Author Topic: No headlight -Now with headlight (Read 3220 times)

Bankerdanny · « **on:** June 28, 2016, 08:15:50 PM »

I noticed on my ride home last night that I had no headlight, hi or low.

When I opened up the headlight I found that the low beam wire was a male spade terminal taped to a male bullet terminal. Replaced the spade with the proper female bullet (I just received 25 of each from Vintage Connections). Turned on the bike, check the power to the connector and all seems good. Plug in the headlight, nothing.

OK, maybe it's the bulb. Go buy one and install. Turn on bike, no light. Check for power at the bulb terminals and nothing. Maybe it's the plug, retun light and buy plug, install. Turn key to on, check the connector, power and ground. Plug in the bulb, nothing. Check for power at the bulb with plug on, ground yes, power no.

I am very confused. When the bulb is plugged in ground tests fine at the bulb, but no power. Could it be that the switch fails under load? I will check that tomorrow night after work. But I thought I would tap the collective knowledge.

scottly · « **Reply #1 on:** June 28, 2016, 08:34:23 PM »

Poor connection on the headlight fuse?

BomberMann650 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 28, 2016, 08:43:51 PM »

Yup, start checking from the power source to the bulb. You'll find where it drops doin it like that.

ekpent · « **Reply #3 on:** June 29, 2016, 03:47:17 AM »

Do the 550 F's have the same headlight cut off in the starter button like the 750 F's do when starting ? I have a 76F that is a little dodgy and sometimes the headlight will not work after starting off the button.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #4 on:** June 29, 2016, 04:01:17 AM »

That's the problem with stupid "lights on" laws, (we have on and off switches for the lights on our old fours) it wears out components for no good reason. Cheers, Terry.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2016, 07:32:27 AM »

Eric, they do. But my electric start stopped working not long after I brought it home so I have been kick starting it. I suppose there could be a connection. I want to sort that too, but it was a low priority. The headlight I need to solve ASAP because (a) I have now wasted 2 sunny days with temps under 80 degrees and (b) I want to ride it up to Wisconsin on Saturday.

I should be able to trace it out tonight when I get home.

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #6 on:** June 29, 2016, 09:45:12 AM »

I found a broken connector within my plug.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #7 on:** June 29, 2016, 09:51:25 AM »

I replaced the plug. Same problem. My problem is someplace else in the chain.

mrbreeze · « **Reply #8 on:** June 29, 2016, 10:15:37 AM »

I bypassed that feature on my bike long ago. All it does is momentarily take the headlight load away as the bike is cranking over so as not to over tax the battery. I think that feature showed up 74-75. If you still have a headlight on/off switch just turn it off if it is a hard to start beast. Just don't forget to turn it back on after starting. I think they did this when the laws changed about running the headlight at all times. Back in the good old days a daytime headlight wasn't required. I guess anything that helps some of the blind cage drivers out there to see you is a good thing. If the bike is in good working order it shouldn't be a problem having the light on as you crank it over.

BomberMann650 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 29, 2016, 10:46:40 AM »

75 550F - always on, blacks out when cranking.

Deltarider · « **Reply #10 on:** June 29, 2016, 11:01:29 AM »

What's the point of having the headlight on whenever you switch the key to on/ignition prior to starting?! How can you ever do simple checks like ign timing when that not needed headlight is depleting your battery in the meanwile? Now it dawns on me why you guys have all these socalled 'charge' problems. Who ever invented that? Must have been the same nimcompoop that thought that everytime you look in the rear mirror it's time to do a little reading (objects...).

BomberMann650 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 29, 2016, 11:07:42 AM »

Quote from: Deltarider on June 29, 2016, 11:01:29 AM

How can you ever do simple checks like ign timing when that not needed headlight is depleting your battery .

Turn the key off every chance you get.

Have trickle charger at the ready lol

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #12 on:** June 29, 2016, 11:12:22 AM »

The headlight has a dedicated fuse, so you can just pull it while you are timing.

Tews19 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 29, 2016, 04:16:02 PM »

What are you planning on Saturday in WI?

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #14 on:** June 29, 2016, 05:10:09 PM »

A memorial service for my mother-in-law at Lake Delavan

scottly · « **Reply #15 on:** June 29, 2016, 05:51:59 PM »

Danny, if it's like the late 750, the headlight fuse is fed through the starter switch on the black/red wire. Locate the junction of this wire in the bucket, and connect the harness side to a solid black harness wire. This should allow the headlight to turn on whenever the key is switched on.

Duanob · « **Reply #16 on:** June 30, 2016, 12:31:19 PM »

"But my electric start stopped working not long after I brought it home so I have been kick starting it."

Starter button? The headlight and the starter power run through this. I spent a day chasing wires on a schematic for this very bike (550F?) and when I pulled the right hand control apart the starter button innards disintegrated. I bought a new right hand control and everything worked again. The starter was always iffy but when my headlight went out that's when I found the problem.

Don R · « **Reply #17 on:** June 30, 2016, 07:39:49 PM »

If anyone wants to switch the headlight, put a toggle in the top of the headlight bucket and wire the headlight ground through it. One on my 400F's had a small momentary contact switch in the housing for the start and the toggle. I'd put a pilot light on it too so you can tell if the light's on in the daytime.

Tews19 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 30, 2016, 07:42:57 PM »

Sorry for your loss Danny. I'm around 30 minutes away from there and if you arever up for a drink at a public I can ride the 550 down or maybe you could swing this way. We moved to Eagle so great roads all over.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #19 on:** June 30, 2016, 08:56:49 PM »

Thanks. Sometime in July we should definitely get together for a ride.

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #20 on:** June 30, 2016, 09:06:00 PM »

Sorted the headlight. Disassembled the right hand switch, the plastic box that holds the start button assembly is broken, but I don't think that was the problem. When I was disconnecting the wiring under the tank to take the switch inside to reassemble it, I found at least one wire disconnected.

Reassembling that damn button is a serious pain in the ass when the plastic housing is in 4 pieces instead of 2. But after an hour of futzing with it I got it back together and reinstalled on the bike. Once ALL the wires were hooked up the headlight was working and the electric start tried to work, but the battery isn't holding a very good charge, so that is next on the list to be replaced.

In the mean time I will just continue to kick it over.

scottly · « **Reply #21 on:** June 30, 2016, 09:17:03 PM »

Did you happen to notice which wire was disconnected?

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #22 on:** July 01, 2016, 04:52:53 AM »

Yellow and orange I think, the one that carries power from the button to the solenoid.

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Author Topic: No headlight -Now with headlight (Read 3220 times)