Electrical Gremlins

[Lucky_Lou]

Been having a few odd electric issues with Willy the K75RT, started with the indicators put the left on right one flashed after a couple of miles it sorted its self out, the starter motor would not kick in, a quick "rock" in gear seemed to work untill this weekend when it packed in completely.
 With the weather being so crappy i had time on my hands today so stripped the tank and fairing  to have a proper look. I disconnected the feed cable from the relay and using a jump lead tried a direct feed ... no joy did a test and with the ignition on i was getting 12v on the disconnected cable ...mmm
Pulled the battery off and removed the starter motor to bench test it all worked fine so i put it back cleaning the mountings and replacing the bolts, removed all the earth connections cleaned them up and refitted.
Bike started first time and the Gremlins are gone, Would have been an easy job on the R65 as it took longer to strip the fairing than anything else.
Lou

[Bob_Roller]

I had a series of non-related electrical problems with a 4 wheeler about 30 years ago .

When I started the car, the left turn directional would come on at about half brightness without the turn directional selected, the left head light would be at half brightness, the windshield wiper would come on at slow speed even though I hadn't turned it on, the windshield washer fluid low level warning would come on .

Luckily I had the manufacturers shop manual with the wiring diagram, I traced it down to all of the effected circuits had the same ground or earthing point .

I found the ground/earth corroded where the terminal end was bolted to the frame/uni-body .

Anytime I hear of multiple electrical problems, my first thought is to go to all of the grounds/earths and check them for corrosion or looseness .

[Justin B.]

Bob's probably nailed it.  Every strange electrical issue I've had in vehicles always seemed to be caused by a bad ground.  When "stuff" tries to start finding a ground through other stuff things can really get weird!