Motorcycle Repair: Battery, honda goldwing, eletrical

Question
Hello Chris;
I have just purchased a 1979 Honda Goldwing. The person I bought it from has passed away and he used to store it every winter. He always took the battery out. I have charged the battery to a point where on the volt meter reading was 12.79. I install the battery and I get absolutly no power to anything, no lights, no eletrical at all. I am new to bikes and I don't know if the battery or if there is a prob somewheres else.

Answer
Hi Garnet.

If the battery is showing a charge, and you have no power to anything, then it seems to me that the battery is not the problem.

 In 25 years of riding, I have never known a 'Wing rider to improperly maintain his/her bike, so it is most likely the main fuse that has blown.

 If you cannot find the fuses, then get a repair manual.  It will tell you where everything that you need to find is on the bike.  It will also have a wealth of information about proper maintainence that makes that one book worth it's weight in gold.

Check the fuses, all of them, to be sure.  Then go over the wiring and see if you find any shorts, which would be the only other reason that you would be getting no power at all.  Assuming that the battery is connected properly (which is not something that happens enough to make it a likelihood).

Let me know what you find.
Good luck.
FALCON