total electric failure

eye inherited 1975 850 commando . wich I found under some boxes in my father in laws garage . took it home cleaned it up , cleaned carbs , and put in new charged battery . but have no spark no lights nuthin but a good looking shiney bike . please help. bike has been sitting for 20 years low miles

fuse(s)?

Mice eat wiring harness?

Pictures?

Ugh, go to very top post in this forum and acquire the factory manual and parts list book and The Tech Notes booklet. Manual and online have color code wiring chart.
Could be just a fuse or several connections in line of power and return path. Don't forget they came with positive Earth not negative Ground. 40 yrs old and 20 set up can do many unseen on surface things. Commando's are a way of life you earn, either at work and pay big bucks or work on it yourself for free yet still spending large amounts to finally get to why we can't live w/o them.

Your bike has special white connectors to the MK3 on the ends of each switch and in the headlight and harness. Hard to mess that up. Get out your test light and follow the power from the battery to the igniton switch and beyond. You may need your inheritance to make it fire up again...... Think positive........GROUND!


Tim_S

Welcome in 007, nice find.
Points ignition ? Clean them up, should be no oil in there, check the gap,.... Invest in electronic.

Had a 1974 Bonneville (sorry to swear; it didn't last long, wasn't a patch on a commando) a couple of years ago with similar. It was the fuse holder which loked like new. Took a long time to find it but when kicking the bike the vibes killed the connection.

it was the in line fuse holder . eye used my new fancy meter to do continuity check . Thanks all