Hi Chaps and Chappesses,

I know diagnosing electrics remotely can be fraught with grief, but just hoping for a couple of pointers.

Weirdness going on and a couple of red herrings, but bear with me.

I was hoping to start the bike today for the first time since riding it back from the previous owner and fitting a clutch, ignition switch etc.
Turn key... nothing.. no power anywhere...
Okay, fuse good.
12V before and after fuse connector, 12V at the other end of the red where it connects to the ignition switch.

Right, now the odd bits, bear in mind I'm new to the Tenere; XTs for that matter.

I'm pretty sure, when I tested it earlier, I got 12V between red and brown at switch when ignition key on, but now only seem to get 12V when key is off!!!
It gets stranger (in my eyes). Between the red wire and a couple of other wires from the ignition switch (red/blue for example) I get about 1.5 to 1.8 volts!!!!

Like the previous owner had done, I cut off the connector to the new ignition switch. Each of the six leads goes to an individual chocolate block connector.

Okay so I rode the bike home a month or two ago, so it is obviously something I've done.

The only electrical work so far - fit new ignition switch, all colours match. Clean all contacts - all rechecked for connection. Haven't touched handle bar switches; yes kill switch is off.

Any ideas? Why am I getting reading of less than two volts at certain wires on the ignition switch?!!
I thought an ignition switch was just that, a switch!

Any pointers really appreciated.

After another hour in the shed, cannot see what I have done.

There was another wire to the battery positive. No idea what it is, but tried with it attached and detached.
When I fitted the new ignition switch, I did test the electrics, all lights good, starter button caused starter to turn.

Thanks

John

Your last statement is curious. "Kill switch causes starter to turn" Why a passing mention of an obvious fault? Sounds like you mis wired something.

As to the ignition switch, red is probably the wire to the battery Plus, brown is usually switched battery. Reading 12 volts across those wires with the switch off is normal, reading no voltage across those when switch is on is normal. What voltage do you read on the brown wire with your meter black lead on the battery negative? You should read 12 volts on the brown wire with ignition on and nothing when switch is off.

You mentioned you cut the wires of the ignition switch like previous owner did. Why? Isn't the switch plugged into the wiring harness?

Trace the additional red wire to the battery and see where it goes. It could have been just to an accessory or may have been a bypass wire for a bad battery wire.

Keep us posted and you will get help....

Steve

Thanks Steve,

Sorry, I meant starter button causes starter to turn. (Now edited above)

In other words, something I have done has caused power loss. When I first fitted the switch, all was good.
As I don't know the history, the switch that was fitted had already had the multi plug cut off and each individual wire went into a cut down chocolate block. I just undid each one and connected the new switch, matching all wires; The bike has a few kludges!

I'll check the brown when I get to the shed and report back, thanks.

I cannot think how any of those wires gives a voltage reading of below two volts!

Hi Steve, not feeling that great at all, but just popped out to check the brown lead. 12 volts ignition on, 0 Volts ignition off.
Will carry on circuit testing when better.

Cheers
John

Well you are going in the right direction. Do you have a wiring diagram for your bike? It would be most helpful to have. I only have one for the USA model XT600 '86 year model and a few other years.

Yes thanks. I actually got a copy of the Tenere manual from a chap in New Zealand.

I bought the bike registered on an E plate (1988) definitely not an 88. Not too sure when it is from but most likely 86 or 87.

Might not be able to get more electrical testing done until Saturday, but I'll keep you posted, thanks again Steve.

John

Up and running...

Whilst playing around if I pulled in the clutch, I got electrics! So pulled front lot out again, all worked, put headlamp back, nothing. Touched glass, worked. Let go... Nothing! Did not realise light assembly needed earth for everything to work.
Anyway, created short earth lead from lamp shell to bracket, all good.

Been for a ride

Other issue on separate post!

This indicates you have a broken ground wire. Find the black ground wire, sometimes attached to the coil frame under the tank, unwrap the tape on the wiring harness where the ground wire attaches to the black wire in the harness, I've heard of that spot being broken. Solder and tape it up.

Thanks Steve, next time tank off, I'll check that.

There was some weird chopping around with the wiring. There was a wire (black !!) connected to the positive of battery. This was jammed into a chocolate block with two more black wires. After testing, I removed the one to the battery and left the other two connected together. One of those black wires went to a connector at the front of the bike attached to nothing...
Ahhh, previous owners....
I did test all electrics once bike running; including charging.
John