Reposting this from an old discussion thread. Old switch was pretty beat up when I bought it but the previous owner had rigged a separate starter button to it which worked for a few months. Then my running light stopped working and when I tried to mess with it, got a short and decided it was time to replace it. After searching for a month or so, bought a stock replacement switch
So, I installed the new switch - took me 4 or 5 tries to get it through those stock handlebars!! Plugged in the corresponding color wires from the bike to the switch, turn the ignition to "on" and get nothing! Any thoughts? Battery charged - check; multi meter test of all wiring coming into headlight bucket - check. Original problem-the original switch was destroyed except for the starter. The starter button on the switch was busted but the PO was able to run a push button switch into the starter wiring to create a starter button. This worked for a few months after I bought the bike and then it started shorting out my tail light. That's when I decided to replace the entire switch. Am I missing a grounding wire somewhere? weird to go from power throughout bike to nothing. Not an electrical genius! Thanks for any suggestions! new switch looks good!
So, I installed the new switch - took me 4 or 5 tries to get it through those stock handlebars!! Plugged in the corresponding color wires from the bike to the switch, turn the ignition to "on" and get nothing! Any thoughts? Battery charged - check; multi meter test of all wiring coming into headlight bucket - check. Original problem-the original switch was destroyed except for the starter. The starter button on the switch was busted but the PO was able to run a push button switch into the starter wiring to create a starter button. This worked for a few months after I bought the bike and then it started shorting out my tail light. That's when I decided to replace the entire switch. Am I missing a grounding wire somewhere? weird to go from power throughout bike to nothing. Not an electrical genius! Thanks for any suggestions! new switch looks good!