I’m adding sparx switch controls left and right on my 1970 commando. These are 1971 style. Top bottom buttons and center lever. As I’m adding turn signals and kill switch. They came without wiring diagram and I can’t seem to find anything on line. I’m using a new Lucas harness for bike. I co7ld add product picture but don’t know how. How do I add a picture to a post.
Wiring sparx switch controls
- Thread starter Eric1109
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2004
- Messages
- 20,327
The problem is the wiring for the turn signals, kill button, etc. isn't in the 1970 harness so which harness did you buy?
Wiring diagrams are in section J.
Either become a VIP member or you must use a picture hosting website.
Wiring diagrams are in section J.
Either become a VIP member or you must use a picture hosting website.
Last edited:
marshg246
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2015
- Messages
- 4,792
AFAIK they use standard Lucas colors, so the standard later wiring diagram is correct. If not, tell us what colors are in each console's harness.
Become a VIP memebr, then click the "Attach Files" button to add pictures.
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2004
- Messages
- 20,327
Also note that the later harness comes in two sections, main and headlamp. The later switch clusters connect to the harness under the fuel tank.
The later type has a different ignition switch, 6V coils (with a ballast resistor), and headlamp switch, plus they have an assimilator and charge warning lamp instead of an ammeter.
The factory also swapped the switch clusters over during 1972.
Early.
Later.
Andover Norton - MAIN HARNESS (06.2089/54961586) COMMANDO '71-'74 PVC - 06.8069
MAIN HARNESS (06.2089/54961586) COMMANDO '71-'74 PVC
andover-norton.co.uk
Andover Norton - HEADLAMP HARNESS (54960724)(54959633) 1970-74 750/850 PVC - 06.8067
HEADLAMP HARNESS (54960724)(54959633) 1970-74 750/850 PVC
andover-norton.co.uk
The later type has a different ignition switch, 6V coils (with a ballast resistor), and headlamp switch, plus they have an assimilator and charge warning lamp instead of an ammeter.
The factory also swapped the switch clusters over during 1972.
Early.
Later.
Last edited:
Firstly I subscribed to VIP so thank you for telling me
As far as harness I’m using Lucas 54956250. It’s a one piece harness with turn signal wires.
My hand controls on left side have same colour for turn signals. So do I plug them together. If so where do actual turn signals plug into. I am using after market two wire ones. Also I noticed there is nothing in harness that would plug into turn signal flasher. Plus lots of other coloured wires. Any help would be great
Attachments
marshg246
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2015
- Messages
- 4,792
Those colors are close to right.
Green/White goes to Green/White and that is the timing turn signals.
Green/Red goes to Green/Red and that is the drive turn signals. It appears that you have Green/Yellow instead of Green/Red
Light Green/Brown goes to Light Green/Brown which goes to one side of the flasher.
White/Red is unused
White/Yellow goes to White/Yellow and that is one side of the kill button.
White goes to White and the is hot for the White/Yellow and White/Red.
You'll find my email and phone number here: https://www.gregmarsh.com/MC - feel free to call for help.
marshg246
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2015
- Messages
- 4,792
If you don't have an ammeter in your headlight you either need to get a different harness or to know what to do as the hardness you have requires one! Also, that harness requires a on/off switch not a 3/4-position switch.
marshg246
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2015
- Messages
- 4,792
The controls do have a kill switch - the White/Yellow and White wire go to it.
The entire bike on/off switch (master switch) probably goes in your drive side, side panel and it's labeled (incorrectly) "ignition switch" in the harness layout.
I don’t see a white yellow in harness diagram. Also where do actual turn signals hook up ansd nothing in harness for flasher unit
marshg246
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2015
- Messages
- 4,792
It's a quite non-standard harness assuming the drawing matches it. for the flasher, you will need to connect the Light Green/Brown wire to one side of the flasher and a white wire to the other side and the flasher will be in the headlight shell. You can tap off any white wire - they are all hot.
You need a common 4-connector connector for each front turn signal. You put the Green/White from the harness, the Green/White from the console, the Green from the timing side turn signal, and the Green/White form the turn signal indicator light all together. You do the same thing on the Green/Red side.
The rear turn signal connect to the Green/White and Green/Red as the other end of the harness.
You need to study a wiring diagram that has turn signals to see how it all works.
The harness you have is not meant for a kill button. To fix that, just run a wire from the White/Yellow to one side of each coil and do not connect the white wires meant to go to the coils. BTW, that asssumes you have 12volt coils. If you have 6volt coils, then you need more components and instructions.
Since you are not familiar with British Bike wiring, I strongly suggest getting a later harness if you want to wire as a later bike.
You may find these pages interesting:
Custom Wiring a 1972 Norton Commando for Reliability - GME
How to wire a Norton Commando and eliminate the connections under the gas tank.
gregmarsh.com
Which wiring harness would you recommend I go to. Looking for something maybe more straightforward. And you are right ….zero experience with British bikes. You mention the green from timing side. I don’t see a green wire in harness or controls.
Last edited:
marshg246
VIP MEMBER
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2015
- Messages
- 4,792
The turn signals, if standard have a green wire. If later after-market or even later Genuine LUCAS have a black wire.
