Oops! Hot Wires!

[fishinfool88]

I've been browsing around for a while and would like to thank everyone for contributing to the board, as I have learned alot and got an old bike running... sorta Well, I went and bought new headlights/turn signals after removing the fairing, and got the headlight wired in great. Finally, I went to wire the turn signal and touched the red wire that was hot on ignition to a ground I believe. I'm not quite sure which wires it was, but I remember fiddling with these.
So as I turn on the ignition I get a few sparks, and a dimming headlight followed by absolutely nothing. Everything went dead, and the wires leading out of my turn signal were too hot to touch. I have searched the forum over, and tried to determine something about a main fuse, which I can't find since the P.O. rewire the bike HIS way. I am replacing the fusebox as it is in sad shape along with an inline holder I found near it with a red wire attached. My Clymer's should be in the mail and I will be buying a cd manual here soon. I just bought the bike, it's my first bike as I just turned 18 (old enough that dad can't say no to a motorcycle anymore.)Any help anyone can provide is greatly appreciated. Being that I am slightly modifying the bike cosmetically, I have a few sidecovers and a fairing in rough shape I'd be willing to barter of if anyone is interested.

[HobbyMan]

Your gonna find that until you get everything squared away. You are going to spend night and day in the garage. Her is what I suggest. Find another wiring harness specific to your model bike. Replace the old one with a good one. Then, you will know exactly has been done to it. It didn't take me but a few minutes to get the new harness routed tied down. It may be longer for you, I don't know. The only thing I have done since I turned 18 in Jan is work in my garage trying to get 3 XSs restored and running properly while maintaining 3 more. If someone has gotten into your harness, it is by fair easiest and possibly cheapest just to replace it. (time=money) Looks like you started your motorcycle welding class a little prematurely. I am sure Andreas has one. He has everything, and at reasonable prices. Its hard to give long distance advice when we don't know what is actually broken or shorted (whatever).
On a side note:
I was in a similar situation you are in. When I was 17 I need to get my motorcycle license. I could no longer ride the school bus because of sports and our old 86 suburban was getting 11mpg. After all the presentations, I was not making any progress. Finally, I delivered an ultimatum. "Either you can help teach me to ride and go through this with me or I am going to do it myself." That did the trick. Long story short, I have my license. Somehow we ended up with six bikes. Mine, the one that I pay for and is titled in my name, is also an 80Standard.

[Ljay40]

Quote "I have searched the forum over, and tried to determine something about a main fuse, which I can't find since the P.O. rewire the bike HIS way. I am replacing the fusebox as it is in sad shape along with an inline holder I found near it with a red wire attached."

This is a long shot and the easy fix Check behind your left side cover for a lil black rubber fuse holder about a inch long wiht a red wire coming out from the back of it the cap pops off of it and
in there is a main fuse thats what was wrong with my bike when i got it

Your previous owner may have bypassed it tho using the another inline holder that you may have described

I think you are on the right track use a volt meter and start from your battery checking power to the fuse block I think a lil searching and you will find it
HTH
Hey bye the way congrats on your first Bike and welcome to the site!

[Cosmo]

I also had wiring issues with my bike and was able to cure them by getting another harness. Over the years mods by the PO sometimes makes it impossible to trace problems. Also if you buy from EBAY make sure that the seller knows what they are talking about. Best to check with other members of this site. Be sure that the seller has some policy for return. I bought a caliper from a vendor in FT. Myers Fl thinking that paypal and Ebay would protect me. BULL S**T!!! Thank goodness that lesson only cost me 28$. I wish all my life lessons were that cheap...Cosmo