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Wiring Question R69 Hi/lo Beam/Horn switch
Re: Wiring Question R69 Hi/lo Beam/Horn switch
Twenty years ago I opened mine up while debugging a lighting problem. All I remember is something was broken in the switch, I used a piece of inner tube to keep everything in place, and vowed to never remove it again. Back then I couldn't locate a replacement. Oh, and the problem wasn't the switch, it was a loose wire in the headlight.
Don
All on the road, going no where in particular in the Finger Lakes of New York
Re: Wiring Question R69 Hi/lo Beam/Horn switch
The lights did work when I got the bike, and failed at the same time-- as I recall when the horn button was pushed. The wiring in the bucket looks like a dogs breakfast and doesn't seem to match up to the wiring diagram. HO on the ignition board had no wires or screw in it (I'll need to find a replacement screw)! I've rectified that for now using the wiring diagram...but still no head/taillight.
I'm getting continuity between the handlebars and the headlight socket wiring. That seems odd to me, like the switch is grounding on the bars. I've got a multitester, although I'm no genius at using it-- or at bike electrics in general-- so have run out of ideas.
The switch seems like a very delicate, Rube Goldberg type of thing, and as Don-- and Duane, elsewhere-- has said, it is tricky to work on. So before I try to tear this thing apart or replace it (ouch, stupidly pricey), anyone got any ideas? Thanks!
Re: Wiring Question R69 Hi/lo Beam/Horn switch
What's odd though is that when I check for continuity on each of the wires in the switch to the bucket, I not only get continuity to the corresponding wire and junction in the headlight, but I also get continuity to every other wire in the headlight coming from the switch, as well as the handlebars, etc. Now maybe I'm using my multimeter wrong, but I've used one for years...and am puzzled. Does that mean my switch is shorted/fried? To be honest, it doesn't look that old or in bad shape, and seems to be wired up correctly.
Baffled. Thanks in advance for any ideas. As I say, this worked fine until one day when I pushed the horn button and it all stopped working, except the horn (a little bit) and the brake light.
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Re: Wiring Question R69 Hi/lo Beam/Horn switch
R69S - R60/2 - R67/2 - R51/3 - R69
- San Arthur
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Re: Wiring Question R69 Hi/lo Beam/Horn switch
'58 R26 '76 R90S '88 R100RS '94 R100GS/PD
Re: Wiring Question R69 Hi/lo Beam/Horn switch
Currently, with the key down, I've got functioning brake light and horn, as well as a lit-up charging and neutral light. The battery shows 6.25 volts. The ground at the battery tests good. The bulbs work if I apply power directly from the battery. I have continuity between the switch terminals and their headlight counterparts. But I am still lacking any headlight and any twilight (other than brake light when the pedal is depressed).
Not sure if any of that makes a difference but I'll keep checking connections as you suggest. I agree that the headlight board seems unlikely, both because it seems relatively new and "tight", and because it is a very simple switch. I very much appreciate the help!
- San Arthur
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Re: Wiring Question R69 Hi/lo Beam/Horn switch
I think I didn't read this suggestion in the post, I had a similar problem, a faulty ground connection at the armature cover terminal board.
Ground the connector and test.
'58 R26 '76 R90S '88 R100RS '94 R100GS/PD
Re: Wiring Question R69 Hi/lo Beam/Horn switch
I have continuity between the armature ground (a green wire, go figure) and 31 on the headlight board, as well as the battery ground. 4 ohms resistance.
All connections between the hi/lo/horn switch and headlight board are good and show 3 or 4 ohms resistance.
Battery ground to HO on the headlight board shows 340 ohms resistance.
Armature ground to HO shows 975 ohms.
Black (horn) cable on the hi/lo switch to the armature ground, and to HO on the headlight board (with the key down, at either lights off or on) shows 975 ohms for both. That surprised me.
I'm baffled...and increasingly tempted to just wire a f***&%$ headlight directly to the battery and install a toggle switch inline under the tank! I always had electrical hassles with the /5 and /7's I've owned previously, but was able to solve them with a wiring diagram and multi tester (after the local mechanics had charged hundreds and not solved the problems). But this has already cost me a lot at the mechanics, and I'm still no closer to having a bike I can ride a few miles at night...
Not sure what to try next, but I'll keep trying. I do appreciate the help!
Re: Wiring Question R69 Hi/lo Beam/Horn switch
- schrader7032
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Re: Wiring Question R69 Hi/lo Beam/Horn switch
'78 R100/7 '69 R69S '52 R25/2
Fast. Neat. Average. Friendly. Good. Good.