cannot find fuse box + light problems

I have an 1981 xj650 maxim.
tore the bike appartment and cannot find the fuse box. Having problems with rear after market brake light it's constantly on and when brakes are applied it doesn't get brighter
Also the front light stopped working but I've read it needs to be correctly in its casing with spring to work?

Some please help!!

 

Your fuse box is located under the seat on top of the airbox.

 

Since you are having a number of electrical issues I would suggest that you get a Multimeter or a circuit tester to check your connections. You say your front light isn't working, do you mean your headlamp? Is neither front or rear brake switch working? And did you find your fusebox under the seat?

 

If his bike has one (spaghetti factor). The headlight should come on when you start your bike. Briefly describe how the aftermarket brake wiring is connected; maybe a member(s) can help.

Gary H.

 

Yeah I mean the headlamp. I unscrew that spring that goes in lamp maybe it needs to be all put together properly Apperently it has too iv read somewhere for it to turn on..
signal lights work but don't flash .. I've been told that bike has to be running for them to flash..
The brake light comes on I think it's just the running light and when I apply the brakes they don't get any brighter
also fusebox isn't there

 

You bought someone's project. There is no way to know how it was wired, or if it was ever working properly. You have two options: Buy an unmolested wiring harness, or get a service manual and start tracing wires to figure out the mess that you have.

 

I bought it all stock.. lights were all working until I ripped it apart..

 

You probably hooked the wires up wrong to the tail light. The black is the ground-- try swapping the other two leads.

Headlight-- light will only work once the engine fires and the "latch" is made. Light does NOT need to be all assemble first. There are three wires to the bulb-- ground, low beam, high beam. Start your bike and check both high and low to see if one or the other works. If neither, time to find the fuse-- or if its spaghetti, may they've all been cut out and bypassed (eeeeeesh)

Turn signals may sometimes flash a little with just they key on. But usually the bike needs to be running, and even then, they may not always flash if the idle speed drops too low.

 

If this is true the fuse box should be under the seat, as Kris stated, on top of the air box. All of the electricals should be fused. Imo you should start there.

Gary H.

 

I had issues last year with the sockets for the brake lights somehow grounding themselves out and causing the brake lights to stay on. New sockets from an auto parts store fixed that one.

 

The EASIEST thing is to just swap the leads and see if that solves the problem . If it does, it solved. If it doesn't, THEN you can tear in deeper....

 

Finally fired er up and got the brake to go dimmer when brakes were applied.. it's a start!

 

Front light turnt on soon as I got her started thanks!
Think they must be all hardwired.. not sure why.. whats the worst thing that could happen..
brake light Seems to be getting there. . It's going dimmer when applying brakes but maybe just cuz isn't revd up and not warmed up..[/QUOTE]

 

Brakes need to get BRIGHTER when applying the brakes. Check your wires!!!
I told you the headlight will only be able to come on once it fires.... The 650 has a relay or "latch". Other bikes are wired differently.