Rear indicator earth connections question?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

As you might expect both the earth terminals on my rear indicator brackets/ears are broken off whats the best method to work around this - I can't get enough heat on the bracket to make the solder run to attach a male spade.

1. Drill a small hole in the bracket and bolt on a terminal with a bolt head on the outside so it's not too obvious.

2. As 1 but pop rivet the connection

3. Run an earth from the lamp clamp into a dedicated earth. (You would see the wire)

3. Take the lamp apart and run an earth from the lamp unit.

My lamps are not the originals but the DS type cheaper units.


.rear indicator ears by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

[Athame57]

I might be considering buying new units, DSS has OE ones.

[royhall]

I usually make up a lead with an eyelet that goes to the screw that holds the bulb carrier inside the light. I usually run extra earths to a lot of the components like that, bad earths are one of the biggest causes of breakdown on these old bikes. Corroded joints to the frame don't pass electricity as well as a direct cable.

[Seabeowner]

500s had a ring terminal that attached to the bolt that clamps the indicator to the stem I think but I have later indicators (marked Stanley) that have an integral earth wire.

[Bryanj]

Dont remember any seperate earth wires on Honda indicators

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I might be considering buying new units, DSS has OE ones.

The DS ones are £42 each - not sure they have the connection as it's not shown in the parts photo - that would be a last resort

[royhall]

It's a very simple fix Ted, just a short length of wire and a couple of connectors.

[wildtapholer]

I usually make up a lead with an eyelet that goes to the screw that holds the bulb carrier inside the light. I usually run extra earths to a lot of the components like that, bad earths are one of the biggest causes of breakdown on these old bikes. Corroded joints to the frame don't pass electricity as well as a direct cable.
[I've done exactly the same when I refitted new front indicators I had a earth problem no matter what I did I couldn't get them to earth properly so ran a wire from inside each front indicator to chassis and problem solved./quote]

[royhall]

I do that on every bike I own. I usually end up running earth's to most of the components on the bike. Unless you do a full rebuild or deliberately clean the existing joints, you can't trust earth's off the frame on a 40 plus year old bike.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I do that on every bike I own. I usually end up running earth's to most of the components on the bike. Unless you do a full rebuild or deliberately clean the existing joints, you can't trust earth's off the frame on a 40 plus year old bike.

That thought had crossed my mind Roy last thing I want is unreliable lighting, like on fibreglass vehicles I will go for dedicated earth wires.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I usually make up a lead with an eyelet that goes to the screw that holds the bulb carrier inside the light. I usually run extra earths to a lot of the components like that, bad earths are one of the biggest causes of breakdown on these old bikes. Corroded joints to the frame don't pass electricity as well as a direct cable.

I've just opened up a DS cheaper option indicator & as you say there is a nice screw that attaches the bulb carrier perfect for my connections.
Need to find some wire next with the right earth colour.

[Bryanj]

Green should by easy

[royhall]

Here's one I made earlier. Actually it's on my CB350F that I restored a few years ago.

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[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Would 1mm cable thin wall be the right sort or is that too thick is 0.35 or 0.5 better?

[hondarc166]

   Try Vehicle wiring products for your cable and japanese connectors and insulation covers not to far from you ted at iikeston phone 01159305454 hope that helps