Headlight Quit Working??

[Shack]

Dear XS Experts:
I removed my windshield to clean + polish the headlight chrome and just to see how the bike feels without the protection. It was still daylight and I went for a ride to see the previous owner. When I left it was near dark and noticed the headlight wasn't working. I moved and jiggled the wires to see if it might be a connection problem but nothing , Where should I start in the process. The turn signals + brakelights still okay. Your help is appreciated,
Thanx Shack

[Mike Hart]

Howdy Shack,

Did you try high beam?

It's either a connection, a fuse, the bulb, or the silly RLU (reserve lighting unit). Check the fuse first, cuz that's easiest, the fuse box is a notorious weak spot on the XS. See the Battery & Electrical forum for several articles on that.

Remove the lens (two screws on side of ring), you'll see the power plug. If you have a volt meter or continuity tester, check to see you have power there. If you do have power, it's almost certainly the bulb.

But, if no power and the fuse is good, it could be the RLU. See How to remove your Reserve Lighting Unit for info on that.

[Shack]

Headlight update

Dear Mike,
I checked the fuse, and the bulb, and the Hi beams . I don't have the tester for the connection. What kind should I get?
Shack

[Dragonrider]

Did you possibly bang your high-beam switch or pull on its wires? Check it and where it connects to the main harness . . .

[Jeremy_Sells]

Also, if your tachometer has failed or is intermitent, then the headlight failure could be traced to the regulator/rectifier. With a volt tester, check for power to the headlight relay switch which is under you gas tank, up near the coils. If your fuse is okay and your not getting power to the headlight relay when the bike is powered up, almost for certain the reg./rec.

Good Luck

[Mike Hart]

tester/mulitimeter

Radio Shack might still carry their nifty digital multimeter that's not a whole lot bigger than a credit card, about $20.

You can find analog multimeters for cheap at hardware stores, under $10.

[Shack]

Headlight fixed

I purchased a meter and it was the answer thanx for all the advice of the xs forum>>>> I am thankful for all your help.
Shack

[Mike Hart]

Shack, what was the answer? You used the meter, and found.... what?

[Shack]

Headlight Now Working GreaT!!!!

Mike.
I used the meter to check the fuses first..even though I had looked at them before and looked okay..The fuse had 12.4 v on the top and the other side was way low,,, so I removed the fuse and the top fell off in my hands.So this just goes to show the value of the tester..Before the test of course i did check it but only visually.. So I felt a little bumfuzzeled about the whole thing and just chalked it up to experience ...At least I know what the under side of the tank looks like and now know the dual petcock hoses are "fun" to reinstall and the RLO is okay and everything looks good.. I only took a few hours in the 100 degree a/c but I did learn a lot about the bike and that is priceless...also I did get the Radio shack tester on Sale for $19 US I went to NAPA they tried to sell me a FLUKE brand for 169 US$ I opted for radio shack. I rode the bike today and without the windshield it brought back memories of riding my old Yamaha a 1979 IT 400..the only difference is my old dirt bike ran 85 mph and the xs is sooo much the more!!! I will learn a lot about this bike I am sure..The windshield goes back soon way to much wind noise and buffeting .. Thanks again Mike for your asistance..til next time..
Shack

[TopCatGr58]

I've got the same meter, and it does work quite well. To paraphrase a commercial:

Used XS11 : possibly $1000.00
Radio Shack meter: $19.95
Package of fuses: $2.95

Knowledge, wisdom, advice of the XS11 "GROUP" = PRICELESS !!

[Dragonrider]

I highly recommend that you do the fuse block upgrade seen here

The glass fused are prone to the failure you describe, and the XS fues box is a pain anyway. You can do this for about $15 and you will not regret it . . .

[sixtysix]

If you have an XS (and not an XJ) and would like a ready to install option, Rick Jemison had about 10 of his fuse block kits available a couple weeks ago.

Rick's Fuseblock