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

[Giggity]

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

[Geezer]

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

Tony

[oldyam80sg]

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.

[Giggity]

Ummmm....... does the bike need to be running for the headlight to come on?

[Geezer]

Ummmm....... does the bike need to be running for the headlight to come on?

Yes.

Geezer

[Giggity]

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.

[clyderider]

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,

[wa407mpp]

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.

[renegade_xs11g]

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

[Axel]

wait a minute

Umm - My headlight comes on without the engine running

[DGXSER]

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.

[Axel]

Thanks

I'll check that out

[oseaghdha]

If you jump out the relay, the light will come on with the key.

[skids]

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.