light problem fixed - for now

[jerrysupler]

Guys, This is my first KLR650 and wish I would have gotten one years ago. Been thru a couple of big bore dual sports I won't mention here. Anyways, I've got 432 miles on this bike so far and I can't find anything wrong with it other than the normal front wheel wash out on loose sand a slight move aft on the seat will balance it out and alleviate that. I put about 230 miles on it before I refilled but did not hit the reserve side. Was I close? Its been in the dirt some and road of course. I can't find anything wrong with it. What can I expect? That side stand switch has got me concerned. Can I just unplug it without any problems?

[Jeff Khoury]

Welcome to the club. We all love our KLRs and I'm sure you will, too. Just remove the switch and short the wires together. Problem solved. I cut mine back, soldered them together, waterproofed the end and zip-tied it back up out of the way. Same deal with the clutch safety. If you have any questions on any other mods, you can search the archives of this group, or just ask. Most of us will be happy to answer your questions. -Jeff Khoury From: "jerrysupler" To: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, March 7, 2011 4:03:47 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] New KLR650 432 miles Guys, This is my first KLR650 and wish I would have gotten one years ago. Been thru a couple of big bore dual sports I won't mention here. Anyways, I've got 432 miles on this bike so far and I can't find anything wrong with it other than the normal front wheel wash out on loose sand a slight move aft on the seat will balance it out and alleviate that. I put about 230 miles on it before I refilled but did not hit the reserve side. Was I close? Its been in the dirt some and road of course. I can't find anything wrong with it. What can I expect? That side stand switch has got me concerned. Can I just unplug it without any problems? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[dooden]

Sure it can be bypassed Not sure on new bikes, but my A15 (2001) you can make small jumpers using .187 ( I think ) connectors, and just complete the circuit basically and the switch is just null. Did that on the clutch but sidestand is still functional I think.. (and I am not always nice to my bike) Dooden A15 Green Ape

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "jerrysupler" wrote: > > Guys, > > This is my first KLR650 and wish I would have gotten one years ago. Been thru a couple of big bore dual sports I won't mention here. Anyways, I've got 432 miles on this bike so far and I can't find anything wrong with it other than the normal front wheel wash out on loose sand a slight move aft on the seat will balance it out and alleviate that. I put about 230 miles on it before I refilled but did not hit the reserve side. Was I close? Its been in the dirt some and road of course. I can't find anything wrong with it. What can I expect? That side stand switch has got me concerned. Can I just unplug it without any problems? >

[Tengai Mark Van Horn]

At 12:03 AM +0000 3/8/11, jerrysupler wrote: That side stand switch has got me concerned. Can I just unplug it without any problems? Just disconnect the sidestand switch's actuating cable from the switch lever. Closed is the default position, and I've never had a sidestand switch fail yet, but I have had cables get gummed-up/bunched-up, resulting in the lever not returning the switch to the closed position. Mark [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[cactus_reese]

I tried Greg's suggestion. The ground measured good. Then I tried measuring the voltage. It measured 12V...what? I plugged in the headlight. It came on. Tried wiggling wires. Rode around the neighborhood. It is still working. Don't know what happened but I suspect it will happen again.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Greg May wrote: > > Good morning Cactus > > You say you have 0v at the headlight terminals, a couple simple checks without > looking at a wiring diagram 1) a continuity check from the bk/y which is the > color of the ground wire if I remember right anyway with the key turned off > there should be 0 ohms between bk/y and and a known good ground if not you have > a ground problem, verify that if you want with the key on by doing a voltage > check directly from the battery positive to the bk/y connector in you headlight > plug and you should read battery battery voltage. > > > If that is good and you say your fuse is good set your meter for dc volts and > connect the black lead on your meter to battery negative. With the key on using > the red meter lead start at the headlight fuse and test all the accessible > points in the headlight circuit until you reach the headlight plug. Your problem > will be after the last place you measure voltage and before the first place that > you can't measure voltage. > > Have a great day and good luck....Greg > > > > > ________________________________ > From: cactus_reese > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Mon, March 7, 2011 12:45:11 AM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Light Problem > > > > Thanks for reminding me of the colored chart. The 10 amp fuse measures 12 V on > both sides when the ignition switch is on. The terminals at the headlight > measure 0 V, so something is interrupting power to the headlight. > > > The diagram indicates that BK/Y is the ground that runs almost everywhere. It is > used by things that are working and things that aren't. There appear to be > multiple chassis grounds. If some one knows the locations of those, that would > help. The one near the battery is tight. > > -BR > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, mark ward wrote: > > > > While fred is very right, a fuse can LOOK good but be bad. > > > > I thought the horn uses the same fuse?? (Brown wire?) > > > > IF you do not have a book (Clymer etc. $29. ) You can pull up the Color elec. > >schematics on the web. (KLR650 electrical diagram etc.) > > And just follow the "yellow wire road" and you will SEE where the "road" parts > >off. > > (this works and that don't, etc.) > > > > --- On Sun, 3/6/11, Fred Hink wrote: > > > > > > From: Fred Hink > > Subject: RE: [DSN_KLR650] Light Problem > > To: "'cactus_reese'" , DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > Date: Sunday, March 6, 2011, 9:47 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Are you sure? Fuses may look good and actually be bad. Did you do a > > continuity test on the fuses? > > > > Fred > > > > www.arrowheadmotorsports.com > > > > From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On > > Behalf Of cactus_reese > > Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2011 2:40 PM > > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Light Problem > > > > Hi All, > > I have a lighting problem with my '98 KLR. I tried to make a quick dash to > > the store last night and saw that I had no instrument lights or headlight > > (no high or low beam). Further investigation shows there is no tail light > > either except the brake light does come on. The turn signals all work. > > > > The neutral light works on the instrument panel and the starter and horn > > work. The two fuses under the seat are good. > > > > Any ideas? > > > > -Bryan > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[spike55_bmw]

With a new bike, you should be OK for several years before you might have "switch problems". At this point, you are a more aware KLR owner. File that knowledge away and enjoy the ride. Don R100, A6F

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "jerrysupler" wrote: > > Guys, > > This is my first KLR650 and wish I would have gotten one years ago. Been thru a couple of big bore dual sports I won't mention here. Anyways, I've got 432 miles on this bike so far and I can't find anything wrong with it other than the normal front wheel wash out on loose sand a slight move aft on the seat will balance it out and alleviate that. I put about 230 miles on it before I refilled but did not hit the reserve side. Was I close? Its been in the dirt some and road of course. I can't find anything wrong with it. What can I expect? That side stand switch has got me concerned. Can I just unplug it without any problems? >