General electrical System Testing Information

I have a 1973 Norton Commando 850. I'm using this wiring diagram for reference.
I'm trying to understand the general information about the electrical testing and what features are in these states.

Some general assumptions:
1) When the left/right indicators are on, the yellow "flasher warning" light turns on and off.
2) When the main beam is on, the green "main beam warning" is always on.
3) When the key is in 3rd or 4th position, the red "ignition warning" is on until the motorcycle starts and running then it turns off.

For the US Market, the following handlebar switches are as following:
1) Right Handlebar
1a) Top Button: No connect (black)
1b) Bottom Button: Kill switch (red)
1c) Up Rocker Position: Left indicator
1d) Middle Rocker Position: Nothing
1e) Down Rocker Position: Right indicator
2) Left Handlebar
2a) Top Button: Head Lamp Flasher (black)
2b) Bottom Button: Horn (black)
2c) Up Rocker Position: High Beam
2d) Middle Rocker Position: Standard Beam

I understand there's 4 positions:
1) Parking (one click to the left)
2) Off Position (neutral position or "noon" position)
3) Start without Pilot Lights (one click to the right)
4) Start with Pilot Lights (two clicks to the right)

The functionality for the positions as follows (to my understanding):
1) Key can be taken out and the bike can't be started. The pilot lights (front and back), tachometer, and speedo lights on. The two position light switch does nothing. Left/Right turning indicators don't work. Horn doesn't work.
2) Key can be taken out and the bike can't be started. Nothing happens. System is completely off.
3) Key can't be taken out and the bike can be started. The pilot lights (front and back), tachometer, and speedo lights are off. The two positions light switch turns on the main beam. The head lamp flasher button works. Horn works. Left/Right turning indicators work. Kill switch works.
4) Same as Position 3 with the pilot lights (front and back), tachometer, and speedo lights are always on.

Let me know if I have anything wrong or if I'm missing something.
Thanks

The 3rd postion of ign switch should give pilot lamps, instrumentsand ign power, not headlamp power. 4th position adds headlamp power (assuming toggle on headlight is in the on position if an on/off two position switch. If a three position type like my 74 850, then one position for headlight on, two for off ;-) )

Basically for the 3rd and 4th position, the pilot lights (front and back), tachometer, speedo, and red "ignition warning" should be on?
For the 3rd position, the two position light switch located on the front lamp shouldn't do anything?
For the 4th position, the two position light switch located on the front lamp turns the main beam light on/off?

Kynosis said:

For the US Market,

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All markets, not just the US (the factory reversed the switch clusters during early '72 so are reversed to what is shown on the wiring diagram).

Kynosis said:

I understand there's 4 positions:
1) Parking (one click to the left)
2) Off Position (neutral position or "noon" position)
3) Start without Pilot Lights (one click to the right)
4) Start with Pilot Lights (two clicks to the right)

Click to expand...

Correct (including the headlamp if the headlamp switch is set to ON at position 4).

Kynosis said:

Basically for the 3rd and 4th position, the pilot lights (front and back), tachometer, speedo, and red "ignition warning" should be on?

Click to expand...

Ignition only at the 3rd position not 'pilot' (pilot, tail, instruments).

L.A.B. said:

All markets, not just the US (the factory reversed the switch clusters during early '72 so are reversed to what is shown on the wiring diagram).

Correct (including the headlamp if the headlamp switch is set to ON at position 4).

Ignition only at the 3rd position not 'pilot' (pilot, tail, instruments).

Click to expand...

With that arrangement, 3rd position Ign only, it would not be legal in North America as a taillight must be on while moving. Also later regs require headlight on while moving for motorcycles. Pilot light not sufficient for that reg.

I set my ign switch to give pilot/tail/instruments whenever ign is live. Headlight added in position 4 to allow for low battery starts in position 3 and/or via lamp switch control.

Tornado said:

With that arrangement, 3rd position Ign only, it would not be legal in North America as a taillight must be on while moving.

I set my ign switch to give pilot/tail/instruments whenever ign is live.

Click to expand...

