ccroaker Posted April 30 Posted April 30 help wanted from all the mechanical wizards on here... I have a 78 GS 1000.. went out to the shed.. started first tip.. went for a short spin.. started running real rough.. clicked it into neutral.. neutral light flashing on and off.. stopped turned it off.. looked around ...turned on the key again.. totally dead.. got help and another good battery still completely dead.. managed to get it home thanks to a passing van who knew me... pushed into the shed... any ideas ??... thanks in advance Quote
Gixer1460 Posted April 30 Posted April 30 Basics . . . . . Fuel, Air and sparks! #1 Does it have fuel in tank? Is that fuel getting to ALL carbs, Are float valves working as required, What do plugs look like? #2 Filter fitted or no - what state is it in if fitted? Is throttle moving slides or butterflies in carbs? #3 Do you have a spark at the plugs - good or weak? Answers help with diagnosis! We may be mechanical wizards but ' my bike doesn't work' doesn't help identify problems! 1 Quote
ccroaker Posted April 30 Author Posted April 30 12 minutes ago, Gixer1460 said: Basics . . . . . Fuel, Air and sparks! #1 Does it have fuel in tank? Is that fuel getting to ALL carbs, Are float valves working as required, What do plugs look like? #2 Filter fitted or no - what state is it in if fitted? Is throttle moving slides or butterflies in carbs? #3 Do you have a spark at the plugs - good or weak? Answers help with diagnosis! We may be mechanical wizards but ' my bike doesn't work' doesn't help identify problems! there's no lights on the dash.. completely dead.. even with a good battery... so I know it's not fuel or filters or spark... checked fuses all seem good.. even with a good battery nothing lights up on the dash Quote
Captain Chaos Posted April 30 Posted April 30 all the symptoms of a broken wire somewhere. 1 hour ago, ccroaker said: started running real rough.. clicked it into neutral.. neutral light flashing on and off.. 1 hour ago, ccroaker said: another good battery still completely dead. 1 Quote
jameskat Posted April 30 Posted April 30 5 minutes ago, Captain Chaos said: all the symptoms of a broken wire somewhere. Or dodgy ignition switch, check fuses then go from there, more of a electrical issue than a mechanical issue by the sounds of it. 1 Quote
TonyGee Posted April 30 Posted April 30 had the same issue with my GSX11, it was a bad connection on the live wire to the ign switch in the headlight. Quote
wraith Posted April 30 Posted April 30 Id say it a main power wire, time to get the multimeter out, but if you don't have one, unplug your side light and use that. Keep the negative connected, get a spare bit of wire put that on the positive wire from the side light and start touching the power wires (one at a time) with the wire. If you have power on that wire the bulb will light up. Quote
fab Posted April 30 Posted April 30 check to make sure you have a good earth from the battery to the engine and frame. 1 Quote
ccroaker Posted April 30 Author Posted April 30 thanks lads... time to buy a multimeter and start checking ... but as with most 47 yr old bikes wiring is a bit of a mess... the joys of owning older bikes... 1 Quote
Russ750ET Posted May 1 Posted May 1 As above I'd check the ignition barrel first. Happened to me on my 1980 GSX1100. The old solder has likely broken away. A clean up and re solder and it was sorted. If it isn't the ignition barrel then a quick wiggle test of the loom with the ignition on can help identify the area of the issue. My loom was so bad that I pulled the entire thing of and re did every single plug and connection. Was a bit daunting as a newbie but was easy with the right tools. Bikes been solid ever since. 2 Quote
BigT Posted May 1 Posted May 1 (edited) The 78 has a basic wiring -battery- main fuse-ignition switch - gang connection to other 3 fuses - those 3 circuits separate red wire from main fuse to ignition switch, orange wire from switch to fuse box easy to trace voltage Just redid my red and orange wire due to wear at the steering stem Edited May 1 by BigT 1 Quote
Reinhoud Posted May 2 Posted May 2 On 5/1/2025 at 3:32 AM, ccroaker said: help wanted from all the mechanical wizards on here... I have a 78 GS 1000.. went out to the shed.. started first tip.. went for a short spin.. started running real rough.. clicked it into neutral.. neutral light flashing on and off.. stopped turned it off.. looked around ...turned on the key again.. totally dead.. got help and another good battery still completely dead.. managed to get it home thanks to a passing van who knew me... pushed into the shed... any ideas ??... thanks in advance Did you post this also on FB GS1000E? Quote
ccroaker Posted May 2 Author Posted May 2 2 hours ago, Reinhoud said: Did you post this also on FB GS1000E? ya.. also on FB owners club 1 Quote
Reinhoud Posted May 6 Posted May 6 On 5/2/2025 at 3:17 PM, ccroaker said: ya.. also on FB owners club Fixed your problems? Quote
ccroaker Posted May 7 Author Posted May 7 On 5/6/2025 at 1:52 PM, Reinhoud said: Fixed your problems? got the electrical problems fixed I think... a corroded wire in the headlight.. but while taking off the tank the main fuel line from the tank to the carbs split.. it was perished.. so now to get the new fuel hose on I think I have to take out the carbs... no room to get into the T connection to attach the hose... unless there's an easy trick to getting it on ??... 1 Quote
BigT Posted May 7 Posted May 7 Sorry, no easy way to connect the new fuel line to the fuel T on the carbs Using OEM fuel line, which doesn't require a clamp, helps But, pulling the carbs is generally required Quote
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