1985 R65 Electrical Issue

[mrclubike]

They stop most Dogs in there tracks also
Dear and squirrels not so much.
 
Definitely need to add a relay and a fuse
The factory relay sockets are cheap    and there is space for 3 extra ones right were Monte has his inline fuses

[montmil]

Plenty of room for the horn relay (#53) and the NAPA fuse holders. I have collected several used Airhead wiring harness over the years. I can usually find the correct relay socket in my stash.

That OEM voltage regulator is long gone, replaced with a solid-state unit that provides a higher and more consistent charge needed for the AGM battery.



MotorradElektric VR. Plug n' play.



Most horn relays, most, have a resistor inside the relay case to reduce arcing and wear on the relay's contacts. Once installed, the horn button wires (#85 & #86) are used to operate the relay contacts; not a heavy electrical load. #30 & #87 carry the higher amp juice to those Freeway Blasters.

[Tony Smith]

Monte


Peripheral issue, what plugs into the blue "accessory" socket?

An inquiring mind wants to know......

[montmil]

Monte


Peripheral issue, what plugs into the blue "accessory" socket?

An inquiring mind wants to know......

I have heard heated clothing. Not sure if the socket has key on/off power or if a line s always hot or...?
A rainy day VOM experiment.

[Bob_Roller]

From what I can remember, the extra connector was for ' official ' vehicles, guess that means police .

The red wire is always hot, power to it all the time, regardless of key position, so if the cap on the connector is missing, you've got the potential for arcing and sparking, it's also not fused, so you will damage wiring if it gets a ground .

[Tony Smith]

From what I can remember, the extra connector was for ' official ' vehicles, guess that means police .

The red wire is always hot, power to it all the time, regardless of key position, so if the cap on the connector is missing, you've got the potential for arcing and sparking, it's also not fused, so you will damage wiring if it gets a ground .

I wondered....

I'm about to move the radio equipment from the R100 as it isn't going to be moving under its own power anytime soon. I will use the R65 "accessory" socket to power it, currently looking for a spot to mount it - at this stage the little storage area under the ducktail is the most likely candidate.

[Warbucks]

I tried spraying the contact cleaner into the horn and I let it soak for the past few days. I've seen this trick work before, but unfortunately not this time. As a cheap quick fix I bought a new aftermarket horn for $14.00 AU at a local auto shop. I measured how loud it is with a db meter and it read 100db. Highland bagpipes measure at 85db so it's plenty loud. Problem fixed. All electrics are now working. Registration is immanent.

I cannot remember the last time I actually used the horn on any of the cars or bikes I've had; apart from the annual registration inspections. I've travelled from New Orleans to Toronto and I can understand why you guys might need to use the horn frequently.

It's not like that where I live. I usually ride around on country roads  which are never busy at all, particularly when the road is gravel. It would be a different story if I went to Sydney, but that won't happen. I wouldn't go there if the fuel was free. The people in cars down there are crazy. Sydney traffic could be compared to any major city in the United States.

I may need to use the horn if the road is blocked by cattle in some parts but that's a rarity. As for dogs, you never see them on country roads. I guess they're there, but do not venture off the farms. They're mostly well trained working dogs out there, so they're a lot smarter than your average pet. The only major threat is Kangaroos. When a five foot Eastern Grey decides to bound across the road in front of you, I can guarantee you won't have time to use the horn.

Many thanks again for all of the input here. I have a few mods planned for this bike which I will address further down the track. My main goal at this point is to get the bike registered and ride it legally. I'm still waiting for the wheels (or should I say the tyres) and also my fuel tank.

With any luck she'll be on the road within two weeks.

 [smiley=beerchug.gif]

[Ed Miller]

I never use my horn.  Now I wonder if it still works.