Headlight Low beam too low (XS850)

[ucdyamaha]

My Low beam is decidedly too low. The (HEAD) warning lamp turns on whenever I switch to lowbeam. I have played with the fuse box and replaced/redone part of it, but this seems like a low/voltage issue with the low beam. Any ideas?

Cheers,

Eric

[John]

You need a new bulb in the headlight. The warning light is coming on to warn you of that. That is the function of the reserve lighting unit. If the low beam filiment fails, it will turn on the high beam at a derceased brightness to get you home safely, without using high beams only.

[ucdyamaha]

Thanks for that info ~~

Ok, I guess that makes sense. Having earlier lost the low and the high due to a fuse problem, I was assuming that this must be a continuation of the same problem. Where can you go to get more info about these failsafe features of the older bikes? I guess the original manuals or a Clymers manual would be the ticket for me.

Also, on another note, have you all seen gasket material that I could use to just cut to shape for my carburetors ? Can't you just by the material and make any shape you want? I imagine the Carburetor parts, being metal, won't need replacement, and I just want to clean it and check it out in there.

[Hepcat]

Check your local auto parts store. Ask them for Sheet Gasket. It comes on a roll and you buy it by the inch. I didn't ask the price here locally, but the guy on the phone said it's really reasonable.

[Jerry]

You can also get gasket material in different thicknesses in pre-packaged rolls of a couple square feet. Some shops have it in their back rooms, check with the counter folks. This can be cheaper than buying by the inch if you plan to make several gaskets.

[ucdyamaha]

Thanks Guys

Well the new headlight is in, and I pulled off my broken Tach/Spedometer (Now to find a replacement~ Anyone have some parts lying around? ) The bike is gettting better piece by piece.

Cheers,

Eric

[srq68]

For a copy of the owner's manual as well as several little fixes pertaining to the 850, try the Yamaha Triples website at http://www.yamaha-triples.org/

For the carb gaskets, www.partsmore.com has them for $3.00 each, which is better I think than trying to cut one from scratch. They also have other things you may need later. Free shipping over $30...

Good luck with your 850, I just finished a ground-up restoration job on mine....

Feel free to email me direct with secific questions.

[srq68]

Ooops,
I tried the link and I realized it had a typo, it's
www.partsnmore.com

[ucdyamaha]

Thanks a bunch !!!

That partsnmore site is great. I think I'll get a couple of things from them.

I have been checking ebay religiously to find a replacement tank for my "standard" XS850. That tank is sorta angular and I almost want to get the "special" XS850 teardrop tank, but don't know if it will fit. In any case, these Yamaha's are really fun to ride. If I can't restore this exact bike, I have seen several for sale on craigslist.org (bay area SF / Sacramento) which have low mileage and look better than mine... But hey, for $400 I can't complain, and my current XS850 is rideable and I was able to pass the M1 test with it.


~Cheers,

E

[xs1100yam]

Hi
It look like a negative problem in the bulb or ground poor connection. in this case, high light and low beam are in serial

[ucdyamaha]

New bulb in, working fine

I now have experience taking off the gas tank, disconnecting the carbs and airbox, and then reconnecting the whole thing. When I was tinkering, I saw that "Reserve Lighting Unit" that another member brought up earlier. I also saw under the tank, what look like 3 igniters for the spark plugs.
My current task is to understand my carburetor problems. I think it needs cleaning because the type of engine sound really varies from a deep throaty pocka pocka with irrradic acceleration, to a high idle irratated punpunpunpun type sound. I think this is due to irregular fuel flow into the carbs.