Strange Starter relay gizmo - '79 GL1000

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NotSoLilCrippseys
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Strange Starter relay gizmo - '79 GL1000

#1

Post by NotSoLilCrippseys »

I'm picking at my recent GL1000 while I keep pretending I'm going to free the motor with PBB and twice-daily rocking while in gear.

I took time today to look at the starter solenoid and explore the wiring a bit. Anyone seen something like this gizmo?
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It's a mess back there, with 3 wires coming to the + terminal on the battery and another 3-4 on the - terminal. And there's a red wire also screwed onto the unit. The whole unit was itself "grounded" to the negative terminal of the battery and attached to the bike with bolt/nut threaded through the fender liner behind it. (In a perverse attempt at humor, a PO apparently used red wire for nearly all the rewiring on the bike.)

The unit almost looks like something yanked out of a washing machine.

Obviously, I won't be using this thing.

It does pose some interesting challenges as I ponder ways to get the electrical somehow back to a facsimile of stock. I surely don't want to make things worse than they are/were.

I have a '79 wiring diagram. You can see a 30 amp fuse on one of the yellow wires, spliced into a red wire that seems to head into the original harness. That works with the wiring diagram, I think.

WingAdmin over at Goldwingdocs: "The original one should have connections for the battery, starter, a charging wire coming from the regulator, and two smaller wires that energize the solenoid when the starter button is pressed. " That's 5 wires - or connections.
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I find a replacement at Randakk's that has 2 small wires coming off it (green & yellow/red), with posts for the battery + and, it seems, the starter lead.

I'm not far enough along to ask an intelligent question here, but I am curious about that relay unit.
Avatar is a summer '21 photo of the Blue Phoenix, our 1983 GL1100I rescue gone naked.

In the Stable and Ridable
1992 ST1100 - my longer haul tourer
1992 XJ600S - son's streetfighter
1987 VFR700 - son's latest, in blue/silver
1983 - GL1100I - naked Blue Phoenix (son's, really)
1982 GL1100I - naked bagger Cabernet
1979 GL1000 - Ginger Lynn, but not that Ginger Lynn (Wing and a Prayer)
1978 CB550K - son's cafe (carb issues still vex)

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1979 GL1000 - Confirmed one owner, with original paperwork. Vetter fairing and bags, off the road in dry, heated storage for 35 years.

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CYBORG
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Re: Strange Starter relay gizmo - '79 GL1000

#2

Post by CYBORG »

looks like relay/starter unit off of a lawn tractor. Will work, if wired correctly, but not stock
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
digger
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Re: Strange Starter relay gizmo - '79 GL1000

#3

Post by digger »

Looks like a Ford starter relay. They use the S and I terminals for start and ignition.
1975 GL1000
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Re: Strange Starter relay gizmo - '79 GL1000

#4

Post by Whiskerfish »

Yea basically any 12 volt starter relay works in that application. I have heard folks using many different ones. it is really a simple design and can be adapted from hundreds of vehicle models. The other wires on the solenoid for the stock application are just the power feed to the main harness and back to the battery from the charging system. If all you see are the 3 wires in the picture on there then the others were probably connected directly to the positive battery terminal??
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: Strange Starter relay gizmo - '79 GL1000

#5

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Depending on the differences between early and late model GL1000s, my '76 relay is relatively unmolested if you would like reference photos.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

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NotSoLilCrippseys
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Re: Strange Starter relay gizmo - '79 GL1000

#6

Post by NotSoLilCrippseys »

Jeez. I walk away for a second and lots more info comes in.

Several wires connect directly to the + terminal, and several others connect directly to the -.

I believe digger on the Ford ID.

I've ordered a replacement relay, and I think I can sort out the wiring using the diagram. It looks close to what the PO did with that "Ford" relay.

Lucien: Thanks for the offer; I think I'll be ok on hooking things up.

I'm not ripping things out until I'm ready to get in and sort out the fix. It ain't broke, as far as I can tell so far. But the bike doesn't turn over either, so there's that. Motor remains frozen. Heads'll come off in a couple/few weeks, and I'll hopefully know more about why she won't budge.

My wrench time these weeks is spent with my son on his CB550 cafe project before he heads back to college.
Avatar is a summer '21 photo of the Blue Phoenix, our 1983 GL1100I rescue gone naked.

In the Stable and Ridable
1992 ST1100 - my longer haul tourer
1992 XJ600S - son's streetfighter
1987 VFR700 - son's latest, in blue/silver
1983 - GL1100I - naked Blue Phoenix (son's, really)
1982 GL1100I - naked bagger Cabernet
1979 GL1000 - Ginger Lynn, but not that Ginger Lynn (Wing and a Prayer)
1978 CB550K - son's cafe (carb issues still vex)

Active Project(s)
1979 GL1000 - Confirmed one owner, with original paperwork. Vetter fairing and bags, off the road in dry, heated storage for 35 years.

Sold
Not lookin' back to avoid regrets
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