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Author Topic: ready aim...  (Read 12186 times)

Patrick_Krivacka

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ready aim...
« on: June 23, 2010, 07:49:08 PM »
Fire! Had a small fire on the bike today. a section of the wiring harness is completely fried. i've taken a pic if anyone thinks it would be helpful to see it. it's one of the big bundles that have the big white plastic connectors. anyway, I'm ok with replacing the wires, but I want to know what caused it, so I don't, you know, get killed. It was the first time that I road the bike in the rain, if that helps.

Offline Bob_Roller

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Re: ready aim...
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2010, 08:07:15 PM »
My first guess would be a wire that had chaffed through the insulation that wasn't protected by a fuse, that would narrow it down to the head light circuit .

By chance have you installed a high wattage head light lamp ?

But this is at best a guess !!!

Good to hear you got out of this in one piece !!
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
'84 R65 LS
'87 Moto Guzzi V65 Lario
'02 R1150R
Riding all year long since 1993 .
I'll give up my R65, when they pry my cold dead hands from the handlebars !!!!!

Offline Bengt_Phorqs

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Re: ready aim...
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2010, 08:45:01 PM »
That was a close one.  So Bob, where should one go to buy good quality automotive wiring?  And, where can one find the recommended gauges for our bikes?
Bengt Phorqs, Jake R90/6, R80/7, R1200RTw, Moto Guzzi California EV , Triumph TR250W, Yamaha TY250A Trials, Suzuki DR650

Patrick_Krivacka

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Re: ready aim...
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2010, 08:57:26 PM »
that's what I thought. I don't know about the high power headlight part. I don't think that's the case, but should I check it, and if so how?
So, just splice in new wires and I'm good? Do you think the rain had anything to do with it?

Offline Bob_Roller

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Re: ready aim...
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2010, 09:17:37 PM »
I don't think rain would have caused the fire .

Most auto stores carry US wire sizes, not metric, I'm kinda out of answers for that .

Probably do a search locally on the Internet, see if you come up with a local source for metric wire .

Keep an eye on eBay and the BMW used parts suppliers, these harnesses come up for sale on occasion .
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
'84 R65 LS
'87 Moto Guzzi V65 Lario
'02 R1150R
Riding all year long since 1993 .
I'll give up my R65, when they pry my cold dead hands from the handlebars !!!!!

Offline Rob Valdez 79 R65

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Re: ready aim...
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2010, 09:21:02 PM »
I think the wire guages and coloring schemes are industry standard in Germany (Europe?).

I have heard of folks going to junk yards and getting appropriate, custom-color wire from there for their BMW's before.

I've never tried it.  Probably any German make would do.

Patrick_Krivacka

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Re: ready aim...
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2010, 06:03:51 AM »
I guess I'd need the r65 wiring harness, huh? I'll look into the german make auto wiring.

Offline montmil

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Re: ready aim...
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2010, 08:06:24 AM »
Here ya go, i-man...

For Airhead wiring color codes:
http://www.airheads.org/content/view/314/98/

For metric/american wire size conversions:
http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/wires&codes.htm

Monte
Monte Miller
Denton, TEXAS
1978 BMW R100S
1981 BMW R65
1983 BMW R65
1995 Triumph Trophy
1986 VW Cabriolet

Patrick_Krivacka

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Re: ready aim...
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2010, 08:17:45 AM »
thanks Monte, I think that gets me pointed in the right direction. Is there a good way to determine what size the wire I'm replacing is that doesn't involve an expensive measuring device?

Offline Bob_Roller

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Re: ready aim...
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2010, 08:27:23 AM »
If you have an original owners manual, it has a wiring diagram, it gives the wire size in metric form, you'll see the wire color, then something like .75 after it, that's the cross sectional area of the wire, .75, would be .75 square millimeters .
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
'84 R65 LS
'87 Moto Guzzi V65 Lario
'02 R1150R
Riding all year long since 1993 .
I'll give up my R65, when they pry my cold dead hands from the handlebars !!!!!

Patrick_Krivacka

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Re: ready aim...
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2010, 11:42:22 AM »
thanks bob. i'll take a look. Is it true that your ok, as long as you run a thinner wire into a fatter one, but never the other way around?

Offline Bob_Roller

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Re: ready aim...
« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2010, 11:54:31 AM »
You don't want to go any smaller than original, I don't think a slightly larger size will do any harm, but don't go too large, or your wire bundle will get quite large in diameter, also try to stagger the wire splices so you don't get too many in one area and end up with the same large diameter wire harness .
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
'84 R65 LS
'87 Moto Guzzi V65 Lario
'02 R1150R
Riding all year long since 1993 .
I'll give up my R65, when they pry my cold dead hands from the handlebars !!!!!

Patrick_Krivacka

  • Guest
Re: ready aim...
« Reply #12 on: June 24, 2010, 12:05:53 PM »
that stagger tip is a good one, and one i might have missed. thanks

Offline Rob Valdez 79 R65

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Re: ready aim...
« Reply #13 on: June 24, 2010, 04:55:24 PM »
Quote
If you have an original owners manual, it has a wiring diagram, it gives the wire size in metric form, you'll see the wire color, then something like .75 after it, that's the cross sectional area of the wire, .75, would be .75 square millimeters .


Here is a link to the wiring diagram I scanned.  It has the wire sizes as mentioned:

http://www.pbase.com/tomfarr/image/102494330/original

fermin

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Re: ready aim...
« Reply #14 on: June 24, 2010, 05:20:02 PM »
Iman you can go to marine hardware stores and get good quality marine wiring