Is that the whole of North America or (mainly) Canada (where the lighting regulations changed in 1975) and to have the running lights come on with ignition is a modification from the standard arrangement shown on the wiring diagram and as the OP is working from the diagram then his understanding that "3) Start without Pilot Lights (one click to the right)" is correct.

Tornado said:

Also later regs require headlight on while moving for motorcycles.

Click to expand...

Then the ignition switch can be moved to the Ignition and Lights position after (or before) starting the engine, unlike Canada where the headlamp is, or was, supposed to come on automatically after the engine starts for Canadian models manufactured from January 1975.

"Taillight must be on when moving"
This is news to me, none of mine are!

The requirement for headlight on with motorcycles varies from State to State. Some don't require it but don't mind if you run with the light on, others won't allow it.

Glen

worntorn said:

"Taillight must be on when moving"
This is news to me, none of mine are!

The requirement for headlight on with motorcycles varies from State to State. Some don't require it but don't mind if you run with the light on, others won't allow it.

Glen

Click to expand...

My modern Triumph has tailight, headlight and pilot all on when ign is on. No way to run the bike with them off as it comes stock. Infact if you pull the fuse or blow the headlight bulb, it will not start (starter interrupt relay on lamp circuit). It will continue to run should the lamp goes out while running...just no restarting. Surprised if your modern Triumph Thruxton is any different to that.

Also, though I could not see anything in our Bc Motor vehicle Act (https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/26_58_01) stipulating tail light must be on at all times, there is requirement for license plate lamp to be on whenever headlamps are on (always for motorcycles) or parking lights are on. So unless there is another circuit to separate tail from license plate lighting, these must be on together at all times for motorcycles in BC.

Headlamps​

4.05
(5)A motorcycle manufactured after December 31, 1974 must be equipped with a headlamp or headlamps which automatically turn on when the engine of the motorcycle is started and which remain illuminated as long as the engine is running.

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Tail lamps​

4.15 (1)A motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer must be equipped with 2 tail lamps, mounted on the rear of the motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, that are capable of displaying only red light visible from a distance of 150 m to the rear on both sides of the motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer at an angle of 45° from the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer.
(2)Despite subsection (1),
(a)a motorcycle may be equipped with only one tail lamp, and
(b)a vehicle manufactured before January 1, 1959 may be equipped with only one tail lamp.
(3)Each tail lamp must be mounted on the vehicle at a height of not less than 38 cm and not more than 1.83 m.
(4)Subsection (3) does not apply to vehicles being towed by a tow car.
(5)Despite subsection (3), a tow car may be equipped with 2 supplemental tail lamps mounted within the maximum allowable vehicle height (4.15 m) and as far forward as the rear of the cab.
(6)A vehicle which is being transported in a drive-away/tow-away operation, or is being towed by a tow car, must have 2 tail lamps that are synchronized with the tail lamps of the towing vehicle when the tow vehicle tail lamps are illuminated.
[en. B.C. Reg. 476/98, s. 2.]

Licence plate lamp​

4.16 (1)The rear licence plate of a vehicle must be illuminated by a lamp that is capable of displaying only white light so that the numbers on the licence plate are legible from a distance of 15 m to the rear of the vehicle.
(2)The lamp required by subsection (1)
(a)must illuminate whenever the headlamps or parking lamps are illuminated, and
(b)must not project white light to the rear of the vehicle.

Click to expand...

Tornado said:

My modern Triumph has tailight, headlight and pilot all on when ign is on. No way to run the bike with them off as it comes stock. Infact if you pull the fuse or blow the headlight bulb, it will not start (starter interrupt relay on lamp circuit). It will continue to run should the lamp goes out while running...just no restarting. Surprised if your modern Triumph Thruxton is any different to that.

Click to expand...

Sorry, I was thinking of the old bikes here. You are correct, the Thruxton and Daytona are the same as your Bonnie.
Back in 1975 though, none of that was required ( as far as I know).
And in 2003 I had to disable the DRLs to sell a Canadian vehicle into the US!

Glen