Anybody bypassed the headlight relay?

[Shuriken]

Have any of you bypassed your headlight relay?

I think I have relay problems again. No headlight while out for a ride today. Last time I rode it, I had to rev the engine a lot and it finally came on. This time, no luck.

So is there a better solution? Maybe there is a better/cheaper relay anyway?

Ben

[Dennyz]

Without the relay, you would have to install a switch or have the headlight come on when you turn the ignition on.

The throttle housing from a pre-79 XS (400,650) has a headlight switch in it.

You may want to check that your charging system is working correctly. Does your tach work?

[Dragonrider]

Yep, you can bypass the relay. Mine was that way forever....not a problem.

There are 4 wires into the relay...can't remember the colors for sure but bear with me....

Black-ground.
White-trigger or field wire...

Then there is a power wire, and the load wire (goes to the headlight).

Connect the power to the load. The power is switched with the key, so it will go off when the key is off..

The only difference is the light will come on when you turn the key on, rather than when you start the engine. Was never a problem for me.

BTW the culprit is generally the white field wire...it has a diaode in it...somewhere in the harness...it is a feed from one of the fields of the alternator...and the diaode makes it DC enough to trigger the relay. The diaodes go "sproing" and I've never found its actual location in the harness to replace it.

[xschop]

relay

I was just about to post a question about the same thing. I have been noticing that my headlight will go out while I am driving in low beam and stay out. but if i switch to high beam the high beam stays on. IS THIS THE SAME PROBLEM?....CHOP

[Artic_rider]

I'd check your wires man...clean them up. Having said that though, I have mine bypassed, and wired into the ignition. Also wired for all the time high beam. Can't remember how I did it, but I will got out and take a gander and post back

[skids]

Re: Anybody bypassed the headlight relay?

Here is how I did it. Pick the link.
http://home.earthlink.net/~sidskids/motorcycles.htm

Originally posted by ae7f
Have any of you bypassed your headlight relay?

I think I have relay problems again. No headlight while out for a ride today. Last time I rode it, I had to rev the engine a lot and it finally came on. This time, no luck.

So is there a better solution? Maybe there is a better/cheaper relay anyway?

Ben

[Shuriken]

So is there anything special about the relay? I replaced the turn signal one with a 2.99 special. Has anyone replaced the relay with an el-cheapo?

Ben

[skids]

I used a 30-amp relay. You do not have to use a switch to turn on the relay if you use the wires as the original relay used. The relay is a simple electronic switch in itself. You will find them near the horns and lighting aisle of the auto parts store.

Originally posted by ae7f
So is there anything special about the relay? I replaced the turn signal one with a 2.99 special. Has anyone replaced the relay with an el-cheapo?

Ben