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Spectre 750 Rear Tail Light/Brake Light Question
- almarconi
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apart during the resto process so it is possible that I reconnected the wiring up incorrectly to
the tail light. The turn signals work properly. The bike was apart for so long I don't remember if
the rear lights ever worked.
When the key is turned on should only the tail light filament light up? When the brakes are applied
should both filaments light up?
Any guidance would be appreciated.
1981 KZ550C LTD (SOLD)
1980 GS750L
1982 KZ750N1 Spectre (New Project)
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- MFolks
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Color Codes On Most Kawasaki’s (written for 1980’s bikes)
HEADLIGHT:
RED with BLACK stripe, High Beam.
RED with YELLOW stripe, Low Beam.
BLACK with YELLOW stripe, the ground circuit.
BRAKE/TAIL LIGHT: Can be an # 1157 dual filament bulb
RED, Running or Tail Light.
BLUE,(sometimes with a Red stripe) Brake Light Circuit.
BLACK with YELLOW stripe, the ground circuit.
LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL: Can be an #1157 dual filament bulb
GREEN, Left front turn signal circuit.
BLUE, Left front running light circuit.
BLACK with YELLOW stripe, the ground circuit.
RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL: Can be an # 1157 dual filament bulb
GREY, Right front turn signal circuit.
BLUE, Right front running light circuit.
BLACK with YELLOW stripe, the ground circuit.
LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL: Can be an #1156 single filament bulb
GREEN, Left rear turn signal circuit.
BLACK with YELLOW stripe, the ground circuit.
RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL: Can be an #1156 single filament bulb
GREY, Right rear turn signal circuit.
BLACK with YELLOW stripe, the ground circuit.
1982 GPZ1100 B2
General Dynamics/Convair 1983-1993
GLCM BGM-109 Tomahawk, AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM)
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- martin_csr
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- almarconi
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red tail light wire to see if I have voltage. What is happening now is that there is voltage on both
the blue and the red wires causing both filaments to light up. This could imply one or both of the brake switches is closed completing the circuit. I will need to look at the wiring diagram but I assume that the 2 brake switches which are wired into the blue wire are open when the brakes are not being applied. Depressing the brake lever closes the switch and completes the circuit.
If I disconnect the brake switches should I have current through the blue wire? I also need to verify that the wires going to the taillight are connected correctly. Looks like I need to sit down with the wiring diagram and my multi meter to try and figure out whats going on.
1981 KZ550C LTD (SOLD)
1980 GS750L
1982 KZ750N1 Spectre (New Project)
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- MFolks
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1982 GPZ1100 B2
General Dynamics/Convair 1983-1993
GLCM BGM-109 Tomahawk, AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM)
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- bull durham
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Like Martin said above, check your rear brake light switch. My '75 z900, I just had to replace it about 2 months ago, was having the same type of problem you were, where the brake and running were both on. Took me a while to figure out, after testing everything, turned out to be the rear brake light switch.
I bought a new one, I think it cost about 4 or 5 bucks, I guess that's not too bad for a part that is almost 40 years old. Anyway, if you don't know what that switch looks like, if it's like mine, it should be by the drivers right foot peg, to the rear of it and up a few inches. It attaches to the frame and hangs upside down, with a long wire / spring comes down and attaches to the rear brake pedal.
Mine looked good, but upon further inspection, the poor old switch had just worn out and didn't have the strength anymore to pull up the plunger that the wire spring hooks up to, so both lights were on. That wire spring attaches to the switch, almost like a plunger that will go up and down when you depress the brake pedal and release it. Because it hangs upside down, when you brake it pulls that wire spring down which pulls the plunger down, when you take your foot off the brake, the little plunger pulls up, disconnecting the contact for the brake light. It doesn't travel very much, so work the brake pedal and watch that plunger, see if it pulls back up after releasing the brake.
If you already know about the brake switch, just ignore my rambling on about it and I apologize.
Bull Durham
VBA #1608
2005 Kawasaki Nomad
1979 Kawasaki KZ 750
1975 Kawasaki Z 900
1965 Honda C110
1978 Kawasaki KZ 1000 (sold)
1976 Kawasaki KZ 900 (sold)
1973 Kawasaki Z 900 (sold)
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- almarconi
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Like Martin said above, check your rear brake light switch. My '75 z900, I just had to replace it about 2 months ago, was having the same type of problem you were, where the brake and running were both on. Took me a while to figure out, after testing everything, turned out to be the rear brake light switch.
I bought a new one, I think it cost about 4 or 5 bucks, I guess that's not too bad for a part that is almost 40 years old. Anyway, if you don't know what that switch looks like, if it's like mine, it should be by the drivers right foot peg, to the rear of it and up a few inches. It attaches to the frame and hangs upside down, with a long wire / spring comes down and attaches to the rear brake pedal.
Mine looked good, but upon further inspection, the poor old switch had just worn out and didn't have the strength anymore to pull up the plunger that the wire spring hooks up to, so both lights were on. That wire spring attaches to the switch, almost like a plunger that will go up and down when you depress the brake pedal and release it. Because it hangs upside down, when you brake it pulls that wire spring down which pulls the plunger down, when you take your foot off the brake, the little plunger pulls up, disconnecting the contact for the brake light. It doesn't travel very much, so work the brake pedal and watch that plunger, see if it pulls back up after releasing the brake.
If you already know about the brake switch, just ignore my rambling on about it and I apologize.
I will check the rear brake switch.
By the brake switch failing, the circuit would remain closed and the tail light would remain on.
If I disconnect the rear brake switch, should the brake light go out?
1981 KZ550C LTD (SOLD)
1980 GS750L
1982 KZ750N1 Spectre (New Project)
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- MFolks
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1982 GPZ1100 B2
General Dynamics/Convair 1983-1993
GLCM BGM-109 Tomahawk, AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM)
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- Patton
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almarconi wrote: ...If I disconnect the rear brake switch, should the brake light go out?
Link to downloadable wiring diagram in KZrider FILEBASE:
www.kzrider.com/filebase/doc_download/285-z750n1
Front brake switch -- feeds battery positive from "hot" brown wire through blue wire to rear bulb's brake filament.
Rear brake switch -- feeds battery positive from "hot" brown wire through blue wire to rear bulb's brake filament.
Each switch is independent of the other.
Current fed through either switch should cause the rear bulb's brake filament to shine.
Disabling either switch has no effect on the other switch.
If I disconnect the rear brake switch, should the brake light go out? -- only if the front brake switch isn't simultaneously activated (i.e., connecting brown to blue) and thereby independently causing the rear bulb's brake filament to shine.
Good Fortune!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- almarconi
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1981 KZ550C LTD (SOLD)
1980 GS750L
1982 KZ750N1 Spectre (New Project)
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- Patton
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almarconi wrote: ... will see if I can take the rear switch apart and clean it. If not I'll just replace it....
Might simply require an adjustment in mounting position of rear brake switch.
Good Fortune!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- almarconi
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not have a spring attached to it. The plunger moves in and out, contacting the brake lever. It works good now.
1981 KZ550C LTD (SOLD)
1980 GS750L
1982 KZ750N1 Spectre (New Project)
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