lost high & low beam

[madbiker]

I 've seam to have lost both beams on the headlight .
I was wondering. If any body has a clue where to start looking
for a way to fix this, because it is both high and low.
is it before the switch or is that a bad guess.
I also have a vetter fairing on her to.
madbiker
80 Midnight Sp
Evil Mistress

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there MadBiker,

You didn't say whether you have done any testing yet, but I'd start with the bulb!! Not being a smartas*, just that the Reserve lighting unit will kick in the high beam element at a reduced wattage when the low beam burns out, and you may or may not have noticed or it may also have been burned out, the high beam indicator light!? So, then, when the high beam filament burned out, you then lost both!? Possible!?

So, pull the bulb and put a new one on, or at least check the continuity of the old one, and then start it up and check the socket leads for voltage, with a voltmeter-duh! If you've got voltage, then it's most likely the bulb! Good luck, hopefully it's as simple as this!
T.C.

[madbiker]

T. C.
I will give that a try tomorrow but I don't think that is it .
I switch out the head light unit with one off my dads wing
Same fairing. Chanes of the bulb being bad in both off them slim
but not imposable .I'll keep tring thanks
Madbiker
80 Midnight Sp.
Evil Mistress

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Madbiker,

How are your fuse holders? If still OEM, remember, they can look good, both fuses and holder, but actually broken inside, so you'll want to check your fuse circuits and fuses!

If good, then I would look to the Reserve Lighting unit. Best and cheapest thing would probably be just to bypass it, there's a tech tip about doing that. Mine still works, but when it dies, it's gone!

[skids]

In fact, here is a link to the way I did it:
http://home.earthlink.net/~sidskids/rlu/rlu.htm

Originally posted by TopCatGr58


If good, then I would look to the Reserve Lighting unit. Best and cheapest thing would probably be just to bypass it, there's a tech tip about doing that. Mine still works, but when it dies, it's gone!

[madbiker]

Hooked light up ot battery charger . Light was bright .Will look at the lighting unit ths weekend .
Madbiker
80 Midnight Sp.
Evil Mistress

[madbiker]

Cut the lighting unit out still no lights . Whats next ?
Don't want to cut her all up.
Madbiker

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there MadBiker,

Have you checked to make sure your charging system is working? You mentioned battery charger above, so was wondering if you've been having to charge your battery at home!?

If the Charging system has failed, then the latching diode won't send the signal to the headlight Relay to supply power to the circuit once the engine is running!

If you are charging properly, appx. 14.5 volts at 2K or more RPM, then you could have a bad diode, or bad latching relay!? The relay is under the tank, very near the coils, where the 2 upper sides of the tubuler frame begin to bend inwards towards the neck, a little black box, should say Headlight Relay!

You can jump the Blue/Black and Red/yellow wires together, and see if the headlight's come on! They will actually turn on WITHOUT the bike Running once you cross these and then turn the ignition key to ON!! If so, then the relay/or diode attached to the white wire is fried.

The white wire that goes to the Relay is tapped from the same wire that goes to the Tach, so if your tach is working, then most likely there is a power feed going thru the wire, but is either being stopped at the Diode, or the relay is not responding/creating the magnetic field to pull the contacts that connect the Red/Yel and Blu/Blk wires together inside the relay!
HTH? Any Electrical Gurus with anything to add?
T.C.

[jetmechmarty]

I recently suffered the same problem on my XS650. The fuse holder was weak. I replaced the fuse box and all is well. With the fuse out I don't believe the failed headlight indicator will illuminate. Have you already checked this per TopCat's suggestion?

[skids]

You can't just cut the relay out. Here is one way to bipass the relay:

http://home.earthlink.net/~sidskids/rlu/rlu.htm

Originally posted by madbiker
Cut the lighting unit out still no lights . Whats next ?
Don't want to cut her all up.
Madbiker

[madbiker]

Skids I did not just cut the relay out. Printed out your page and did what it said. Replaced the fuse box 2 yrs ago but still glass fuses, replace the fuses last weekend , and no trouble with the charging system. If taking a 2 hr ride on sunday proves its working. T.C. in W.Va. in the the spring you remark about the light not being as bright as it should be. I did look into it when we got home ,but couldn't find anything.I can still ride during the day.
Madbiker
80 midnight Sp
Evil Mistress

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Madbiker,

Ahah, now I remember, and yes, your headlight was barely visible in my rear view mirrors compared to everybody elses! So... there must have been something going wrong, cause they're gone now!? You may have had some bad corrosion in your connectors from the fuse block up thru the system to the headlight?

Do you have a multimeter? They aren't very expensive, even from Radio Shack, and can test Ohmage, and Volts at the least! Ohmage is good for continuity as well! I would think a 2 hour ride would be sufficient to drain the battery, but if the charging system is marginal, you may be getting just barely enough to keep the battery charged, but that's about it? And without running the headlight(since it's not working) you really had very little drain on the electrical system.

I realize that following the wiring, taking everything off, tank, seat, and all is a pain, but I would think you would want to chase down this gremlin and get it fixed!? Can't get it inspected without it, unless your state doesn't have inspections!? Wish I was there to help!
T.C.

[Ken Talbot]

A couple of years back, SWMBO's headlight had me puzzled. Once in a while, it would look bright like it should, but most of the time it just looked dim. Turned out to be bad electrical gremlins , and one connector block in particular that had some nasty corroded pins.

[madbiker]

T. C.
Just put the wires together from the headlight relay the blue/black to the red/yellow the lights are on . Now off to k-mart for some tape and connectors then I'll start looking for replacement parts thanks for your help T.C. and all who helped out .
Madbiker
80 Midnight Sp.
Evil Mistress

[CRXSi90]

which fuse is the one that controls the headlight? I have a mess of a fusebox: one inline fuse, and one that seems to be absent...I think it was black to red or something.

Also, how many fuses should be under the RIGHT side cover on my 81 standard?