanks for the detailed response. It's appreciated.
My PD has factory heated grips and hazard lights, just as an FYI.
I'm away for a few days but will take a close look at (and voltmeter probe) my wiring using all this valuable info.
I'm wondering now if there's something bespoke about the additional instruments wires in my loom - that's what I believe the speedo is connected to, but will review ASAP
 
Ok we are into 'what ifs' here as the bike wiring system is not acting as designed. My 'what if' is that the threshold voltage at which the speedo operates is higher than the voltage drop experienced when you hit the start button. So this means there is a weak battery or some high resistance in the starter motor circuit (high power circuit).

You can test this theory, if you want, by putting a voltmeter across the battery when you start the bike.
My battery shows a momentary drop to circa 9v when starting
 
After further checks, the speedo is currently connected via wires from the main loom thus:

Red/white = permanent live to speedo digital clock power
Grey/blue = switched live interrupted by starter, to speedo backlight and main power
Brown = ground to speedo ground

I have now tried every wire from the main 4x fuses box and the behaviour is the same - starter interrupts the live supply on all.

Across the four fuses I have

Black Green to Yellow Green
Grey Black to Grey
White Red to Red
Brown Green to Blue Green
 
try swapping the losd shedding relay
Thanks,
Just looked on Motorworks, they list a "load shedding relay" for K bikes

1749798379105.jpg

with filter for my R80GS PD (correct, later series), no Load Shedding Relays are available.

1749798485428.jpg
A starter relay isn't a load shedding relay (is it?) and if it is, how is there a starter and a load shedding relay on a K bike, and only a starter relay on my R80GS
I thought I was confused enough and then, this.
 
My battery shows a momentary drop to circa 9v when starting
Green wire to coil is switched live!

I was trying to remember Green Black is also a switched live

Headlamp circuits are Load shedded

but if I recall not Sidelamp Circuits and brake lamp circuits they should always be Switched live, non interrupted

Sounds like some one has been playing with your bikes wiring ? Did I see a pic somewhere of your loom near a Dyno coil with insulating tape wrapping it ?
 
View attachment 418533

difficult to photo the numbers on mine, but has 402 on the side
People really do end up running in circles with this stuff

Diagnose! Don't Guess!

As a test If you have the headlamp on and press the starter button then your headlamp goes out whilst the starter button is pushed? Correct??

Don't turn off the ignition!

Just pull the relay

Does the headlamp go out immediately

Congrats you have just found your Load shedding relay

And if the headlamp goes out when the starter is pressed it is working

Its just a breaker to the higher current components of the electrical circuit
 
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1749801220728.jpg
 

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1459677 search comes up with this
@sidkn33 DOOOODE !!!!!!

Go do the test and stop obsessing with this!!

If you have the headlamp on and the Starter button interrupts the circuit Then the relay is working!!!!!!

Reach in and pull the Relay "Without" switching off the ignition and the headlamp goes out you have verified that this is the load shedding relay

It is Normal to see some voltage drop in a circuit when the starter is pulling Amps!!

Don;t use a DVM use an incandescent bulb ! DVM can fall out of calibration

So link in an indicator bulb for example on the circuit you want to test the voltage drop in

Just how badly does it dim ??
 
but if I recall not Sidelamp Circuits and brake lamp circuits they should always be Switched live, non interrupted

Sounds like some one has been playing with your bikes wiring ? Did I see a pic somewhere of your loom near a Dyno coil with insulating tape wrapping it ?
Yes, re sidelamp and brake circuits, but on mine they are all interrupted, it seems.

Possibly someone has been playing (other than me and I know that all I've done is run a wire from switched live in the fuse box, to feed my LED fog lights, Acewell speedo and USB port)
You've lost me on
"a pic somewhere of your loom near a Dyno coil with insulating tape wrapping it"
Do you mean this?
1749801799125.jpg

If so, it's the relay for my LED fog lights - with extra tape!
 
I
@sidkn33 DOOOODE !!!!!!

Go do the test and stop obsessing with this!!
Not obsessing, I'm following several people's helpful suggestions in this thread, that the problem with all my switched live wires being interrupted by the starter (this not being expected behaviour) is (possibly) caused by a bad load shedding relay.

I will pull the LS relay to confirm and test the load behaviour using a bulb as you suggest. Thanks.
 
I

Not obsessing, I'm following several people's helpful suggestions in this thread, that the problem with all my switched live wires being interrupted by the starter (this not being expected behaviour) is (possibly) caused by a bad load shedding relay.

I will pull the LS relay to confirm and test the load behaviour using a bulb as you suggest. Thanks.
I fear they may be Unintentionally leading you on a bit of a wild goose chase

To Explain, Your bike has 3 "main" circuits

Permanent Live (Solid red)

Switched Live Green (and Green Black, I think)

And "Interrupted Live" All those that run through the LS relay

AS @mikeyboy has mentioned it sounds like someone has been messing

Switched and interrupted should never be linked

SO as a failsafe and definitely not going to be interrupted, you can test the Green to the coil as it is 12v +ve on switch on

OR If the test identifies the LS relay as the one you suspect when you pull it out ?

Leave it out and see what stays live ??​
 
I think I've gone in a spiral, not a circle.
My head hurts.
You are not the first! How do you think I learned all this stuff

Hmmm Is the loom on your Bike still in its original sheath and is the sheath still pliable

I just had a thought where the two circuits could be crossing !!
 
I fear they may be Unintentionally leading you on a bit of a wild goose chase​
To Explain, Your bike has 3 "main" circuits​
Permanent Live (Solid red)​
Switched Live Green (and Green Black, I think)​
And "Interrupted Live" All those that run through the LS relay​
AS @mikeyboy has mentioned it sounds like someone has been messing​
Switched and interrupted should never be linked​
SO as a failsafe and definitely not going to be interrupted, you can test the Green to the coil as it is 12v +ve on switch on​
OR If the test identifies the LS relay as the one you suspect when you pull it out ?​
Leave it out and see what stays live ??​
Thanks a bunch for the input - especially re the different circuits.
The relay I show above does cause the headlight to go out when pulled so that's the LS relay.
I will now, leave it out and hunt for a switched live.

My loom looks original, unmolested and in good condition (for 30+ year old wiring anyway).
 


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