New GL1500SE owner with a couple of issues

[Alan_Hepburn]

So, I've got about 600 miles on our new-to-us bike and have a couple of issues that need addressing:

1. I wanted to make sure that the battery was healthy so I pulled it out to do a load test - it tested fine. But I noticed that there was a errant wire tucked in around the fuse block - a blue wire that comes out of a bundle and looks like it should connect to the fuse block somewhere, but it's just dangling. Possibly related: the brake lights don't come on when using the front brake lever, but they do work with the rear brake pedal - I'm wondering if that blue wire might be the power for the front brake switch?

2. A bit more pressing: when driving on the freeway, then coming to an exit, or otherwise slowing down - I pull in the clutch and roll off the throttle to downshift; the engine stalls. It seems like the idle might be set too low? If I keep the choke engaged about 1/3 on then the idle stays up and it doesn't stall - with the choke off the warm idle is around the first line on the tach (0 - line - line - 1) - I'm not sure what the lines represent - from 1 on up there's only a single line between them, for 500 rpm per line. Anyway, does it sound like an idle issue, or could it be a carb issue? The carbs were supposedly cleaned about a month ago.

I'm sure I'll find more things to ask as I get familiar with the bike, but let's start with these! Thanks!

[mikelens]

Good Luck with your new to you Wing.

#1. Can't be of any help with your errant wire.

#2. The lines on the tach are : 0 - 500 - 750 - 1000. You are definitely low. Set the idle between the 750 & 1000 marks & you should be fine.

[NVSB4]

Alan,
First, welcome to the forum.
1. You will have to trace the blue wire to figure out where it goes. It was probably attached to the auxiliary terminals on top of the fuse box for some accessory. As for the brake lights not working with the hand brake, it's more likely that the switch is bad or that you have a loose connector.
To check:
Disconnect the front brake light switch wire connectors (smaller terminals).
Check for continuity between the WHT/GRN and GRN/YEL wire terminals.
Brake lever released: No continuity, Brake lever pulled in: Continuity
If one of these isn't correct, replace the switch.

2. Mike is correct about the idle rpm. Raise the idle to 750 with the knob by the gas filler hole and see if that works.
Even though the carbs were supposedly cleaned a month ago, run a half a can of SeaFoam through the gas tank.

[Alan_Hepburn]

Alan,

2. Mike is correct about the idle rpm. Raise the idle to 750 with the knob by the gas filler hole and see if that works.
Even though the carbs were supposedly cleaned a month ago, run a half a can of SeaFoam through the gas tank.

Thanks! I looked in the gas filler area and don't see a knob. I see a round thing that looks like it's plugging up a vacuum line - I tried turning it but it didn't move. Anybody in San Jose, Ca that might want to look at it for me today?

Went back and looked again - I guess that knob does turn after all! Got it idling at 750 now - we'll see if that fixes the stalling issue.

Now I just need to address that blue wire - I know it should connect somewhere! Also need to address the brake light switch on the brake lever - does the connector just unplug from the lever or is there a latch of some kind to release it?

[WingAdmin]

Does the blue wire look like it is part of the bike (i.e. Honda put it there) or added on after the fact by an owner? Perhaps a picture would help.

[Alan_Hepburn]

Does the blue wire look like it is part of the bike (i.e. Honda put it there) or added on after the fact by an owner? Perhaps a picture would help.

The fuse block is an add-on, it's in front of the battery on the right side of the bike, and the blue wire is in a bundle of 4 wires: blue, yellow, green, and black that disappear up under the seat. It looks like it should connect to the fuse block, but I hesitate to hook it up without knowing where it goes!

In the photo the blue wire is seen on the right side of the fuse block.

[Aussie81Interstate]

Wow,

Quite a few added extras by the look of it.

Definitely not an original wire - so you need to follow the blue wire to see where it connects on the other end.

[flogger]

Welcome Alan... new to big bikes?

[Alan_Hepburn]

Wow,

Quite a few added extras by the look of it.

Definitely not an original wire - so you need to follow the blue wire to see where it connects on the other end.

You're right, Aussie! There's a 3-wire bundle on the right side, with yellow, green, and brown wires - that's a standard trailer wire harness that goes out to the sidecar, powering the various lights. The other wires in the bundle that contains the blue wire connect to the same terminals, but the colors don't match. On the left side there's a blue/white wire that goes up to the dash and connects to a wire near the ignition switch, and another 3-wire bundle that I haven't yet identified.

I'm going to have to remove the seat, and probably some body panels, and start tracing wires. I hesitate because one of the seat bolts is being used to hold a sidecar mount and I don't want to mess up the sidecar alignment!

[Alan_Hepburn]

Welcome Alan... new to big bikes?

You could say that! My last bike was a Ural Tourist, which we sold to get this Wing. Before the Ural we had a Suzuki C50T Boulevard. The Ural was a 750cc and the Suzuki was an 800cc so this Wing is by far the biggest, and the best!

[flogger]

Had a Suzuki Savage (86), was a one banger and that was weird...