Topic: Wiring Issues

[Nidhoggr]

I have two wiring issues.

1. As I had mentioned in a prior thread my headlight won't switch to Hi.  It turns off the headlight.  I replaced the bulb with a brand new bulb yesterday (as was suggested) and nothing changed.  Below is a photo of the switch (best I could get).  Not entirely sure what I am supposed to be looking at here to be honest so here's hoping

This is with it set to normal lighting


That's set to Hi beam.  Not sure if there's a visible difference.  Also wasn't sure if this could be an issue with a wire inside the wire housing in the headlamp bucket.


The other one is a bit odd and I could possibly figure out but it's such a weird way to wire this that I figured I'd ask for help.  My brake light has a ground and a power wire (obviously) but only a ground running out.  My running light has a power and a ground connected to it.  I am only able to get either one of them or both to light as brake lights, and neither will stay powered as a brakelight.   I am wondering if I just had the wires in the wrong spot possibly.  Here's a photo of what this setup looks like



Like I said: Maybe I just had the wires in the wrong spot for it but I don't know.  Any advice much appreciated.  I only have those two issues and figuring out why the handbrake isn't activating the brake (which I think is just a loose wire in the housing) before the damn thing is street legal again.

[flatlander]

when my horn didn't work i took apart the handlebar switch, cleaned all the little bits and then put it together again. that fixed it but it's really fiddly business.
might be the same issue there, too much corrosion or dirt in the switch after all those years.

that said: i'm really crap with electrical stuff so don't beat me up if it doesn't work 

[bjbuchanan]

Hi beam is the blue wire out of the switch in to the HL bucket to the light. Trace it and make sure you get 12~v to the prong on the back of the headlight with hi switched. That will tell you where power is getting to, if it is getting anywhere.

Your brake light description is weird. It should be one bulb, the green/yellow (I believe) is the brake light, brown is running light. You have to adapt to what you have at your aftermarket light. Test 12v and ground, the running light will be dimmer

[LesterPiglet]

What bulb did you buy? If only one filament of the bulb doesn't work then it's either the wiring connection or a faulty switch. I rarely find the switch faulty.. Get a multimeter and check your wiring.


#$%* guys, do the big stuff first and leave the piddly to later.

[Nidhoggr]

#$%* guys, do the big stuff first and leave the piddly to later.

This is the big stuff lol.  The bike runs fine.  What happened is, long story short, laid it down a good while back causing little to no damage other than some trivial scratches.  Wife was pregnant so had neither the time nor resources to put into fixing it at the time.  Forgot to renew my registration so now EVERYTHING has to work for an inspection in my state.  The only stuff that isn't working are these small wiring issues. Other than that it runs like a top.

[flatlander]

yes but he's got a point about checking the bulb first. of course you may have done that already as you say you replaced it.

good luck! i hate electrical stuff as it always seems so tedious.

[Nidhoggr]

Yeah electrical stuff is a pain.

[Nidhoggr]

Well I have two of the issues solved, and only one remaining.  Thank you bjbuchanan for letting me know the blue wire part.  That was indeed not plugged in (somehow... Not sure how...).  Brights now work.  Figured out my headlight wiring issue.  Played with wiring for the brake light and got the running light and brake light configured properly.


All that remains is: Hand brake activating the brake light.  A few questions with that:  What color wire am I looking for?  Does it connect up inside the headlight bucket or under the seat?

[bjbuchanan]

It is at the tee on the triple tree lower. Pressure switch with green/yellow and something else to it. The harness can be ran a little "off" and the wires pull off. Squeeze the female bullets with some needle nose to tighten them up like new. If you laid it down I bet they are disconnected