Disappearing electrical functions '74 R60/6

[Texer]

Being lazy (although I did go most wire connections last year) and thinking I may be missing a typical failure of some sort that others may know.
Symptoms have been: idiot lights reluctant to come until the bike engine is started, turn indicators first intermittent and now mia (I can hear the signal click with the engine off though), now the neutral indicator light is 50/50 intermittent.
I'll start following the dash light wiring tomorrow,just curious what predictions you folks might have.

[SteveD]

Unusual electrikery can often be traced back to a poor earth somewhere.

[Airbear]

I would start with the battery connections, ensuring that they are freshly cleaned and tight. The top fuse in the headlight spaghetti bowl would be the next suspect - it goes between the Green wire and Green/Black (switched and fused) wire that supplies most of the electrical functions. Give that fuse a twist in its holder and see if the idiot lights come on. The fuse connection is pretty tenuous and can be improved by changing to modern fuses. My approach was to make up some leads and connect to the terminal board using 'piggy back' sockets.



This brings the fuses conveniently up above the spaghetti as a bonus.

[Texer]

Thanks Gents,

I'll be starting in on it soon and will start with your suggestions. Airbear, that is a good idea, I even have parts in the tool box from when I added fusing to my /5.

[daz]

You don't say which bike it is but if it's the 1970 you should not have any fuses. True?

[Texer]

I flew both flags actually! My 1970 didn't have any fuses till I rewired it. The bike with the current (see what I did there) issues is a 1974 60/6.

[Seth]

I concur with SteveD regarding grounds (earth).
Often, if a ground is bad, electricity will find ground in another place (such as another bulb) but when that light is on, the ground disappears. So when you first turn on the ignition, most of the lights (gen/oil) come on and alternate grounds might not be available, but once the engine is running, the lights go out and provide alternate grounds.
You might have seen similar with taillight bulbs in cars where the taillight is dim but goes out with brakes or directionals as the alternate ground is no longer available.

[Texer]

Thanks all - things did finally improve when I dismantled and retightened the ground wire bundle at the coil bolt. I had cleaned that last year in the great electrical sweep in tracking another issue but maybe was not aggressive enough in tightening. In fact, it seems a weird place for that crucial function as the coil strap would have to compress the coil to make a flat land for the round anchor... All issues seem fixed for now although it did need starting to get the dash lights to kick in at first (maybe old battery? I always have it on a tender and I'm a commuter so it could be..). After a roll through the neighborhood, proper functions (neutral light, dash lights, blinkers) are back to working with and without engine running. Will post as general interest if this goes south.

[Texer]

"My 1970 didn't have any fuses till I rewired it"

In fact, my first action when receiving the bike from the hauling company was to insert the key/spike
, turn it and create billows of acrid smoke from the headlight bucket.

[SteveD]

Good result. The other issue with that ground point is the coil bracket. Over the years it carries a heavy coil but the bracket is the Peewee Herman of brackets. It's skinny and If it cracks, you can lose the earth and you can come to a sudden stop.