Newbie, ignition switch & R75/5 SWB Battery

[equipo5]

Thanks to everyone.


I didnt know about the color coding so thanks for that tip.

The electrics work ok with the headlight hanging out but once in, it shorts out. Maybe created by the compression of the wiring as you say.

Well, I'm off to get a connector and shrink wrap this weekend and will let you know how it goes.

Cheers
Equipo5

[Ken in Oklahoma]

The electrics work ok with the headlight hanging out but once in, it shorts out. Maybe created by the compression of the wiring as you say.

For clarity, I believe you mean the "circuit opens up". If the headlight was working when you tried re-installing it, that means that current stopped flowing through the bulb filament. This can happen two ways: First, if the current is interrupted by a bad connection somewhere or secondly if the current finds another easier path to ground than through the filament.

The first, an interruption in the current flow through the filament is referred to as an open circuit. In the second case the current finds and easier way around the filament on it's way to the negative post of the battery. This would be a short circuit.

If the circuit opens up then nothing will happen and the bulb will simply go out. If, on the other hand, the current finds an easier path around the filament that would commonly show up as sparks or heated wires which burn up their insulation.

Since you said nothing about smoke or fire I suspect that the current path has opened up somewhere between the battery positive post and the battery negative post. The likely place for the fault is in the headlight shell since that's where you were working at the time. You could have a broken wire, a corroded or dirty electrical connection, a loose screw or nut, or maddeningly an intermittent condition such as a broken filament inside the bulb sometimes touching together and sometimes not.

But the chances are that in moving the headlight around you are jiggling a faulty connection, either on the positive or "high" side of the bulb or on the "low" side.

It might be a good idea to take apart each electrical connection and clean it, putting some dielectric grease on the connection. (Home Depot, perhaps an auto parts store, Radio Shack, etc.)

I apologize if I am "talking down" to you in the above. Simply, I don't know you and your electrical expertise.


Ken

[SteveD]

It looks like a good cleanup will solve most of your problems, the flasher relay is not standard and looks to be a fair bit larger
than oem, go to munich m/cycles website and have a look at the difference in size.

Munich appears to list an oem flasher relay at $120. It's bigger than the $20 alternative they also list for the 75/5.

Motobins have them @ UKP37 & 9.50 and they look a similar size.

I've suggested to equipo that a new loom might be a good long term investment in peace of mind at this stage of fiddling and learning. A main loom from Motobins at UKP47 + post will cost less than an oem relay from Munich in Perth!

The connection plates are US$199 from MaxBMW.

[equipo5]

Ken I read your posts with interest. Cant have too much advice I say, and now I look at the headlight from different viewpoints, so to speak.

SteveD. I got a problem with my accountant .....although ....the Loom is something I might be able to do by stealth!

Cheers

[Deleted User 287]

A main loom from Motobins at UKP47 + post

MUCH cheaper than I had anticipated!
But I see it is a much simpler loom than any of the others.

[SteveD]

SteveD. I got a problem with my accountant .....although ....the Loom is something I might be able to do by stealth!

I wonder if there's a template on the web somewhere that makes making one easy. It probably has about $5 worth of wires in it, a few connectors and not much else.


It's gotta be easier than doing the bathroom from U-toob vids. The accountant will be impressed!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3tJbv2FWr8

[Deleted User 62]

I wonder if there's a template on the web somewhere that makes making one easy. It probably has about $5 worth of wires in it, a few connectors and not much else.

Easy as taking the old one off, nail it to a board and cut/wrap a new one to match...

[SteveD]

I wonder if there's a template on the web somewhere that makes making one easy. It probably has about $5 worth of wires in it, a few connectors and not much else.

Easy as taking the old one off, nail it to a board and cut/wrap a new one to match...

Or buy a second hand ebay one delivered for only $170.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-AIRHEAD-R75 ... d7&vxp=mtr

[equipo5]

t's gotta be easier than doing the bathroom from U-toob vids. The accountant will be impressed!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3tJbv2FWr8

Viewed = My head hurts!

[SteveD]

t's gotta be easier than doing the bathroom from U-toob vids. The accountant will be impressed!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3tJbv2FWr8

Viewed = My head hurts!

The /5 loom is MUCH simpler than what the video shows, more the ability to work it out...