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Low beam on the Venturer headlight.

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  • #1

    Low beam on the Venturer headlight.

    Really.. Is this a joke? I can barely see the headlight beam on my garage door.. In the dark.. With a brand-new bulb.. What gives?

    High beam is pretty decent.. The bulb is seated properly, and locked in place.
    I guess I'll check voltage going to the bulb tomorrow, to make sure it's not a supply issue. Or maybe I'll just stick a rack of four KC lights on top of the fairing, and pretend I'm a Jeep


    peace

    Vlad
    ----
    '81 XS1100SH "Hound of Basketville" - new project
    '81 XS1100H Venturer
    '81 XJ750RH Seca
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Yeah, start with checking the voltage. If that is good then the problems if going to be the reflector in the headlight lens. The silvering is not of the greatest quality. Best thing to do is this:

    http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33251
    Nathan
    KD9ARL

    μολὼν λαβέ

    1978 XS1100E
    K&N Filter
    #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
    OEM Exhaust
    ATK Fork Brace
    LED Dash lights
    Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters
    Green Monster Coils
    SS Brake Lines
    Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

    In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

    Theodore Roosevelt

    Comment

    • #3
      Neat! I may have to try this mod... Thanks for the info.

      73's,

      KD5WUB



      Originally posted by natemoen View Post
      Yeah, start with checking the voltage. If that is good then the problems if going to be the reflector in the headlight lens. The silvering is not of the greatest quality. Best thing to do is this:

      http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33251
      ----
      '81 XS1100SH "Hound of Basketville" - new project
      '81 XS1100H Venturer
      '81 XJ750RH Seca

      Comment

      • #4
        I had that issue before too Vlad. Check the connections behind the fairing where the wiring connects to the fairing pigtail, check connections where the pigtail plugs into the fairing and all connections inside the fairing. That's where the problem most frequently is.

        There's also the switch and it's plug and the reserve lighting unit. It's just a poor connection somewhere and you gotta find it.
        Greg

        Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

        ― Albert Einstein

        80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

        The list changes.

        Comment

        • #5
          Yeah, I took a peak in the fairing pockets last night.. A monkey could have wired it up better. It seems to only affect the low beam, so first I'll swap the low and high beam leads, and see how the low beam behaves. That should tell me if it's the headlight itself or the wiring. I'll dig into it tonight after work.


          peace

          Vlad

          Originally posted by BA80 View Post
          I had that issue before too Vlad. Check the connections behind the fairing where the wiring connects to the fairing pigtail, check connections where the pigtail plugs into the fairing and all connections inside the fairing. That's where the problem most frequently is.

          There's also the switch and it's plug and the reserve lighting unit. It's just a poor connection somewhere and you gotta find it.
          ----
          '81 XS1100SH "Hound of Basketville" - new project
          '81 XS1100H Venturer
          '81 XJ750RH Seca

          Comment

          • #6
            A dim headlight is usually indicative of a bad ground.
            Greg

            Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

            ― Albert Einstein

            80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

            The list changes.

            Comment

            • #7
              True, but wouldn't the high and low beams share the same ground?


              Vlad

              Originally posted by BA80 View Post
              A dim headlight is usually indicative of a bad ground.
              ----
              '81 XS1100SH "Hound of Basketville" - new project
              '81 XS1100H Venturer
              '81 XJ750RH Seca

              Comment

              • #8
                Yes, they do. However, it may not be as noticeable on high beam.

                High beam is pretty decent..
                That may not be the problem but as I said the ground is the usual suspect
                Greg

                Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

                ― Albert Einstein

                80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

                The list changes.

                Comment

                • #9
                  At this point, every wire on that bike is suspect. The PO, a supposed bike mechanic, has either not given a rats ass about the bike, or just isn't a good bike mechanic..

                  Vlad

                  Originally posted by BA80 View Post
                  Yes, they do. However, it may not be as noticeable on high beam.



                  That may not be the problem but as I said the ground is the usual suspect
                  ----
                  '81 XS1100SH "Hound of Basketville" - new project
                  '81 XS1100H Venturer
                  '81 XJ750RH Seca

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Originally posted by stereomind View Post
                    At this point, every wire on that bike is suspect. The PO, a supposed bike mechanic, has either not given a rats ass about the bike, or just isn't a good bike mechanic..

                    Vlad
                    Your suspicions are well taken and totally valid!........Good to hear SOMEONE not attacking carbs 'first crack out of the box'.
                    81H Venturer1100 "The Bentley" (on steroids) 97 Yamaha YZ250(age reducer) 92 Honda ST1100 "Twisty"(touring rocket) Age is relative to the number of seconds counted 'airing' out an 85ft. table-top.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Hi Stereomind,
                      I am on the same quest for more light from the headlight.
                      My plan is to start with the Kill Switch on the handlebar to be soaked in Evaporust this week end. Your comment on the fairing wiring has given me another area to add to the list of connections to clean and check or is it check and clean
                      Phil
                      1981 XS1100 H Venturer ( Addie)
                      1983 XJ 650 Maxim
                      2004 Kawasaki Concours. ( Black Bear)

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