1980 750ltd turn signal removal

Ok, quick question. If I take the turn signals off my 1980 750ltd, the bike should still operate, right? I am having an electrical issue where, if I take the signals off, I get no voltage to start/run the bike. I'm assuming I have a short somewhere in the turn signal circuit. I have a harness from a donor bike, but before I go to the trouble of swapping it out, I want to make sure there isn't a simple solution.

They should not have any effect on the ignition circuit.