Forum

[steve H]

Hiya all,


I am in Norfolk (just south of Wymondham) and the bike is a 1995 500cc. The type of Bransden box, I'll have to check.


I'll check over the electrics over Easter, earthing back to the -terminal on the battery? That sounds counter intuitive to me, doesn't that just complete the circuit rather than earth it?


John L: my 'phone number is 07940123175, any help much appreciated. If I can't do anything I've got a friend who's a bit of a mechanic.


As I said I'm sure its an easy thing to fix, but finding the problem for someone of my ignorance is the difficult bit!


 Ta

[Chris [Stockport]]

I think this is perhaps getting all too complicated so I 'll put my bit in.


 If you are thinking about an electrical earth for a house or any building, this earth is a safety thing so any electricity that has gone wrong can safely go literally into the earth, the ground that the house is built on, and it can safely disappear there.


On a car or a bike it is COMPLETELY different. The Earth (USA = Ground, I think)  does absolutely not have anything to do with safety. It is not at all like a house earth and would save confusion if it had a different name......


 It simply means that the battery has two terminals which need to be connected to the lights, horn or whatever.  Usually this would mean having.... obviously...; two wires, but this would end up with 2 wires to the horn, two to the indicators etc etc. Far too many, too bulky.  So instead, there is just one wire and the bike frame/car bodywork is used as the other wire. So it halves how many wires are used. 


Of course, if a component is made of plastic this does not conduct electricity so a short bit of wire is used to connect its insides to the frame or metal bodywork, in addition to the other Live wire


Oh dear, I thought I was going to make it simple....


 Good luck, Chris

[Alan R]

Ah--HA !!! So the singer Eartha Kitt wears a green & yellow dress then ?? Sorry, just trying to lighten thing up a little. Steve--- Along with what Chris(Stockport) has written, please re-read my earlier posting ( April 1st-etc---). There's nothing complicated at all about Direct Current electricity (DC). Just remember it starts at one battery terminal ----->>>>------goes round in a circuit ----->>>>----and needs to return to the other battery terminal before anything will work. All we are trying to get you to do is perform some tests to find out if there is a break in that circuit. If you do have a friend with some sort of automotive experience it really would help. He can "translate" if you like what we are looking for. 

[Midge]

Miss Kitt has been dead and buried for some years, so she has been well and truly earthed.

[Chris [Stockport]]

Not sure about Alan's comments regarding Earth Kitt.  If she was a biker her dress would've probably been black rather than green yellow????

[Riggers]

Well if Steve H can get an Earth Kitt from Mr H that should solve his problem.......

[John L]

Steve -


Left a message with your answerphone service.


John L

[Alan R]

Hi Chris(Stockport)----- (here we go with the electrical jokes again)--I suppose her Black dress would indicate a "Neutral" approach then ?? Strewth, Midge--that's really diggin the dirt ?? So you see SteveH, this is the level you degenerate to when embracing the Enfield Experience. GOOD, Eh ?????? Do try that Boyer diagnostics site---after our recent discussion that's the only option that seems to be left.

[Chris [Stockport]]

Meanwhile, my car has positive earth...
No colour to the (+) battery terminal as it's uninsulated, and a black one to the (-) terminal.
This is not even a bit funny, but has confused more than one younger mechanic.... Chris

[Alan R]

Hello again matey!!-----------What car do you have ?? Yes, the early (pre 1980's as a rough guide)had a +ve earth system but later there was a change over to -ve earth. Various reasons given, all valid eg}---galvanic action( causing early rusting ) on a -ve earthed vehicle body was seen to be less than on a +ve one. The type of transistors (selenium, Germanium) used in radios and ignition circuits changed about then and the new ones favoured the -ve system. Electro-static paint spray system favoured the -ve earth PLUS}---in the DC circuit (here's the mind-bender!!!!!!!) the electrons flow from Negative to Posative. Your non-insulated cable is the earth, thus the other is connected to the vehicle wiring loom ( sometimes that particular connection can actually be off a terminal on the starter motor).