1985 Big Red Electical problem

[Bunyan]

I just came into a Big Red but I am having issues with the electrical. I can not get anything to light up or the electric start to work with the battery or when trying to jump start. I'm working on going thru and cleaning all the connectors. The kickstart works great and it pops right off but without at least the lights it will be worthless for trail riding. Any ideas on how to trace a problem would be great. Anyone know what is most likely the cause? Thanks much.

[farmerc]

Try the neutral switch under the kick start there are two wires under there that can get caught buy brush when trail riding and you won't no until you go to start again.

[Bunyan]

Thanks. I rewired the wires under the kickstart and electric still doesn't work. The dash lights don't even turn on. I will have to check the headlight fuse tommorrow. Thanks. I will try and keep you guys posted.

[Howard]

if the nue wires under the kicker are not working then it won't run at all. so thats not it.

look at the wire harness under the headlight in that black box and see what ya got.

[200xman]

The Big Red I just picked up does a similar thing and it's from a bad key switch. Yuo can turn the key to on and nothing will happen until you jiggle it and get the neutral light to come on. if you have the wiring apart you can jump together the red and black wires that go to the key switch and that should give you power.

[phiscott]

the '84 200 I just got does something similar. I have no nuetral or reverse lights, but the headlight works fine. The starter button is actually just a momentary toggle switch from Pirincess Auto (original was fried).

[Bunyan]

OK. Heres the update: I found a blown fuse under the headlight that was for the head, tail, and indicator lights. I replaced it with the extra one that was there. Still no lights. The bulbs all look to be in working order. Right now I have all good fuses and still no headlight or indicators. I was told the battery that was on it didn't work. Turns out it works fine. I was able to jump the starter solenoid and press the start button and it fired right off. Fried starter solenoid? I hope thats all. I guess my main thing is the lights. Thanks for your help so far.

[Bunyan]

Well. After all is said and done, I traced the major problem back to the key switch like 200xman mentioned. I now have installed a toggle for the lights/starter and it works like a charm. Thanks for all your suggestions/help.