why do we need connectors?

[dyelawn]

I've had the same ground wire issue on my 82 750C for several months now: the green ground wire fails somewhere between the headlight bucket and where the harness goes under the gas tank, and the headlight ground sthrough the neutral switch instead.  Annoying thing is that when you put it in gear the lights can only ground through the high beam indicator which turns this on and leaves the headlight off.

I'm pretty sure the problem is in the male/female connector, 9P Bk Mini, at the bottom of the headlight bucket before the harness goes out to the rest of the bike.  I think the female end is corroded and despite how I try I can't clean it well enough.  My question is, can I just cut the green ground wire on either side of the connector and splice a wire around it?  Is there something critical about having a disconnectable connection here I should consider before doing this?  Very ready to be done with this problem.

[shinyribs]

You could pick up some bullet connectors at your local auto parts store. They're male and.female so you.can remain disconnectable. They'll be nice and tight, unlike the old stockers.

Is it falling apart or pulling apart.  Make sure there is enough slack that turning the bars is not unplugging you. And you can always take a pair of pliers to pinch your connectors in to tighten them.

[dyelawn]

I think they're falling apart rather than pulling apart.  There should be plenty of slack in the wire to handle turning, and the wire is still embedded in the harness with the rest of them (and none of the other wires seem to have a problem).  Probably is just corrosion but hard to tell.

Thanks for the tip on the bullet connectors.  Probably will go that route and splice around the old connector.  Speaking of: is there a certain gauge or type that would be best for this type of thing?  My knowledge of electrical systems basically sums to knife + socket = die.

[MarkPBG]

There is no problem eliminating connectors, they are just there for service issues. It's easier to remove and replace parts by pulling apart the connector than cutting and re-splicing wires without connectors. That being said, NOT having connectors DOES result in fewer places for corrosion to occur, assuming the wiring jacket is intact over it's whole length.

[shinyribs]

The blue ones should fit just fine. I think they are sized at 14-16 ga. possibly? Not sure,but the blue connectors will do ya.