G'day all,
and many thanks for all the replies and advice. I have to admit that it was Gerts comment regarding the hazard lights that prompted a different chain of thought.
Now the hazard lights have never worked properly and as I was trying the switch out repeatedly, I noticed that there was a dim in the glow of the neutral light just as I selected the hazards or indicators on. This led me to believe that something in the circuit was receiving power, and as none of the magic electric smoke had escaped from the wires, I deduced that it wasn’t a short.
Now up to this point I had been approaching the problem like an electrician (which I am most obviously not) and relying on various circuit testers, and ringing out wires to check for continuity, I even went as far as to see if the TDR from work would help, but it was broken. So all to no avail.
I took a leap of faith and decided to attack the problem like a true “blackhander” and repeatedly hammered the crap out of the indicator and the hazard switch, and what do you know it started to function, albeit sporadically.
so liberal applications of a combination of penetrating fluid and brute force and ignorance and I now have indicators that work.
I now know that I need to change the switch cluster, but as they are now working I can leave that little joy for when funds allow. The bike is now all back together and I am itching to get out for a ride.
many thanks all for the advice, and happy Stromming !