 Headlight
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17
Saddle Sore
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OP
Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17 |
Intermittent,  Sometimes it works sometimes it's. dead. Tried a second light same problem. Cleaned the hi/lo switch, what a ******. Checked wiring, Checked fuses, replace fuses. All look good with die electric grease as always. Fuse box looks good from the front side. Suggestions?
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Re: Headlight
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720 |
I hate to sing you an old tired song, but are you getting a good ground?
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Re: Headlight
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17
Saddle Sore
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OP
Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17 |
I do. No charging issues. Other than the main ground is there another I might be overlooking?
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Re: Headlight
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,074 Likes: 83
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,074 Likes: 83 |
Well that'll suck about dark 30...
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Re: Headlight
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17
Saddle Sore
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OP
Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17 |
Quote:
Well that'll suck about dark 30...
no doubt 
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Re: Headlight
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720 |
Quote:
I do. No charging issues. Other than the main ground is there another I might be overlooking?
Run a temporary ground from the battery, is one way.
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Re: Headlight
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8 |
You might want to check your starter relay. It not only powers the starter solenoid, it control the headlights during startup. When you push the starter button, the contacts for the headlight open (turning light off) until you release the button. If the normally closed contacts for the headlight in this relay are corroded, it's time to clean them or change the relay. Next time your headlight doesn't light up, tap the relay under the tank on the right side.
12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
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Re: Headlight
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1 |
May be a dumb answer, but I've seen that happen with the socket. They get fickle and respond to wiggling and whacking. They get all corrody and give up on continuity.
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Re: Headlight
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17
Saddle Sore
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OP
Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17 |
Good call Gregger that's probably the culprit. What about the headlight relay?
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Re: Headlight
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8 |
Judging from the electrical diagram in the tech vault, the headlight cutout relay is the only one in the headlight circuit. It also doubles as the starter relay that powers up the starter solenoid. Hope this works Mike. If so, easy fix.
12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
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Re: Headlight
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17
Saddle Sore
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OP
Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17 |
Pulled the relay, disassembled. Shiny as a new penny. I went ahead and replaced it with the O'Reillys unit listed in the tech vault. R3177. Working fine, but it was intermittent so time will tell. One question, the hella listed 87a, the r3177 listed as 87q. What's the difference in A or Q ?
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Re: Headlight
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,074 Likes: 83
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,074 Likes: 83 |
Yep... followed Moes taillights all the way from Blood Mountain cabins one night when my starter relay decided not to let the headlights work.
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Re: Headlight
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17
Saddle Sore
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OP
Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17 |
Quote:
Yep... followed Moes taillights all the way from Blood Mountain cabins one night when my starter relay decided not to let the headlights work.
I remember that, had to be a white knuckle affair 
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Re: Headlight
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Quote:
Quote:
Yep... followed Moes taillights all the way from Blood Mountain cabins one night when my starter relay decided not to let the headlights work.
I remember that, had to be a white knuckle affair
That was one slow ride down the mountain!
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Headlight
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8 |
Quote:
One question, the hella listed 87a, the r3177 listed as 87q. What's the difference in A or Q ?
That's interesting. I don't really know. I did a Google search and it doesn't seem to be an issue. Same question asked several times and no real answers other than they are compatible. Must be a reason though.
12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
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Re: Headlight
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720 |
Quote:
Pulled the relay, disassembled. Shiny as a new penny. I went ahead and replaced it with the O'Reillys unit listed in the tech vault. R3177. Working fine, but it was intermittent so time will tell. One question, the hella listed 87a, the r3177 listed as 87q. What's the difference in A or Q ?
That relay has been a source of failure, as well as two adjacent dead shorts on two different Speedmasters for me. Is the electrical design flawed at or around that point (headlight relay) of our wiring? Too bad DeCosse bugged out, he seemed to understand bike wiring at a level few do. Anybody else here that can explain it to me like I'm a dummy, and I still kinda understand it? Once, it's happenstance, twice, a coincidence, three times and a pattern starts to form.
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Re: Headlight
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Hey, did you use a contact cleaner like DeOxit in the relay socket? I can see how a little corrosion there could cause an intermittent failure.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Headlight
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17
Saddle Sore
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OP
Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17 |
Quote:
Hey, did you use a contact cleaner like DeOxit in the relay socket? I can see how a little corrosion there could cause an intermittent failure.
Ed, I did not. Shame on me as I have Deoxit hanging on the peg board. I forgot all about it !
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Re: Headlight
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17
Saddle Sore
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OP
Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17 |
The new relay solved the issue. Thanks to all for the pointers
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