72 T500 no spark

[jabcb]

Great, you are making good headway now.

Just to clarify your explanation,
1) when wired up as shown in pic (black w/ white stripe wire pigtail connected as shown) you get nothing
2) when you disconnect the pigtail and run a wire from it to the battery negative terminal, you get everything

The pigtail attachment is correct in the pic.

If my clarification is correct, then the problem is with either the battery negative wire connection to ground, or the rectifier negative connection to ground.

Where does the battery negative wire (black w/ white stripe) connect to?

[Tamadrmr26]

correct.

i followed the b/w wire off the battery to the bolt for the retifier. cleaned that up real good and everything is working now. the only thing that i can see isnt working correctly is the turn signals. when i hit the signal switch the correct side will light up but it wont flash, it will stay lit and that awful buzzer goes off.

[Coyote]

Those old flashers required a certain amount of load to work. I had the same issue with my 550. Then I added a third bulb and it worked fine. Get yourself a cheap automotive flasher and that problem will go away.

[oldjapanesebikes]

The other problem with the signals is that the return path to the battery is through the frame - if there is corrosion on the mount points for the lights, or inside the lights themselves, then you will have trouble. You can also sometimes repair the old style flasher units having the metal can covers - just pull the can off and clean the contacts, although Coyote's suggestion will last a lot longer .

[Tamadrmr26]

oo. ok. i have one bulb out in the back and maybe some busted wires as the bulb housing and stalk are just hanging on one side. fixing that might do it. thanks

[rbond]

ALL of the bulbs must be good and ALL the wiring too for the turn signals to work. If you get a cheap electronic relay, it will flash even if a bulb or connection is bad. I prefer the OEM because it is a quick way of knowing you have a blown bulb, rather than thinking all you signals are working when they are not. This would help prevent an accident because you thought you signaled a turn but nothing worked to show the car driver you were turning....... But if you must get an electronic flasher, at least check you turn signals each time you first start your bike for the day.

[Tamadrmr26]

good point. does anyone have any tips on what to do to prep the bike for startup? or a good link to some info? i want to make sure ive covered everything before i start it to make sure i dont blow any dried up seals or anything

[jabcb]

it wont flash, it will stay lit and that awful buzzer goes off.

Back in the 70s they used to sell aftermarket buzzers that would go off when the turn signal flashed. Purpose was to remind you to shut the turn signal off after the turn. If this is what you are referring to, then you can remove the buzzer if you don't like it.

does anyone have any tips on what to do to prep the bike for startup?

Suggest you start a new topic to ask about startup tips.

[TLRam1]

Make sure you have a good "battery to frame" ground and a good "motor to frame" ground. I have fixed several of the canister flasher units by un-crimping the canister and cleaning the contacts than insure your blinkers connections, positive and ground, are good with good bulbs.

[Tamadrmr26]

ok. thanks for all the help. jabcb, i think i owe you a few beers. i'll post when i get it started. thanks again

[alanr]

I had the buzzing sound on my XS1.tried alsorts but it turned out to be bad earthing.I had mine bolted to the battery box so I bolted it to the frame.

[Coyote]

My 78 GS1000 came stock with a buzzer. It's even on the fiche. I bought another one from Suzuki and mounted it on my 75 550. It's annoying as hell, but you don't forget to turn the flasher off.

[Tamadrmr26]

i had an old dual sport a few years ago and that didnt have a buzzer. i never had a problem remembering to shut off the flashers so i will probly just take it off. also, im not into big cruisers but i took a ride on my friends road king the other day and it had an automatic blinker shut off on it. i think it worked by your wait shifting back to upright. i thought that was pretty cool and seemed to work well

[Suzsmokeyallan]

Remember to check the bulb wattage as well, most bulbs are either 21W or 23W for indicators and this will make the mechanical flashers blink rate change because the 23W bulbs load it more than the 21W ones will.