TOPIC:

Ok so I have a 1980 ltd 550 and when I got it I didn't realize if the lights were on or not when we jumped it. This my first bike so I wouldn't have noticed always. So I tried to charge the battery with not luck. So I hooked up my car battery and wow. All the lights are on without me putting a key. No big Thing. So I get a new battery and wow everything's on no key. So I called my buddy who I got the bike from and ask him about he swears I did something. All I did was reconnect the tail light. So I cut it and try again same thing. So I know he's lying and I believe that's what killed the last battery to the point it's not able to charge... Where should I start looking. I was think some relay got firied open and is keeping every thing on

I would stat with the ignition switch itself. Is it on? is there a key broken off in it? is it in the on position? Try turning it anti clockwise with a screwdriver ( do it gently and dont force anything)

Nope the key is not broke inside and everything turns ok. Just all the lights are on but I still have to turn the key to the start position to start the bike

All I did was reconnect the tail light.

Check your tail light feed +ve should be working off the lighting circuit not a battery +ve which will be live all the time. Try pulling the taillight fuse, it needs to be powered through this.

I will pull the fuses not sure which one it might be. When I got the bike the tail ligh wires were chewed up by his dogs. So the were all broke and there weren't any turn signals. I connected the tail then when I noticed the problem I cut the wires again. Didn't change any thing.

Switch has a off, run and park position. Park is meant for the tail light to stay on. Great for when I was at party s. All I had to do was look out the window and I knew the bike was still there. The switch must be hooked up wrong. Some aftermarket switches come with different color codes.
Steve

I normally ask this, do you have a manual?
Steve

No manual. I pulled the fuse nothing changed. I pulled a wire that was connected to a but that was connected to the battery....and it works like it should. The carb is off so I really don't know what not working now but I'm happy I'm close to the problem or at least I think so

Ok found the wire it goes to this thing under the battery. That's seems important

You need a manual. Loud has one in his signature. That's a reg/rectifier. It is important.
Steve

How do I find loud...you think it's beyond just getting a new one

You don't know if it works or not.
Steve
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