Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Headlight wiring question

While looking at the America/Speedmaster Wiring Diagram-Big clean file thread...

...If I'm reading this right, it looks like the full load of the headlight passes through the ignition switch. Is that correct? If you hit the starter button, the headlight cut-out relay activates and turns off the headlight while the starter is working. But, in normal condition, the headlight circuit load runs through the ignition switch.

On the Rocket III's, we have been having a lot of issues with ignition switches failing due to the headlight circuits. It just can't handle the load of the two headlights together. The fix has been to fit a headlight relay kit in order to save the switch. A side benefit has been dazzling bright headlights.

If the BA/SM circuits are similar, I'll be fitting an H4 Headlight Relay kit soon. This is where most Rocket owners get their kits. I have one and it has worked flawlessly.

http://easternbeaver.com/Main/Wiring_Kits/H4_Kits/h4_kits.html

I have the Eastern Beaver direct headlight wiring kit you mentioned. It greatly increases the headlight brightness and eliminates any load on the igintion circuits. I also have DeCosse's headlight cut-out wiring mod which keeps the headlight OFF until the engine has started. Both are moderately easy mods.

Hey Richard, did you put the relays in the headlight shell or under the tank somewhere? I already have a Flash2Pass in the headlight shell so space may be limited.

I got the version with the longer leads to the relays and put them under and forward of the tank ... Tucked behind the black plastic removable covers near the nek of the frame. The lead length is comfortable there and my headlight is mounted a couple of inches forward of the stock position. My bucket is also stuffed full with headlight modulator and other stuff.

"removable covers near the nek of the frame" only on fuel injected (and ready) bikes.
woe is me...

I didn't know that. Maybe the covers can be added to earlier bikes. Or, there is probably enough lead length to position the relays higher up under the tank. My headlight is mounted forward, so there are a couple of extra inches of lead. I would've put mine there except I got a bunch of other other stuff up there already (LED control unit, headlight cut-out relay, horn relay).

Their is absolutely NO WAY to add those covers to carbureted bikes. You can barely put your finger in the withers on carbed bikes whereas you can shove your whole fist in the withers on fuel injected bikes. (withers: void between the tank and the headtube) ANOTHER thing you can do on the FI bikes that you can't on the Carbed bikes without removing the tank: change out the relays.


try mounting the relay on the top tube where the air injection pump was located.