It's a Mystery Wrapped in an Enigma

Okay, so this weekend I ran a dedicated power and ground wire to the back of my bike in an effort once and for all to make my LED brake light array work. I ran the dedicated power wire off my power strip, through insulated tubing under the tank--just had to loosen the bolts front and back and lift it up (BTW, empty, crushed, plastic gallon milk jugs work great to prop it up)--to the back. I also ran a dedicated ground wire as well.

And while I had the whole shootin' match apart--meaning all four of the @#$*&! black panels--I ran a wire from where I have my strip grounded to the frame back directly to the negative battery terminal. I also ran an extra No. 14 wire from the front to the back, unconnected at either end, as a stub-out in the event I want to wire some other thing back there that that also won't work. :glare:

So I hooked all five of the LED accessory wires back up, and ********. :angry: I get a few random blinking lights. So I disconnected and unbolted the damn thing and am going to send it back to the factory--as they offered when I spoke to them on the phone--to have it checked out.

Instead of a "worst farkle" thread, we should ask which farkle has caused you the most time lost in inverse proportion to its benefit or cost? I've have got about six cat lives invested in trying to make this thing work. You should see my poor factory tail- and brakelight electrical wires. They look like the arm of a heroin addict! I guess now I'm obsessed. :dribble:

And on top of it, I guess I had thrown away my original license plate frame.

But I did get that ground installed back to the battery neg terminal. And I have some good electrical run back to the rear under the seat.

JB

And speaking of the @#$*&! black panels, I guarantee you there is no one out there in FJR Forumland who does a better job than I do of scratching up my finish every time I take those things on and off. And is there anybody who puts the two front ones on in the right order first time, so you don't have to wrench them back off to get the center holes aligned? And what's with those frickin' tabs next to the glovebox? I'm pretty sure I broke one off.

Isn't it fun working on your bike? :blink:

And speaking of the @#$*&! black panels, I guarantee you there is no one out there in FJR Forumland who does a better job than I do of scratching up my finish every time I take those things on and off.

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Hans, blue "painter's" masking tape is your really good friend.....applies easily, protects the painted finish, peels off easily. Or, my second favorite: A paper grocery bad taped into place.

I had a strange thing happen with some lights on another motorcycle.

Hooked up - they worked - then quit. Same thing going back and forth.

Turns out I had a corroded gound connection that was ready to quit, but didn't know that. I kept suspecting the new lights and wiring for them, as usual.

Could be the same with your situation - either ground or hot was ready to open circuit, and just moving things around has caused one to go on the blink.

I never fool long with grounds - I'll whack the wire, find a good spot on the frame and - there ya' go!!