Author Topic: no running tail light no gauge lights  (Read 2373 times)

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Offline xedge4lifex

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no running tail light no gauge lights
« on: September 29, 2010, 05:30:35 PM »
i cant seem to figure out what it is, but again no gauge lights, and no running light in my tail light.
both elements are good, its a new bulb, i have replaced all my fuses however im not sure what they are for. there were two 5 amp and one 15.

both elements light up when i apply the brake.

any ideas?
thanks
Wake up, look up, there's a warmth up there
a reminder of peace, a reason to care.

Offline jessezm

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Re: no running tail light no gauge lights
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2010, 06:25:08 PM »
Have you checked and cleaned the bullet connectors for the running light wire near/in your tail section and indicator lights in the headlight bucket?  If they come on and off intermittently you could have a loose connection, or you might have a break in your wire insulation that's grounding out on the frame somewhere. Also check to make sure these items are properly grounded.  Look at a wiring diagram to get familiar with where your power should be coming from, then chase down the problem.  A 12 volt test light and a multimeter will really come in handy here.  They are cheap tools you will surely use over and over!   By the way, not knowing what bike you have, I can only guess, but I think the fuses are usually 7, 7, and 15 amps.  Have you been blowing then 5 amp fuses, or are you just replacing them as preventive maintenance?

Offline patricke9

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Re: no running tail light no gauge lights
« Reply #2 on: September 29, 2010, 09:06:40 PM »
I had the same problem with my CB550, turned out to be the fuse holder.  All I had to do was clean up the contacts & bend them in a bit so they made better contact with the fuse & everything has worked since.
"I did everything by the seat of my pants. That's why I got hurt so much."

Evel Knievel
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1978 Kawasaki KZ650

Offline sandbarsurfer

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Re: no running tail light no gauge lights
« Reply #3 on: September 29, 2010, 10:42:36 PM »
I also had this problem and it turned out being a simple fix. When I put front end back together I had mistakenly crossed the connectors when connecting it back to the indicator. Switched wires back problem solved and I had my running tail light and all lights worked properly.

Offline xedge4lifex

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Re: no running tail light no gauge lights
« Reply #4 on: September 29, 2010, 11:11:30 PM »
I had the same problem with my CB550, turned out to be the fuse holder.  All I had to do was clean up the contacts & bend them in a bit so they made better contact with the fuse & everything has worked since.

yeah 76 550
ill check all the connections, most are nice and fresh, and if they hadnt been connecting at all then my brake light wouldnt even be coming on, so im thinking its a weird ground someplace else.

thanks everyone
Wake up, look up, there's a warmth up there
a reminder of peace, a reason to care.

Offline sandbarsurfer

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Re: no running tail light no gauge lights
« Reply #5 on: September 29, 2010, 11:34:40 PM »
Well my crossed wires were causing it not a random ground. When my connectors were in the wrong position my light would come on with both switches but had no running light. Then i switched them and all was good again. Check small things before you go on a chase for the bad ground that was never there is all I'm saying.

Offline Gaither

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Re: no running tail light no gauge lights
« Reply #6 on: September 30, 2010, 06:02:00 PM »
Xedge

FWIW

I hate wiring!

If you find nothing else wrong, why not try a "Popwood ground"? Simple, cheap and you'll always have a dependable ground.

I suddenly (nothing changed in wiring) lost the headlight and left-front turn sig. They were working when I parked the bike the night before. (Weak grounds do strange things.) It "fixed" my problem with no other changes. (Soon, I cleaned and greased all my elec connections - which solved other problems.)

If your bike is wired like my '77 550F, splice into one ground wire (this wire should be green and soldered to the nut) on either headlight nut (inside the bucket). Attach the other end of your "splice" to the coil bolt with a ring connector. Make sure there's no rust, etc at the bolt connection. I used a heavier gauge wire for insurance and an excellent ground.

If you need to clean your fuse clips, and most of us do after all these years, a .22 rifle bore cleaning brush works perfectly. Slip it into a pair of clips vertically and spin it back and forth - thumb and finger. They'll shine like new in a few seconds. (K Mart etc item - cheap.) Corrosion on these clips cause various problems and can even blow fuses (usually the main).

I learned all this from TwoTired and others when I was having engine failure and lighting problems. I also learned it is worthwhile to clean ALL elec connections and apply some dielectric grease to them to prevent/postpone future corrosion. Worked wonders for the 550 (but I still know nothing about wiring)!

Good luck with the problem - whatever it is.
Gaither ('77 CB550F)

Offline gnarlycharlie4u

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Re: no running tail light no gauge lights
« Reply #7 on: October 01, 2010, 09:38:08 AM »
i cant seem to figure out what it is, but again no gauge lights, and no running light in my tail light.
both elements are good, its a new bulb, i have replaced all my fuses however im not sure what they are for. there were two 5 amp and one 15.

both elements light up when i apply the brake.

any ideas?
thanks

Does your brake light work?
I would double check all grounds before re-wiring anything. If you're not sure if a ground is good then get a piece of long wire and ground the light bulb ground directly to the frame or engine or something by touching them both with either end of the wire.

Also, what bike do you have? My fuses are 2x 7A and a 15A (maybe you blew a fuse again?)


Edit: I just read that both elements part.

Do you mean the gauge lights also light up when you apply the brake?
« Last Edit: October 01, 2010, 09:40:33 AM by gnarlycharlie4u »

Offline xedge4lifex

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Re: no running tail light no gauge lights
« Reply #8 on: October 01, 2010, 11:31:50 PM »
Gaither - seriously thanks for the time to walk me through that! if i dive into it this next week and dont want to deal with too much bs ill try your idea first. winter is for cleaning contacts in the midwest haha. thanks again!

gnarlycharlie4u - I cant find 7a around here ANYWHERE no auto part stores. however its not like i work at a vintage motorcycle restoration shop or anything  ::) haha, maybe ill bother my boss for some fuses tomorrow.

i got brake light, no gauge, and no running. when i apply the brake the gauge lights dont come on. i was looking over the wiring diagram and it just looks like some bad or cruddy ground that im missing, my gauges should pop on as should the running light.

thanks again guys!
Wake up, look up, there's a warmth up there
a reminder of peace, a reason to care.

Offline 1974CB750rider

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Re: no running tail light no gauge lights
« Reply #9 on: October 02, 2010, 09:09:14 PM »
Electical problems suck but when you play with these old bikes you have to expect that stuff. Get out your wiring diagram and start at one end and work to the other. Its time consumeing but odds are you will find the problem. Also a good multimeter will come in handy as well. If you have a multimeter handy check the main switch it may have a short in it. Just a thought.
People with closed minds cannot learn new things.

Offline Gaither

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Re: no running tail light no gauge lights
« Reply #10 on: October 02, 2010, 09:11:40 PM »
Xedge

As I said, I picked those points up on this Forum (after my mechanic couldn't find anything wrong with my wiring).

What I did didn't take very long to do. I didn't clean each and every "bullet" connector. I just ran the new ground, cleaned (spray contact cleaner) and greased all the poly "gang" connectors and the fuse clips.

I should have cleaned all the "bullets". However, when I installed a Hondaman Elec. Ign. today, (believe it or not, the bike still runs!) the "bullets" I had to disturb looked pretty good.

If you do it, you'll be quicker than I. I'm slow because I HATE WIRING!

I hope these suggestions solve your problems.

May we all ride safely with a wide grin!

 
Gaither ('77 CB550F)