no headlight or instrument lights

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  • kevxs
    XStremely XSive
    • Apr 2009
    • 353
    • toronto

    #1

    no headlight or instrument lights

    Just noticed i have no headlight (high or low beam) and no lights on my gauges. Everything else is fine and all the fuses in my t/c fusebox are fine. any particular place i should check first?
    1979 XS1100SF 37000km
    Green Dyna Coils
    Stainless Brake Lines

    1973 CB100
    kevXS
  • mjpxs11sh
    XStremely XSive
    • Jan 2011
    • 299
    • N/E, Illinois

    #2
    open the hdlt. thats where all the connections are. each connector is different ( theres 1 the same on my 81s taped off) u can follow the guage lite wiring easily. and the hdlt is right there. let us know what u find.
    Max

    81 XS1100SH Black Beast Mutt
    Kerker 4/1
    stock carbs and air box.
    78 headlite, handle bars,
    1 set of ea-160/85mph guages,
    crash bars, cruise control

    Other 2 Wheelers
    78 XS1100E jet kit, Kerker 4/1, air pods, jet kit-RIP
    94 CBR1000F jet kit,Two Bros pipe, K&N Filter

    Comment

    • kevxs
      XStremely XSive
      • Apr 2009
      • 353
      • toronto

      #3
      lights are working this morning, obviously a loose connection somewhere, I'll hopefully have time to dive into is this weekend
      1979 XS1100SF 37000km
      Green Dyna Coils
      Stainless Brake Lines

      1973 CB100
      kevXS

      Comment

      • tinman905
        XSive Maximus
        • Aug 2007
        • 946
        • Orangeville,Ontario ,Canada

        #4
        Had the same problem this week . I wasn't as lucky my head light rely was the problem. Having extra parts hanging around can be helpful
        BDF Special
        80SG Vetter bagger 1196 Wiseco big bore kit, Mega Cycle Cams, slotted cam gears, ported and flowed head, bronze intake seats, Dyno Jet kit, Dyno coils and Mikes XS air pods, Venture cam chain adjuster,Geezer's regulator, Clutch mod, Mac 4 into 1 with custom built and tuned baffle, Oil cooler,MikesXS emulators mod.
        Dyno tuned to 98 hp at the rear wheel.

        Comment

        • ManagerMike
          XStremely XSive
          • Mar 2010
          • 445
          • S.E. Michigan

          #5
          Headlight relay is most likely the culprit. Relpaced mine with a standard bosch relay.
          '78 E "Stormbringer"

          Purrs like a kitten, roars like a lion, runs like a gazelle (being chased by a cheetah).

          pics http://s1209.photobucket.com/albums/...tormbringer45/

          Comment

          • vanquisher51
            XSive
            • Jul 2011
            • 17
            • Fort Collins, COLO.

            #6
            What size relay is the headlight relay? Thanks
            '80 Standard

            Comment

            • Stepka
              Truly XSive
              • Apr 2011
              • 170
              • Shakopee, MN

              #7
              Check your fuse first
              1981 xs1100 venturer... Finally runs
              Still has carb issues, but runs
              For all of your Amsoil needs go to www.mrguysoil.com

              Comment

              • ManagerMike
                XStremely XSive
                • Mar 2010
                • 445
                • S.E. Michigan

                #8
                Originally posted by vanquisher51
                What size relay is the headlight relay? Thanks
                40 amp on the switched side is a typical capacity rating for most bosch style relays, as the current draw from the low beam filament is under 6 amps (55w /12v) plus the dash illumination lamps, and only slightly higher on high beam, it is more than adequate.
                '78 E "Stormbringer"

                Purrs like a kitten, roars like a lion, runs like a gazelle (being chased by a cheetah).

                pics http://s1209.photobucket.com/albums/...tormbringer45/

                Comment

                • bikerphil
                  Master of XSology
                  • Jan 2008
                  • 8634
                  • South Flori-DUH

                  #9
                  Originally posted by kevxs
                  Just noticed i have no headlight (high or low beam) and no lights on my gauges. Everything else is fine and all the fuses in my t/c fusebox are fine. any particular place i should check first?
                  Had the same problem today on a 79F, I did the RLU bypass and headlights are back. Relay had already been bypassed.
                  2H7 (79) owned since '89
                  3H3 owned since '06

                  "If it ain't broke, modify it"

                  Comment

                  • kevxs
                    XStremely XSive
                    • Apr 2009
                    • 353
                    • toronto

                    #10
                    the connections behind the headlight all look pretty clean, i cleaned them up a bit anyway although I need a clever method for leaning the female connections. I think the RLU is right near the ballast resistor under the tank but where do I find this 'relay'?

                    thanks
                    1979 XS1100SF 37000km
                    Green Dyna Coils
                    Stainless Brake Lines

                    1973 CB100
                    kevXS

                    Comment

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

                      #11
                      On my 81 SH, the headlight relay is directly above the coils right up near the neck of the frame. It is a square metal box inb a rubber strap with a sleeve on top that mounts to the frame. Look right bove the coils, should be fairly easy to see when you know what your looking for and where to look.
                      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

                      • bikerphil
                        Master of XSology
                        • Jan 2008
                        • 8634
                        • South Flori-DUH

                        #12
                        The RLU is a black plastic box held in with 2 phillips screws atop the left side of the frame by the voltage regulator. It says reserve lighting device on it or somthing similar. To bypass it, unplug and in the harness plug, jump the pins that go to blu/blk and blu/yel wires. Headlight relay bypass is jump red/yel and blu/blk wires in the harness plug.
                        2H7 (79) owned since '89
                        3H3 owned since '06

                        "If it ain't broke, modify it"

                        Comment

                        • kevxs
                          XStremely XSive
                          • Apr 2009
                          • 353
                          • toronto

                          #13
                          bypassed RLU and Relay, still no dash or headlights

                          so i spliced together the blue, black and red, yellow wires on the headlight relay and also the blue/yellow, blue/black wires on the RLU and still my headlights and dash lights dont work.

                          when the problem starting happening, it was intermittent. some days i'd start the bike and they'd work sometimes not.

                          connections in the headlight enclosure looked pretty good and have also been cleaned.

                          can anyone help?
                          1979 XS1100SF 37000km
                          Green Dyna Coils
                          Stainless Brake Lines

                          1973 CB100
                          kevXS

                          Comment

                          • crazy steve
                            XS-XJ Guru MODERATOR
                            • Jan 2009
                            • 7932
                            • Beautiful outer Yelm, WA

                            #14
                            At the headlight relay, you only need to splice the red/yellow and blue/black wires together. Leave the other two disconnected and insulate the ends.
                            Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two

                            '78E original owner - resto project
                            '78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
                            '82 XJ rebuild project
                            '80SG restified, red SOLD
                            '79F parts...
                            '81H more parts...

                            Other current bikes:
                            '93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
                            '86 XL883/1200 Chopper
                            '82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
                            Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
                            Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...

                            Comment

                            • kevxs
                              XStremely XSive
                              • Apr 2009
                              • 353
                              • toronto

                              #15
                              Originally posted by crazy steve
                              At the headlight relay, you only need to splice the red/yellow and blue/black wires together. Leave the other two disconnected and insulate the ends.
                              thanks for the quick reply. i just made this change and still no lights . . .
                              1979 XS1100SF 37000km
                              Green Dyna Coils
                              Stainless Brake Lines

                              1973 CB100
                              kevXS

                              Comment

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