82 650 light issue

last night my head light and tach and spedo lights were working fine. drove 20 miles home. got on this morning and now those lights dont turn on. i checked the fuses and they look fine. any ideas on what to check next would be appreciated.

 

If you have a STOCK - Original Fuse Panel, ... the Fuse can check-out fine, ... But the Circuit will be OPEN because the Clips are beyond the point where they hold the Fuse making a good connection.

Remove the Fuse and squeeze the Clip together.
You'll either give it some extra tension or it will fail due to age.

 

the PO replaced them with inline fuse couplings. so its not the clips. its doesnt make much sense to work, then the next day not work. do they all run off the same fuse? if the headlight burnt out would it affect the gauge lights? the bulb looked ok, the filaments were both solid.

 

On your bike, both the headlight and gauge lights get power through the headlight relay. It's off when you first turn the key on, then latches closed when the engine starts. It's triggered by power from the alternator on a white wire that runs through the diode block.

Possible causes are:

bad diode block
bad connections at the diode block, alternator, or headlight relay
worn alternator brushes
bad headlight relay

Do you have a wiring diagram for your bike?

 

no i dont, and if i did i havent a clue how to read them.

 

How about a multimeter?

Things you can check without one, though:

1. Check the connector between the alternator and the regulator/rectifier. Should be an eight-pin connector with seven locations populated, including three white wires. On my 750, it's under the left side cover. I suspect it's there on a 650 as well, but I'm not sure. Anyway, check that connector for burned/oxidized pins, and general melting of the plug and wires. If it's damaged, you may be able to clean it up with a wire brush, and then treat it with some dielectric grease before reconnecting it. If it's really bad, you'll need to cut off the connectors and solder on new ones (or have it done).

2. Check the length of your alternator brushes. Search the forum and you'll find a bunch of threads that cover this.

3. Check the connection to and condition of the diode block. A black module inside the headlight bucket.

4. Check the connection to the headlight relay (on the main tube under the tank). It's the smaller of the two relays that are towards the back end of the tank.

Just in case the bike is new to you (or to someone else reading this thread), remember that the headlight is not supposed to come on until the engine has been started.

 

is the diode block the squishy square, or the one with wires attatched via screw? i am really bad when it comes to electrical.

 

Post pictures. The diode block should be the only black box in the headlight bucket... the only thing with wires only on one end, rather than a plug/socket with wires on both ends. Maybe squishy....

How did 1 and 2 check out?

 

a mechanic friend of mine looked it over and said its the charging stator.

 

when i get the time im going to check the alternator. just so hot out to work on it lol.