The blinker may flash unsteadily even though the driver intends to turn it on, or when the driver tries to sound the horn, the sound does not roar energetically with a beep when the button is pressed but instead is choppy. While some electrical circuits may be faulty due to faulty switch contacts, in fact, the operation is often unstable due to poor grounding.
In this section, we will reconfirm the importance of such grounding circuits and what measures should be taken.
DIY circuit fabrication is also possible using various terminals
Plain weave wire, which is often used as a manufacturer's genuine ground cable, and silver-plated copper wire with a clear cover sold for grounding cables are low-resistance wiring that should be used as the main ground. There are many opportunities to tighten the ground cable using round terminals. There are many opportunities to use Φ5/Φ6/Φ8mm round hole tightening terminals. Even if the same round hole size is used, we should prepare terminals that correspond to the thickness of the wiring. Inside this terminal case are crimp terminals that are used by inserting the peeled wiring into the tube and crushing the tube with a special tool. The basic rule is to use the appropriate tube size for the thickness of the wiring. This is a connector terminal called a flag type for H4 bulbs. Sometimes it is difficult to route the bulb connection wiring inside the headlight case, but in such cases, the flag-type terminal and dedicated coupler can be used to save space. A special tool is required to caulk and secure the wiring, but it can also be caulked with ordinary electric pliers.
When rechecking the grounding of the electrical circuit
Among the electrical components in motorcycles and cars, the one that conducts the most current (and requires the most current) is the cell motor, which is very active when starting the engine. The addition of direct grounding for smoother electrical flow is highly effective.
The role of the magnet switch is to control the large current flowing to the cell motor. In many cases, deterioration of the switch contact points causes insufficient torque in the cell motor. Adding an arcing to the body and smoothing the grounding circuit can sometimes restore the agile operation of the cell motor.
Although purchasing kit parts is the quickest way to get started.
The main harnesses and various harnesses used on out-of-print cars in the 70s and 80s were often 0.75-0.8 SQ in size, and in many cases, 1.25-2.0 SQ size was used in the power system. For additional arcing, a 2.0 SQ size thickness would also be effective. Since the wiring colors vary by the motorcycle manufacturer, it is a good idea to purchase a cord that matches the grounding wiring color of the motorcycle manufacturer you want to earth. For Honda, use dark green. For Kawasaki, use black with yellow wire, etc. Since the plain weave wire is woven in a bag shape, it can also be used as a ground for noise suppression bypassing the harness through it. If you are concerned about malfunctions such as a large swing of the electric tachometer pointer, it is effective to pass the signal wire through the plain weave wire to prevent noise.
Difference between crimp terminals and crimping tools
Note that the shape of the caulking part differs between pliers for crimped terminals and pliers for connector terminals.
Although there are products that offer all-in-one pliers, there are subtle differences in ease of use among the products of different companies, so you will be happy when you find a plier that is easy to use. Crimp terminals should be firmly fixed by using special electric pliers or crimping pliers to firmly press and crush the terminals. For crimped terminals, use special pliers to crush them while rounding the tip of the crimped part. Use different types of pliers depending on the thickness of the wiring.
POINT
Point 1 - Grounding circuit fabrication is easy if materials are on hand.
Point 2 - If you don't want custom elements, thin lines work well.
Point 3 - Understand how tools are used and use them differently.
There are many cases where electrical parts function perfectly fine but are not performing at their full potential simply because of poor wiring conditions.
For example, some old cars had only one ground wire connecting the negative terminal of the battery to the frame or engine body, without a ground circuit leading directly from the "negative terminal" of the battery to the main harness.
This is because the metal frame and engine body are considered as one of the ground circuits. However, with this type of wiring circuit specification, rust and corrosion at the terminal connection points increase current-carrying resistance, and in some cases, the ground circuit is no longer formed. In other words, even if the main ground is firmly connected from the battery's ground terminal (- terminal), if the resistance increases due to corrosion of the ground wire, or if the fastening part on the frame side is rusted, the current-carrying status will be significantly reduced.
In addition, it is actually common for the "paint film" from painting the main frame and various parts to interrupt the ground circuit. In the case of precision equipment such as regulator rectifiers, a more secure ground connection is required, so the condition of the ground point should be checked and inspected carefully. This coating problem is the cause of many electrical problems after a full restoration. For example, many charging failures are caused by poor grounding, and there are many cases of punctured regulator functions. For frames that have been painted, first, check the condition of the ground connection points, and if necessary, remove the paint film to expose the metal surface.
Many foreign cars from the 1980s and earlier use the ground circuit of the cell starter magnet switch or the ground circuit of the regulator rectifier as the equipment's main body ground. In such cases, the paint at the part fastening points must be removed to improve conductivity, or it will eventually become a cause of trouble. Earthing is an extremely effective means of ensuring the grounding function of such a main body. In some cases, it can be more effective than tuning parts, so keep this in mind.