Can't get my headlight to work....

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  • Giggity
    Truly XSive
    • Mar 2009
    • 113
    • Longmont, CO

    #1

    Can't get my headlight to work....

    I did the fuse block upgrade recently (before I ever started the bike) but I have no juice flowing through the tan to red/yellow wires. The other three fused connections are good.
    The harness does not seem compromised anywhere. Any suggestions
    1979 XS1100 Standard
    Putting it together........
  • Geezer
    XS-XJ Guru
    • May 2003
    • 2985
    • Willamina, Oregon 97229

    #2
    Check to see if it's charging. No charge, no lights on the XS11...

    Tony
    Hi my name is Tony and I'm a bikeoholic.

    The old gray biker ain't what he used to be.

    Comment

    • oldyam80sg
      XS-XJ Guru
      • Apr 2007
      • 2042
      • Hackettstown , New Jersey

      #3
      Look at the tach- if it doesn't move i think that it means you are not charging the battery.I could be wrong-maybe someone else can chime in.Also i don't know if you have the diode in the wiring.If it is blown that latches a relay to turn on the lights.
      1980 XS1100 SG
      Inline fuel filters
      New wires in old coils-outer spark plugs
      160 mph speedometer mod
      Kerker Exhaust
      xschop K & N air filter setup
      Dynojet Recalibration kit
      1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100
      1997 Jeep Cherokee 4.5"lift installed

      Comment

      • Giggity
        Truly XSive
        • Mar 2009
        • 113
        • Longmont, CO

        #4
        Ummmm....... does the bike need to be running for the headlight to come on?
        1979 XS1100 Standard
        Putting it together........

        Comment

        • Geezer
          XS-XJ Guru
          • May 2003
          • 2985
          • Willamina, Oregon 97229

          #5
          Originally posted by Giggity
          Ummmm....... does the bike need to be running for the headlight to come on?
          Yes.

          Geezer
          Hi my name is Tony and I'm a bikeoholic.

          The old gray biker ain't what he used to be.

          Comment

          • Giggity
            Truly XSive
            • Mar 2009
            • 113
            • Longmont, CO

            #6
            To quote Mr. Garrison from South Park, "Now remember children, there are no stupid questions, only stupid people."

            Please stop laughing at me now

            The few times I've ridden the bike were before I put a headlight on. As far as I can recall on every other bike I have owned you just turn the key and the headlight comes on.
            1979 XS1100 Standard
            Putting it together........

            Comment

            • clyderider
              XSive
              • Nov 2007
              • 41
              • minnesota

              #7
              re;Headlight is NOT working

              after a gazzillion attempts at finding my headlight problem I discovered a really perplexing thing.First I have three yamaha 1100's two xs1100sf now these two xs's have comepletely different lamp plugins,from the same model/make/ year! that said,check the plugin point behind the lamp(where the wires are) mine melted while riding down the asphalt.Nasty smell i'll tell ya.So my advice is check the wires behind the lamp.If it's running fine and no light.Many people suggest checking the reserve lighting system. almost all of the xs1100sf I have seen the reserve lighting system has been bypassed years ago.The wiring on these models generally degrade(rot) over the thirty years since they were made.It's gotten to the point I am thinking of just duct taping a powerful flashlight up front! I feel your pain friend.I love my bike "Clyde" Just wait till the vacuum advance skips and bangs like an explosion on ya while riding! yikes!!!!! Watchout for the E-bay buys too! I found that the one I purchased had the speedometer cable loosened to not read proper mileage. 1979xs1100sf,t-fork brace,stainless steel brake lines,K&N pods,inline fuel filter,new seat cover,pickup coil fix,new fuse box, different handlebars,

              Comment

              • wa407mpp
                XSive Maximus
                • Jul 2007
                • 717

                #8
                No, That's not entirely correct, at lease where the E model is concerned. The engine doesn't have to be running for the headlight to be on, there is and on and off position on the handle bar switch, you can turn it on with the switch or leave it off and have it come on automatically, when the engine is started.
                Fastmover
                "Just plant us in the damn garden with the stupid
                lion". SHL
                78 XS1100e

                Comment

                • renegade_xs11g
                  XStremely XSive
                  • Apr 2007
                  • 462
                  • Mid-Michigan

                  #9
                  Laughing with you, not at you. I really hope you are laughing.....

                  The headlight is not supposed to come on until the engine has started,
                  but a couple of things can make this not happen....
                  the most common is a charging issue, the tach will not work unless the alternator is charging.....
                  that's why we ask if the tach.....
                  if not working, it's probably the rectifier, assuming that everything is connected right.....


                  Man I need to get better at typing, 2 new replies since I started
                  1980 XS11 Special aka The Monster
                  "My life used to be a Soap Opera, until I realized something, I own the network."
                  My Photo Bucket

                  Comment

                  • Axel
                    XSive Maximus
                    • May 2007
                    • 869
                    • Renfrew,Ontario

                    #10
                    wait a minute

                    Umm - My headlight comes on without the engine running
                    XJ1100K
                    Avon rubber
                    MikesXS black coils
                    Iridium plugs w/ 1k caps
                    MikesXS front master
                    Paragon SS brake lines (unlinked)
                    Loud Horns (Stebel/Fiamm)
                    Progressive fork springs
                    CIBIE headlight reflector
                    YICS Eliminator

                    Comment

                    • DGXSER
                      Doctor of XSology(Deceased)
                      • Nov 2008
                      • 12001
                      • Cincinnati, Ohio

                      #11
                      Axel,

                      If someone wired around the diode in the circuit, it will come one with the key.

                      Sounds like a PO did that on yours.
                      Life is what happens while your planning everything else!

                      When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.

                      81 XS1100 Special - Humpty Dumpty
                      80 XS1100 Special - Project Resurrection


                      Previously owned
                      93 GSX600F
                      80 XS1100 Special - Ruby
                      81 XS1100 Special
                      81 CB750 C
                      80 CB750 C
                      78 XS750

                      Comment

                      • Axel
                        XSive Maximus
                        • May 2007
                        • 869
                        • Renfrew,Ontario

                        #12
                        Thanks

                        I'll check that out
                        XJ1100K
                        Avon rubber
                        MikesXS black coils
                        Iridium plugs w/ 1k caps
                        MikesXS front master
                        Paragon SS brake lines (unlinked)
                        Loud Horns (Stebel/Fiamm)
                        Progressive fork springs
                        CIBIE headlight reflector
                        YICS Eliminator

                        Comment

                        • oseaghdha
                          XS-XJ Guru
                          • Aug 2006
                          • 1075
                          • N43.02.5,W88.14.2

                          #13
                          If you jump out the relay, the light will come on with the key.
                          XS1100SF
                          XS1100F

                          Comment

                          • skids
                            XS-XJ Super Guru
                            • Jul 2002
                            • 5047
                            • Florissant, CO, USA

                            #14
                            Well, the 78 is different. It has an on/off switch, but once the bike's alernator has started turning, the relay is "latched on" until you turn the key off. I think you could turn it on or off initially before you hit the start switch. Later models did away with the switch altogether.
                            Skids (Sid Hansen)

                            Down to one 1978 E. Stock air box with K&N filter, 81H pipes and carbs, 8500 feet elevation.

                            Comment

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