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couple electrickery questions.

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  • #1

    couple electrickery questions.

    ok, on my 79 special, i know i have a weak battery, but the turn signals, indicator lights like the oil and neutral lights all can turn on. but the headlight will not. I know its not as simple as the headlight being burnt out, because i inspected the filaments and swapped in a working headlights from a 81 special. then i saw that the 79 didn't have the reserve lighting block like my 81 did. so i took the one from my 81 and plugged it into my 79, still no light. i looked at the wiring behind the headlight, and there is 2 blue wires that come together and have the female part of a bullet connector on the end of them, they have nothing plugged in to them, and a red wire with a female end with nothing plugged into it. so im guessing thats the culprit, but i can't find any wires to plug into them. so im kinda stuck atm with that, any ideas?
    second question, whats this? and where does it go? it was just hanging down when i got the bike.
    1979 xs special, just finished the top end rebuild and then i still have lots of work.
    progress thus far...
    http://s1268.photobucket.com/albums/...t=IMAG0202.jpg

    "If it runs bad, it's usually the carbs. If the tires go flat, I suspect the carbs. If the wind blows the bike over, the carbs were probably to blame. If my wife yells at me about something, I tell her to talk to the carbs" -Incubus
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  • #2
    oh, and does the 79 have backlighting for the tach and speedo?
    1979 xs special, just finished the top end rebuild and then i still have lots of work.
    progress thus far...
    http://s1268.photobucket.com/albums/...t=IMAG0202.jpg

    "If it runs bad, it's usually the carbs. If the tires go flat, I suspect the carbs. If the wind blows the bike over, the carbs were probably to blame. If my wife yells at me about something, I tell her to talk to the carbs" -Incubus

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    • #3
      The headlight and gauge lights don't come on till the headlight relay receives a signal from the stator. So no lights turn on till the bike is started.

      Red wire is a hot wire supplied for accessories. Blue wire is for running lights that the special didn't have and the silver box is the ballast resistor for the coils. It should be mounted to a small bracket on the frame tube just above the valve cover on the left side.
      Nathan
      KD9ARL

      μολὼν λαβέ

      1978 XS1100E
      K&N Filter
      #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
      OEM Exhaust
      ATK Fork Brace
      LED Dash lights
      Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters
      Green Monster Coils
      SS Brake Lines
      Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

      In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

      Theodore Roosevelt

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      • #4
        Nate, I have a '79 Special and the headlight comes on as soon as I turn on the key (ie; before pushing the starter button). Am I missing something in your note?
        1995 KZ100P
        Pods, jets, pipes, cam adjuster, oil cooler

        1977 Ironhead - custom build
        Hot engine, custom frame, KZ front and rear, high torque starter, alternator conversion, Progressive shocks, Thunderheart wiring, Dyna ignition, oil cooler, Dakota Digital instruments, etc.

        Sold all my XS's to Eastcoaster but still love to keep up with you guys. This is the best cycle forum on the web.

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Aches n Pains View Post
          Nate, I have a '79 Special and the headlight comes on as soon as I turn on the key (ie; before pushing the starter button). Am I missing something in your note?
          Should be a relay in the system that prevents that. It does get removed though sometimes if the relay quits working. The relay is a small gold colored box right up in front of the tipover switch right up by the coils.

          Unless for some reason Yamaha didn't put that feature on the '79 special, but then why would they put it back on the later specials.
          Nathan
          KD9ARL

          μολὼν λαβέ

          1978 XS1100E
          K&N Filter
          #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
          OEM Exhaust
          ATK Fork Brace
          LED Dash lights
          Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters
          Green Monster Coils
          SS Brake Lines
          Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

          In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

          Theodore Roosevelt

          Comment

          • #6
            Originally posted by natemoen View Post
            Should be a relay in the system that prevents that. It does get removed though sometimes if the relay quits working. The relay is a small gold colored box right up in front of the tipover switch right up by the coils.

            Unless for some reason Yamaha didn't put that feature on the '79 special, but then why would they put it back on the later specials.
            No, it was there. All Yamaha bikes of the era (at least all street bikes) had the feature to save the battery. If it's not there its because it was bypassed on his bike by a PO.
            Cy

            1980 XS1100G (Brutus) w/81H Engine
            Duplicolor Mirage Paint Job (Purple/Green)
            Vetter Windjammer IV
            Vetter hard bags & Trunk
            OEM Luggage Rack
            Jardine Spaghetti 4-2 exhaust system
            Spade Fuse Box
            Turn Signal Auto Cancel Mod
            750 FD Mod
            TC Spin on Oil Filter Adapter (temp removed)
            XJ1100 Front Footpegs
            XJ1100 Shocks

            I was always taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one.

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            • #7
              thanks nate. i'll see if lights come on tomorrow when i finally have my carbs good to go.
              1979 xs special, just finished the top end rebuild and then i still have lots of work.
              progress thus far...
              http://s1268.photobucket.com/albums/...t=IMAG0202.jpg

              "If it runs bad, it's usually the carbs. If the tires go flat, I suspect the carbs. If the wind blows the bike over, the carbs were probably to blame. If my wife yells at me about something, I tell her to talk to the carbs" -Incubus

              Comment

              • #8
                You asked if the tach and speedo should be backlit... and they should. Check the three wire connector coming off your stator too. I think all three wires should be white (maybe look yellow) and the connector should be on the right hand side cover, probably behind the starter relay (I'm going from memory... someone will chime in if I'm wrong here). That connector usually corrodes up, then overheats and burns. I'm pretty sure one of the symptoms after that happens is that you your speedo and tach backlights.

                Good luck!
                '80 SG with motor from a '82 XJ

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