Blew a main fuses at the battery on my 1965 CA77 and now she has no spark at points or plugs and a direct short on red from battery when switch in # 1 run position. I rang out combo switch and seems to be switching properly. When I disconnect wiring circuit by circuit in headlight enclosure the neutral light bulb when installed is causing the short. If I remove the bulb I still have no spark. Voltage at battery is 13 VDC but on two coil terminals it is only 6.5 VDC. Where do I go next or what am I missing in my search for the gremlin?
Thank you in advance for your reply!
Tracking Down Electrical Short on CA77
ShortTry unplugging the green with red stripe wire at the neutral switch. If short goes away, it may be that you have a short in that wire somewhere along it's route.
With main switch off you can also check for continuity between frame (ground) and all of your normally hot wires. I found my short in the dimmer swicth doing this type of search. Problems like this are a pain aren't they? Just take your time and record what findings you get as it gets confusing after checking a dozen times. Good luck, Gary '65 CL77 Owner
Funny thing is that when you do continuity test on a bulb it shows that it is shorted as that is how they function. What would cause me to have no spark to points or plugs. The short? If everything is hooked up and I turn on the key the fuse starts to get hotter and hotter until such time as it blows. I took out the bulb out of that circuit and still did not have spark. Will disconnecting it at the sensor do anything different than taking out the bulb? Your reply is greatly appreciated.
That's one problem with checking continuity - light bulbs. I removed all of mine to try and find the short on my wifes CA95. I ended up removing everything I could from the 12v supply such as lights. The problem I may have created was not having the lights on when running the bike in the "lights on" position of the ignition. In that position the generator kicks out a bit more power to keep up with the added draw. I might have fried the rectifier.
SHORTIt may not pinpoint your actual short but it would eliminate that particular leg of the wiring as being the culprit.
Unfortunately, chasing down a short is a tedious job and frustrating at best. Diagnostic tools are made for finding shorts in 12v electrical systems. Here's a link to several now on EvilBay http://search.ebay.com/short-finder_W0Q ... pZ3QQgbrZ1 Gary '65 CL77 Owner
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