Topic: Headlight turns on only after running for a few minutes and a carb question

[SurfinBird]

The subject pretty much sums it up. The headlight doesn't turn on when I start the bike, but after a few minutes of running it pops on, any ideas?

Also, I had someone look at the bike for various reasons, and he said the was fuel coming from one of the banks overflow tube (he didn't check to see which one) I have run the bike and left the petcock open when its not running to check for fuel leaking and have yet to see any. Just wondering, if there was an overflow issue, does that mean raw fuel would be getting into the cylinder? Or does the overflow tube releasing fuel avoid that?

[SurfinBird]

Thanks, sorry forgot to ID the old girl '78 CB750F SS. I'll check connections and look for any shorts, i hope I don't have to mess with the rats nest in the headlight bucket.

Thats what I was thinking on the carbs. Yes, i left the petcock open on the center stand both off and running, no fuel.

[seanbarney41]

Thanks, sorry forgot to ID the old girl '78 CB750F SS. I'll check connections and look for any shorts, i hope I don't have to mess with the rats nest in the headlight bucket.

Thats what I was thinking on the carbs. Yes, i left the petcock open on the center stand both off and running, no fuel.

I would guess your headlight problem can be traced to the starter button.  On these bikes there is no on/off switch for the headlight, so when you turn the key on, the headlight is supposed to always be on, except the starter button has an extra contact to ground out the headlight while the starter is cranking.  I believe this contact is sticking, but then comes loose after a minute or two...and his symptom is often followed by the total disentegration of the starter button.  May also be a key switch problem, as these are notoriously faulty on the later bikes with key switch in the indicator dash.