How are the rear flashers grounded?

[ThrottleJunky]

The fronts had a ground wire with them, the rears not so much. A little help would be great.

PS= I attached the front flashers to the pinch bolts on the forks. I made my own bracket.

[DiverRay]

The rears should have a black wire with a connection from the mount nut/bolt to a ground wire in the harness. This is usually a large loop at the nut end, and a bullet connector at the other end.
When in doubt, put a ground wire from the frame to the mount bolt, as it is squeezing rubber and NOT connected to the frame.

[ThrottleJunky]

The rears should have a black wire with a connection from the mount nut/bolt to a ground wire in the harness. This is usually a large loop at the nut end, and a bullet connector at the other end.
When in doubt, put a ground wire from the frame to the mount bolt, as it is squeezing rubber and NOT connected to the frame.

Thank you, I'm just wondering how it came from the factory. Where exactly does the pronged connection tie into the harness? The lights were not mounted when I bought the bike, and I'm trying to return it to factory spec.

[DiverRay]

The connectors are under the seat, near the fender mount. You should find some wires going into one of the cup type things held in place by metal tabs. All the connections should be there. The tail light wires "T" off from about 3" before the cup, depending on the model. Standards DO have an "extra" set of connections at the tail light, so the signals can easily be rear mounted when you install the factory hard bags.

[3Phase]

Here's a numbered parts diagram and list from Partzilla, you can see how the signals are laid out and the connectors:-


Partzilla / Home / OEM Parts / Yamaha / Motorcycle / 1980 / XS1100G / FLASHER LIGHT

[ThrottleJunky]

Well, I'm not sure what's going on here. I have my wiring diagram, and the power wire for each light is hooked to the appropriate color (light brown for the left rear, dark green for the right rear). I don't have 2 extra plugs in the tailight for each respective ground, so I plugged them into the auxiliary harness located under the seat at the rear fender. I have front blinker running lights, a front light, a tailight, no front or rear blinkers, and a buzzing sound when I turn on the signal. I am lost.

[3Phase]

You can plug the turn signals into the auxiliary connector, the 2-pole connector with the Black wire is the Ground for both signals.

[ThrottleJunky]

There's a pigtail under the seat coming off the main harness which goes into the rear light. It has light brown, dark green, and black ground. I assume it's fine to use that pigtail, which is where I have everything plugged in.

The rear light works fine, and the front headlight and running lights work fine. When I hit the turn signal switch, the nippendenso fn257c, which I understand is a canceling unit, starts buzzing. The rears never light up no matter what I do.

[3Phase]

There's a pigtail under the seat coming off the main harness which goes into the rear light. It has light brown, dark green, and black ground. I assume it's fine to use that pigtail, which is where I have everything plugged in.

The rear light works fine, and the front headlight and running lights work fine. When I hit the turn signal switch, the nippendenso fn257c, which I understand is a canceling unit, starts buzzing. The rears never light up no matter what I do.

Yep, you can use the other connector.

A lot of XS1100 turn signals won't flash unless the engine is running and it's supposed to use lamps with 27W signal elements. The flasher is really picky, it doesn't want to flash unless there's good voltage and a 54W load from the front and rear lamps. My signals do work with just battery voltage but along with the correct lamps, every connector, switch, and lamp socket contact has to be squeaky clean. The flasher itself has to be in good condition too or it won't work.

If the signal lamps come on but still won't flash, start the engine and bring it up to around 2,000 RPM, then try the signals and see if they work.


You can also test the turn signals with the emergency hazard flasher relay.

Turn on the hazard switch on the left-hand handlebar control to make sure the hazard flasher relay is working and all four signal lamps are flashing.

Unplug the 3-pole turn signal flasher relay, then plug the 2-pole Hazard flasher relay into the turn signal connector so it's using the Brown and Brown/White wires.

The Yellow/Green wire is for the signal auto-cancel circuit and you don't need it to test the signals.

If the turn signals work with the hazard flasher relay, you can try to fix the 3-pole flasher or get another 2-pole flasher from the auto parts store and don't use the signal auto-canceler.

[ThrottleJunky]

The rears won't blink with the hazard on but the front will. The 10 amp signal fuse has blown twice. I took the relay from my other bike, which works fine, and put it on this bike. It buzzes just like the current one.

I have no clue what could be the problem. The bulbs are fine.

I did run the bike and they still won't blink. I verified the bike is charging, over 13 volts and rising when the rpms are up.

[3Phase]

The rears won't blink with the hazard on but the front will. The 10 amp signal fuse has blown twice. I took the relay from my other bike, which works fine, and put it on this bike. It buzzes just like the current one.

I have no clue what could be the problem. The bulbs are fine.

I did run the bike and they still won't blink. I verified the bike is charging, over 13 volts and rising when the rpms are up.

The Signal fuse is supposed to be 20A, not 10A so it'll keep popping until you put in the right fuse.

The hazard relay won't be able to flash if only the front lamps are working.

The Chocolate and Dark Green turn signal wires for the left/right signals have no connectors after the turn signal harness from the left-hand control. The signal wires run up to the instrument cluster indicators and to the front and rear lamps. If the front signals light up but not the rear, make sure the rear signals are plugged into right wires.

Use a meter to check the signal voltage for the rear signals wherever you plugged them into the harness. Put the positive probe on the signal wire and the negative probe on the Black ground connector. If there's no voltage reading, put the negative probe on an unpainted spot on the frame or the negative battery terminal to see if the signal voltage is good but the ground is bad.

Check the signal lamps with a 12V jumper wire on the positive lead at the signal stalk and ground the Black wire.

[ThrottleJunky]

Thank you. I should clarify that I keep blowing the 10 amp taillight fuse.

[3Phase]

Thank you. I should clarify that I keep blowing the 10 amp taillight fuse.

The Tail circuit also connects to the front running lights on your '80G and they turn on with the Ignition key before you start the engine. The circuit comes straight off the switch with a Blue wire to the 10A Tail fuse, then to the tail lights and back up front to the running lights.

Out of curiosity, what schematic are you using? I have one you can download and zoom in with your computer or print out on 4 pieces of paper so you can look at it while you work without dragging a laptop into the garage.

Here's the thread with the links:-

XS11.com Forums > Idle Talk Forum > XS11/XJ11 Discussion
Color XS1100G USA Schematic

[ThrottleJunky]

Thank you very much for that. I am using the same one except it was black and white. That helps. I need to get more 10 amp fuses before I can move further. I really appreciate your help.

I was thinking about the way I grounded the flashers, and it should be fine. I put the ground between the nut and a large washer on the flasher bolt. It's pretty much like the fronts.

[3Phase]

As long as the lights work -- good job and have fun with the wiring!

I hate black and white diagrams, I'm glad the color version is useful for you.