Teach me about Reverse


Information and questions on GL1500 Goldwings (1988-2000)
Post Reply
User avatar
offcenter
Posts: 1301
Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2012 2:10 pm
Location: Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey
Motorcycle: 99 Gl-1500 SE
76 GL-1000
77 Honda Trail 90

Teach me about Reverse

Post by offcenter »



During my recent starter replacement, I was told that there is a "overload/overspeed" protection on the reverse circuit.
Can someone tell me more about this? Is this circuit in the starter itself, or is it elsewhere on the bike?
The new (used) starter I put in still acts sorta flaky in reverse. Sometimes, as I start backing up, reverse will stop. I have to push the reverse lever down, then pull it back up to get reverse to reset itself and start functioning again.
I'm trying to understand how the system functions in order to diagnose it.
As we all know, an intermittent problem is the hardest to find.
Thanks guys.


George in Jersey.
99 Goldwing GL-1500 SE
76 Goldwing Gl-1000
77 Honda CT-90 "Trail 90"
User avatar
Rambozo
Posts: 4045
Joined: Sun Apr 01, 2018 8:36 pm
Location: Disneyland
Motorcycle: 1992 GL1500 Aspencade
Ducati Monster

Re: Teach me about Reverse

Post by Rambozo »

There is a control unit that runs the show, plus a group of diodes to prevent backfeeding of circuits. Then a resistor pack that I believe is there to slow down the starter and allow current measurements. Speed limiter and power control fuses and relays, a bunch of control and safety switches. There is a pretty good description and troubleshooting tree in the FSM. It sounds like one of the safeties is tripping on you. I'm not sure how to identify what it is, as this control unit has no output codes to the best of my knowledge. But by seeing what is stopping power to the starter you can probably narrow things down.
Post Reply