Topic: Stupid question - bulb pops out of taillight - WTH?

[ev0lve]

Hey there,

Just going to ask in case I've breached the idiot proofness of the rear tail light installation.

My rear taillight doesn't work. Thinking I'd check the bulb first I removed the lense and turned the bulb which promptly projectiled and broke on the floor. So I went to the local honda shop and got another bulb (which seems to be pretty standard automotive stuff).

It won't seat in the socket. Place it in, push, turn. Half of it pops out leaving it cocked in there. Is the socket toast, do I have a wrong bulb, am I being exceptionally stupid or all of the above?

Thanks for putting up with this question.
Iggy

[kghost]

I think you have the wrong bulb.

Happens easy as the turn ones look similar.

The tail light bulb should have two lugs and two contacts.

The lugs should be 180 degrees apart and one should be higher up the base then the other.

[Really?]

Either that or the recepticle is bent and not holding the bulb in via the pins.

[kghost]

See where the lug is in that picture?

The second lug should be towards the base.

If they are both toward the base...you have the wrong one.

[Really?]

See where the lug is in that picture?

The second lug should be towards the base.

If they are both toward the base...you have the wrong one.

The bulb is with the bike at the moment but I'll take a look when I get back out there. I do appreciate the replies guys.

It prolly wouldn't hurt to look.  If anything, you could prolly get the whole assembly, with bulbs, off ebay for about the same price as that bulb up there, lol.

[kghost]

Generally the brass portion of the bulb gets d!ckf&cked before you mess up the socket.

Shears the lug off the bulb first.

[tomkimberly]

Generally the brass portion of the bulb gets d!ckf&cked before you mess up the socket.

Shears the lug off the bulb first.

The easy way to remove broken bulbs is to use a carrot.

Tom

[ev0lve]

Just to put some stupid closure on my stupid question...

Took the taillight assembly apart and pulled the base back by the wires to take a look. No problems I could see so I tried fitting the bulb (bought at Schucks- bog standard). Turns out it's not idiot proof and I'm the idiot to prove it as it would go in one way and be cocked up BUT turning the bulb over - well that gets me a firm seating, running light and brake.

MUCH appreciate your answers here guys. Sorry to have wasted your time.

[Really?]

No waste of time here.  Now you know what it looks like and how the innards work.  Also, the next guy that runs into this issue, searches and finds this thread, they will be grateful to you for it.