What is the best wiring diagram for a 1979 xs650 special?

That is a standard flasher. Can work with LEDs if resistors are added in parallel with each light. If using LEDs better off to get LED rated flasher.

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That is a standard flasher. Can work with LEDs if resistors are added in parallel with each light. If using LEDs better off to get LED rated flasher.

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Thank you for confirming this!! I will get a new flasher and switch and get back to you all. My apologies for all the back and forth guys! I WILL PREVAIL!
 
Chris, maybe it would be easier to just wire my own in at this point. If all else fails I will do that for sure. But I am learning much about my bike so that route is last resort.

We've nearly gone full circle - way back, told you my bike'e electrical system had been butchered and eventually I came to the conclusion wiring the bike myself was the easiest and best way. Have ended up with wiring which is reliable and I know how it all works.
 
We've nearly gone full circle - way back, told you my bike'e electrical system had been butchered and eventually I came to the conclusion wiring the bike myself was the easiest and best way. Have ended up with wiring which is reliable and I know how it all works.

yeah I’m a little confused by this also. I was under the impression he had a new harness coming from @DADDYGCYCLES and was foregoing using what’s on the bike and is now determined to get whatever wiring is on the bike to work. Who knows. But I know what I’d be doing if it was my bike lol
 
I put my new flasher relay in and the lights come on but they just stay on and don't flash. I've tried everything before coming back here to bother you guys with a solution.

Not sure where to go from here.
 
I put my new flasher relay in and the lights come on but they just stay on and don't flash. I've tried everything before coming back here to bother you guys with a solution.

Not sure where to go from here.

I’m gunna say it’s either the switch or the mismatched LED lights in the back and regular lights in the front. Maybe ditch the light bar.
 
I’m gunna say it’s either the switch or the mismatched LED lights in the back and regular lights in the front. Maybe ditch the light bar.
I will try putting some LEDs in the front too since I bought some and see if that changes anything. I opened up the switch and it seems to be working fine when I test it
 
I will try putting some LEDs in the front too since I bought some and see if that changes anything. I opened up the switch and it seems to be working fine when I test it

the flasher unit you got is for led, right? Did you try and trace the wires coming out of the switch to the lights themselves to make sure there isn’t anything messed up with the wiring that way?
 
Actually the one I got is electrical and supports LED and incandescent bulbs. That way I wouldn't run into a problem.

What's weird is that with the standard relay I had right back/front flashers work just fine but when I switch to my left ones the front one is really dim and the back one doesnt light up.

With the new relay, as I mentioned before, all flashers fully light and work but dont blink they just stay on.
So I dont believe it's a faulty wiring problem, I think I'm just missing something. How strange.
 
Actually the one I got is electrical and supports LED and incandescent bulbs. That way I wouldn't run into a problem.

What's weird is that with the standard relay I had right back/front flashers work just fine but when I switch to my left ones the front one is really dim and the back one doesnt light up.

With the new relay, as I mentioned before, all flashers fully light and work but dont blink they just stay on.
So I dont believe it's a faulty wiring problem, I think I'm just missing something. How strange.

the new flasher unit is the same style as before, 2 prong? Don’t rule out the flasher unit not being correct, it took 3 tries on my GF Honda to get the right one.

Start with swapping out the bulbs for LED in the front. Rule that out. Then go from there.
 
Do the number of prongs matter on the flasher unit? My new one has four actually, but only two of them power the lights. I didnt think it mattered. I could get another one with two prongs later today if it does

I'll try the LED swap and let you know first
 
What's weird is that with the standard relay I had right back/front flashers work just fine but when I switch to my left ones the front one is really dim and the back one doesnt light up. With the new relay, as I mentioned before, all flashers fully light and work but dont blink they just stay on.

So I dont believe it's a faulty wiring problem, I think I'm just missing something. How strange.

Ricky, you gotta think logical with electrics.

Clearly, you are missing something. If the r/h flashers were working and flashing as they should then you can forget the flasher unit and mismatch of LEDs and incandescent as the problem. The problem is the flasher switch in the l/h position or the wiring between the switch and the l/h flashers.

