Horn and pass switch failure

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Rural Rat
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Horn and pass switch failure

Post by Rural Rat » Tue May 31, 2011 2:02 am

Both the horn and pass switch on my bike appear to have given up the ghost together. I find this a bit hard to believe so I am thinking it is most likely the earth connection. From the manual this appears to be the brown wire as no other switch on the switch block utilises this wire. I cant really work out without tracing the loom where this earth is physically on the bike. Any help out there?

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Re: Horn and pass switch failure

Post by Rural Rat » Tue May 31, 2011 4:05 am

It really does appear that both switches have failed. There is continuity in the wiring at all points except either side of said switches. What a pain. Guess I will source a second switchblock and give it a try.

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M.V.
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Re: Horn and pass switch failure

Post by M.V. » Tue May 31, 2011 6:11 am

You'll only get continuity through the switches when pressed, you know this right?

Spray em with some contact cleaner & give them another test, could just be dirt & shit in there.

HTH.

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trixynut
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Re: Horn and pass switch failure

Post by trixynut » Tue May 31, 2011 1:13 pm

I had this issue after my rebuilld. Traced it to an earth connection under the tank. There is a thin black wire near the headstock which comnes out the loom and has a round connector which bolts to the frame using a rad biolt or a carb bolt or similar. Could be this? You need toi lift the tank off.
Check my posts in the problems section: i posted up a picture.

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Re: Horn and pass switch failure

Post by Rural Rat » Tue May 31, 2011 11:34 pm

MV,
Yes am aware of the switch requiring to be closed. Have tried the spray clean method and also disassembled the switch as far as possible to attempt rectification.

Trixynut,
Thanks for that info. I will track your earlier post and check it out. I do think this is closer to the mark.

Cheers

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Re: Horn and pass switch failure

Post by Rural Rat » Sun Apr 01, 2012 7:00 am

trixynut wrote:I had this issue after my rebuilld. Traced it to an earth connection under the tank. There is a thin black wire near the headstock which comnes out the loom and has a round connector which bolts to the frame using a rad biolt or a carb bolt or similar. Could be this? You need toi lift the tank off.
Check my posts in the problems section: i posted up a picture.
Finally got round to trying this. Wire referred to was OK. I removed it, checked for continuity and its all OK. Gave connectors a clean up anyway. Now I at least have the passing light functioning. Horn still refuses to play properly though.

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Re: Horn and pass switch failure

Post by Rural Rat » Sun Apr 01, 2012 10:20 am

Just spent the last few hours baffling myself with this. As posted above the passing light switch now works but the bloody horn refuses too. Tried another switchblock and still no horn. The horn does work on my other bikes though. Really got me beat. Any hints greatly appreciated. :?

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Re: Horn and pass switch failure

Post by Mincehead » Sun Apr 01, 2012 10:34 am

Well, generally speaking the horn will have a live ignition feed to one side of it (one terminal), the other terminal will have the wire from the horn button on it, the horn button MAKES the earth when it is pressed so somewhere your horn is not being earthed if you do indeed have 12 volts at one of it`s terminals.
Do you have 12 v at one terminal?
Do you have a multimeter with an ohms scale?
If the answer to both is yes then do this..............................
Put one multi meter probe on the contact behind the horm button, the other to a known earthing point, press the horn button and the multi meter should change it`s display to indicate resistance, ie a completed circuit.
IF you do indeed have a completed circuit you can assume all is good at the button and the fault lies in the wiring between the horn button and the horn itself. :wink:
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Re: Horn and pass switch failure

Post by Rural Rat » Sun Apr 01, 2012 10:53 am

Mincehead wrote:Well, generally speaking the horn will have a live ignition feed to one side of it (one terminal), the other terminal will have the wire from the horn button on it, the horn button MAKES the earth when it is pressed so somewhere your horn is not being earthed if you do indeed have 12 volts at one of it`s terminals.
Do you have 12 v at one terminal?
Do you have a multimeter with an ohms scale?
If the answer to both is yes then do this..............................
Put one multi meter probe on the contact behind the horm button, the other to a known earthing point, press the horn button and the multi meter should change it`s display to indicate resistance, ie a completed circuit.
IF you do indeed have a completed circuit you can assume all is good at the button and the fault lies in the wiring between the horn button and the horn itself. :wink:
This is whats driving us to despair. Multimeter shows 12v at one of the horn terminals when the button pressed.
It also shows a circuit at the earth side. But somehow when assembled it all doesnt work. Its a pretty simple circuit but its better than me. I will have another crack in a couple of weeks, it really shouldnt be this difficult to sort out.

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Re: Horn and pass switch failure

Post by Mincehead » Sun Apr 01, 2012 11:00 am

If it was me and as annoying as this obviously is I would run a piece of twin core up to the handlebar switchgear, solder one wire to the horn button terminal, the other connect to a known live feed then route the twin core down to the horn, add terminals and Bob`s your aunties husband. :wink:
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Re: Horn and pass switch failure

Post by Rural Rat » Sun Apr 01, 2012 11:16 am

Mincehead wrote:If it was me and as annoying as this obviously is I would run a piece of twin core up to the handlebar switchgear, solder one wire to the horn button terminal, the other connect to a known live feed then route the twin core down to the horn, add terminals and Bob`s your aunties husband. :wink:
Thats what my current thinking is. Thanks for the input too. Its not really a big deal but nice to have it all working when the stray drivers need a wake up.

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