I've finally had enough of the niggling (and sometimes not so niggling) electrical problems on my '73 Roadster. I recently had an obvious electrical roadside breakdown that spurred me into getting a new wiring harness to replace the oily, cruddy bird's nest of an excuse I've been putting up with. So far I've removed the old harness and put the new one in its place to begin piecing it all together. I believe the possible outcomes are: 1)Potentially getting kicked off this forum for all the annoying questions I'll eventually ask, 2) Taking it to a competent electrician after getting disgusted with my ignorant attempts, 3) Push the whole thing into the river, 4) Wire it up wrong and burn down the bike, garage, house, and half the neighborhood.
Maybe not #3, since I've too much invested in this, monetarily and emotionally, but this will tax my abilities, mind you. I believe I have the major components wired properly, such as the regulator (bypassing zener, rectifier, and capacitor). Ignition switch, and ignition system, Boyer MKIII. This seems to be the easy stuff, but the rest of the crap like the wiring to the headlight harness and handlebars and who knows what else is imposing to me.
My 1st question is, and I remember reading it here before but can't find it again, that rubber-foam block thingamajig with the metal tubes in it that serves as the terminal junction between the harness and the various components; Do I replace it? I know some say no. Where would I get a replacement anyway? If I don't replace it, then what's the best way to put together the all male-connectors, then? (That just sounds wrong, doesn't it?)
Is it best to forgo all the rubber junk and put it all together with new connectors? I know there's people here that have put together so many of these things that they could do it in their sleep, but I've never attempted this before. Also, several of what were bullet connectors on the orignal loom are now spade connectors on the new one. They would have to be, as I now have a surfeit of bullet connectors on the bike with no mates.
And another thing. I've studied the schematics and the harness closely, but not to excruciating detail. I'm as sure that this is the right harness as is possible, but has anyone had the experience of the wiring codes being inaccurate? Because if it's not according to Hoyle, I'm screwed. It just seems as I compare the scheme to the wires, they're mostly right, but then I'm not sure, because the schematic doesn't read to me like a road map, like my mind would generally work, but more like wires drawn with absolutely no consideration given to actual position on the bike. I know that's how they do it and probably have to for page size reasons or something, but I guess I'm too left-brained for that. It just appears that certain wires share connections that are not altogether clear in the drawings, or vice versa, particularly.
It probably all comes together in the end, I'm sure. It just doesn't look that way to me. OK, enough indulging my insecurities. Can anyone answer my questions? There will be many to follow, I'm afraid.
Maybe not #3, since I've too much invested in this, monetarily and emotionally, but this will tax my abilities, mind you. I believe I have the major components wired properly, such as the regulator (bypassing zener, rectifier, and capacitor). Ignition switch, and ignition system, Boyer MKIII. This seems to be the easy stuff, but the rest of the crap like the wiring to the headlight harness and handlebars and who knows what else is imposing to me.
My 1st question is, and I remember reading it here before but can't find it again, that rubber-foam block thingamajig with the metal tubes in it that serves as the terminal junction between the harness and the various components; Do I replace it? I know some say no. Where would I get a replacement anyway? If I don't replace it, then what's the best way to put together the all male-connectors, then? (That just sounds wrong, doesn't it?)
Is it best to forgo all the rubber junk and put it all together with new connectors? I know there's people here that have put together so many of these things that they could do it in their sleep, but I've never attempted this before. Also, several of what were bullet connectors on the orignal loom are now spade connectors on the new one. They would have to be, as I now have a surfeit of bullet connectors on the bike with no mates.
And another thing. I've studied the schematics and the harness closely, but not to excruciating detail. I'm as sure that this is the right harness as is possible, but has anyone had the experience of the wiring codes being inaccurate? Because if it's not according to Hoyle, I'm screwed. It just seems as I compare the scheme to the wires, they're mostly right, but then I'm not sure, because the schematic doesn't read to me like a road map, like my mind would generally work, but more like wires drawn with absolutely no consideration given to actual position on the bike. I know that's how they do it and probably have to for page size reasons or something, but I guess I'm too left-brained for that. It just appears that certain wires share connections that are not altogether clear in the drawings, or vice versa, particularly.
It probably all comes together in the end, I'm sure. It just doesn't look that way to me. OK, enough indulging my insecurities. Can anyone answer my questions? There will be many to follow, I'm afraid.
