HELP! Left Control Wiring

[FormerGlory]

Ok, my '80 SG is completely restored now except for a few last details. Refitted and hooked up the wiring harness, and except for the headlight and turn signals not working, she's good. Inside the left handlebar control that houses the headlight Hi/Lo switch, the turn signal switch and the horn button, I have a black ground wire with a ring terminal - and I can't remember which screw head it attaches to. The wiring diagrams show a black ground wire connecting to the horn and also connecting to the turn signal switch, and this same ground goes to the headlight. I suspect this is the problem. No ground, no current flow.

Below is a link to a picture of the inside of the left control. The black wire with ring terminal is shown. Need to know which screw head it attaches to.

Hope you can help...

http://picturepush.com/public/7850254

[fredintoon]

- - - I have a black ground wire with a ring terminal - and I can't remember which screw head it attaches to. - - -

Hi Dennis,
I don't think the circuit cares as long as the black wire is grounded to the switch body, the switch body is grounded to the handlebar and of course, the 'bar is grounded to the bike.
What I did was pick the screw that lets the switch body close the easiest.
Dunno if I hit the original screw or not but my switch works OK.

[FormerGlory]

I was thinking the same...a ground is a ground is a ground. I'm going to jumper the black wire's ring terminal to a known good ground and make sure that fixes it. I also had the top and bottom control pieces powder coated so they may not be making good contact with the handlebar.

Thanks

[CatatonicBug]

That scew in the upper left corner of the picture looks to be a good candidate for that ring terminal. I can't remember exactly where mine is connected, but that's what I would try first.

[natemoen]

a ground is a ground is a ground

Yup, you got it!

[mack]

Nope

Just did mine last week. It's the bottom half of the picture with the screw with the brass from left to right on it just over the flasher cancel thingy. If you put it on the upper left one the lead isn't long enough to let the switch housing flip around the bars.

[fredintoon]

I was thinking the same...a ground is a ground is a ground. I'm going to jumper the black wire's ring terminal to a known good ground and make sure that fixes it. I also had the top and bottom control pieces powder coated so they may not be making good contact with the handlebar.

Hi Dennis,
I'm not sure if the switch itself needs to be grounded before it will work properly.
Sand the powdercoat off where the switch body grips the bar to make sure and use a multi-meter to check for continuity.

[FormerGlory]

Thanks to all. I'll get back to you on results.

[CaptonZap]

Below is a link to a picture of the inside of the left control. The black wire with ring terminal is shown. Need to know which screw head it attaches to.

Hope you can help...

http://picturepush.com/public/7850254

It looks like the length of the wire would be right to put the terminal under the head of the screw that holds the sheetmetal plate. That looks like there would be room for the wire and terminal when the top is put back on. You might even see evidence of the terminal being in contact with the plate, unless you've done a superlative job of cleaning the plate, or that isn't where it goes. CZ