We should start with what you want to accomplish. That you say it's a 1970 doesn't say as much as you might think. A picture of the both sides of the bike and of the headlight would help. Besides 1970 being a transition year, people often change parts more-or-less like you're trying to do.
You want turn signals - we know that.
Do you have a switch in your drive-side side panel? If so, is that a 2, 3, or 4 position switch? If not, then where is the main bike switch and how many positions does it have.
You said you have an ammeter. How many warning lights are there in the headlight and is there a switch in the top of the headlight?
Do you have an oil tank on the timing side or a box-like oil tank in the middle?
Are you planning to stay with points?
Are you planning to stay with a bridge rectifier and Zener diode?
Are you planning to use Sparx switch consoles on both sides?
If someone asked me to wire a bike with turn signals, I would likely replace the headlight and eliminate the ammeter, have three warning lights, and change the master switch to a 3/4 position switch - basically wire is like 72-74. But, that assumes the headlight is 7" mounted with fork ears rather than a "halo" and it depends on the master switch. Also, if planning on electronic ignition and/or a solid state rectified/regulator then all the harnesses have lots of extra wires to contend with.
I know it sounds daunting - it's not really and if you think in sections, it's easy.
Ignition (make spark)
Charging
General lighting including the taillight
Brake light wiring
Turn signals
Horn
Basically, they are separate. For instance, with points, and 12volt coils it only takes one wire from the battery minus connected to the minus side of each coil, a ground wire from the battery positive to the engine casing, and the Black/White wires and Black/Yellow wires connected to the coil plus terminals to run. Then to keep the points from pitting, a condenser to ground on each side. If you have 6volt coils then you need a ballast resistor between the battery and coils. Obviously in any case, a fuse and on/off switch are a good idea!
You mentioned that the headlight was an "S" type that should mean that your serial number is below 135088 and that the headlight is mounted with a "halo".
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2004
- Messages
- 20,327
Originally I said the turn signal wiring wasn't in the '68-'70 harness as no flashers were fitted then but it seems it has been added to the latest Lucas harness, I should have checked. However there seems to be no light green/brown wire and no flasher relay connection on the Lucas diagram.
Note that the indicator wires on the Lucas diagram are marked incorrectly as green/red is normally the left-hand wire and green/white is the right-hand.
Note that the indicator wires on the Lucas diagram are marked incorrectly as green/red is normally the left-hand wire and green/white is the right-hand.
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2004
- Messages
- 20,327
No. The '68-'70 Triconsul switch (no longer available) had Hi/Lo beam, horn and headlamp flash. There was no right-hand switch cluster.
Hi everybody!
I purchased an original Wipac Triconsul switch for my 70 Commando and have a few questions about it:
The bike was fitted with the later style Lucas control units . I want to restore it to get the original look on the handlebars.
The high beam flasher knob is brown on my switch, normaly it should be a green knob?
Hope it is a Triconsul and not a Tricon with kill switch ! I have no comparison.
The seller said an internal screw is missing but there was never a screw fitted on that empty hole. I can see no marks.
Wiring: a cable bridge should be...
I purchased an original Wipac Triconsul switch for my 70 Commando and have a few questions about it:
The bike was fitted with the later style Lucas control units . I want to restore it to get the original look on the handlebars.
The high beam flasher knob is brown on my switch, normaly it should be a green knob?
Hope it is a Triconsul and not a Tricon with kill switch ! I have no comparison.
The seller said an internal screw is missing but there was never a screw fitted on that empty hole. I can see no marks.
Wiring: a cable bridge should be...
The green-only wire would be the original flasher stem wire. The original flashers grounded through the stem.
If your flashers have two wires then one connects to green/white or green/red and the other is an earth/ground and there's no harness connection for that so you need to connect it to ground (red).
The horn is also wired differently on the later models. The '68-'70 Triconsul has a push-to-ground horn switch, the later Lucas switch does not.
Great thanks this gets me started. What do you think should I keep this harness or go to a two part one. Would that make things easier. Especially wiring in a kill functionNo. The '68-'70 Triconsul switch (no longer available) had Hi/Lo beam, horn and headlamp flash. There was no right-hand switch cluster.
Hi everybody!
I purchased an original Wipac Triconsul switch for my 70 Commando and have a few questions about it:
The bike was fitted with the later style Lucas control units . I want to restore it to get the original look on the handlebars.
The high beam flasher knob is brown on my switch, normaly it should be a green knob?
Hope it is a Triconsul and not a Tricon with kill switch ! I have no comparison.
The seller said an internal screw is missing but there was never a screw fitted on that empty hole. I can see no marks.
Wiring: a cable bridge should be...
The green-only wire would be the original flasher stem wire. The original flashers grounded through the stem.
If your flashers have two wires then one connects to green/white or green/red and the other is an earth/ground and there's no harness connection for that so you need to connect it to ground (red).
The horn is also wired differently on the later models. The '68-'70 Triconsul has a push-to-ground horn switch, the later Lucas switch does not.
Ah so I’m missing a harness That would be great if that’s still available.
Similar threads
