83 vf electrical issues?

A few weeks ago I picked up a $100 83 interceptor listed on craigslist as a non running complete "parts bike". a day of working on it and I had it up and running and the bent fork tubes replaced. rides and runs great but the electrical issues are abundant. High beam doesn't work even though its putting power out for it(checked and replaced bulb still same issue). I have a brown hot wire just hanging under the cluster and no running tail light with the dash light for it on. Also the rear brake doesn't activate the brake light, there doesn't seem to be anything on the rear brake switch electrical related. Is the taillight activated by the rear brake? I have the wire diagram, I haven't been able to place this brown hot wire though. All my fuses are new and good same for tail bulb, still cant figure it out.

Any help is greatly appreciated, waiting for the new title as I'm trying to get this all sorted out this riding season.

 

headlight problem is most likely within the START pushbutton contacts as power goes through there.

have you removed valve covers and inspected cams yet ??

brown wire is for taillights.

 

I'll check the contacts today as just started tearing apart everything in the rear. Havent checked the cams but there isnt any noise out of the ordinary and the engine sounds and runs good. as for the brown hot wire I know it goes to taillights off the wire diagram. the diagram does show a brown wire towards the front of the bike going to nothing, is that correct? if its not what does that wire attach to? ive got other wires up front that arent connected to anything as well which makes me think im missing part of a harness

 

The VFs have an extra brown and green in the front of the harness. Very handy for installing switched accessories, like USB chargers. Was really disappointed when I found they deleted that on the 86 VFRs.

 

so thats just a extra hot wire that should be capped off? what about a rear brake switch? is there one? took apart the whole right side foot controls today and found nothing even remotely related to a switch or relay for it.

 

It usually has a clear protector over the female connector to prevent contact with anything.

Yes, they have (had) a rear brake switch. There will be a lead around the top of the battery where it plugs in. I think it is bundled with the lead from the Fuel Sending Unit out of the tank.

 

so after chasing wires finding frayed or damaged ones and replacing them i have nothing. bike has power barely turns over no headlight taillight or blinkers. battery also gets extremely hot at the connections trying to turn it over. would that be a bad CDI? battery seems like its dead when trying to start but if I check it its at the full voltage and works in other bikes i have.