Wish I was there with you to look. But you need to follow through with your multimeter, trace the wiring, even if you need to open up the bundles of wires, and see where is getting power/where is not getting power.
 
Ricky, you gotta think logical with electrics.

Clearly, you are missing something. If the r/h flashers were working and flashing as they should then you can forget the flasher unit and mismatch of LEDs and incandescent as the problem. The problem is the flasher switch in the l/h position or the wiring between the switch and the l/h flashers.

Wish I was there with you to look. But you need to follow through with your multimeter, trace the wiring, even if you need to open up the bundles of wires, and see where is getting power/where is not getting power.
Okay so that rules out the relay then. I'll completely disconnect my left hand signal and go from there. And check the switch wiring to them
 
Do the number of prongs matter on the flasher unit? My new one has four actually, but only two of them power the lights. I didnt think it mattered. I could get another one with two prongs later today if it does

I'll try the LED swap and let you know first

the number of prongs does matter btw. Although @Raymond seems to be on to something with the switch itself.
 
He did not get a harness from me . i explained that my harness does not support any of the stock relays and he also wanted a battery box with switches and new handlebar switches because he doesn't have both. I told him i am waiting on new switches to come in this week and thats how we left it. From the pictures the PO really did a number on wires and color coded wires were not always used. Its important that when you make or fix a harness you just don't use one color wire for everything. Hope he gets it figured out.
Rich
 
Actually the one I got is electrical and supports LED and incandescent bulbs. That way I wouldn't run into a problem.

What's weird is that with the standard relay I had right back/front flashers work just fine but when I switch to my left ones the front one is really dim and the back one doesnt light up.

With the new relay, as I mentioned before, all flashers fully light and work but dont blink they just stay on.
So I dont believe it's a faulty wiring problem, I think I'm just missing something. How strange.

Again back up and don't just buy something because it is suggested...........try to work out what the problem is..........I Have given information on what is needed to be done.........That link on Continuity testing goes into the whole process........if this is done then wires and switches are eliminated from the problem or, if either wires or switches are the problem then the test will identify where the problem is...............

From; http://www.xs650.com/threads/continuity-testing-made-easy.49917/
Test a circuit to a switch............. Then after the switch to its destination............ If both are good, now do a full circuit including the switch. ...........doing this procedure, (excluding the switch first), pin points any problem area in the wire or connectors............... if resistance is found, when testing through the the switch, then the switch needs to be disassembled, contacts cleaned and wiring checked for broken wires or bad soldering.............always retest after any cleaning of connectors/contacts, or the fix of problems found.

You need to go through this process, one colour at a time. .............Indicator circuits are a good one to start..................Don't move around the loom, work on one circuit at a time. You will find out when you get to problem areas.


Your blinkers were working, just not enough power to make them work properly...... After the continuity test, if they still do not come on bright or flash properly then the battery needs to be looked at...................

OR, and ALSO.......do some research on the indicator lights on the bike and make sure you know what you have..........If they are LED's then it is generally considered that the factory flasher unit doesn't recognize them due to the low current draw..........

Some LED lights do have a higher draw than others.......this was somethig i noticed when i was looking into them, found this to be the case with cheap LEDs.......
 
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He did not get a harness from me . i explained that my harness does not support any of the stock relays and he also wanted a battery box with switches and new handlebar switches because he doesn't have both. I told him i am waiting on new switches to come in this week and thats how we left it. From the pictures the PO really did a number on wires and color coded wires were not always used. Its important that when you make or fix a harness you just don't use one color wire for everything. Hope he gets it figured out.
Rich

When you have eveyrhing in stock I will definitely order one. I am just messing with my lights so that I can go to and from work without having to UBer both ways. In 3 to five weeks when the switches come in I can order one for sure. This harness is so wrecked.
 
I will try a two prong electrical relay and if that still doesnt work I will buy some diodes so that the current to the flashers goes only one way. I dont have indicator lights so I know that's not the issue.

I did continuity tests and my connections to everything is good I just cant make my right and front LED flashers flash.
 
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