| Author | Message | ||
     Limelight |
Randomly my headlights (now headlight, disabled HL mod for LED parking light) flicker to double brightness and then go back to normal. Almost so quick I think I'm just high... Last couple of times it did it 2-3 times so I knew it for sure it was happening. Blew 2 headlights so far. Checked all connections under flyscreen, cleaned and die greased. Checked regulator output, right under 14V even at redline. Any ideas before I go through every single wire for a short and continuity test, for the 3rd time. | ||
| Froggy |
The voltage regulator is failing | ||
| Brumbear |
I would say its not a short it's a voltage spike afaik only one thing can do that VR unless the ballast is messing with the h/l in some way? | ||
| Ourdee |
VR | ||
| Sifo |
 | ||
| Limelight |
Yeah, pretty much what I figured. Only odd thing is my metric mech buddy says that if the VR is spiking I should see all the lights including dash get brighter or dim with the headlights and they aren't. Why it's got me weirded out. | ||
| Froggy |
The dash lights are not directly fed off the battery 12v like the headlights. You didn't specify what year your bike is (and not listed in profile either!), but there is a common issue on 03-07 models with one of the VR connectors. The 77 connector as it is called, the original connector would sometimes not make contact, and the current would arc across the gap till it melts. It could cause issues like you are describing. Buell superseded the VR part number, the new one comes with the new connector and a replacement for the wiring harness side of the connector. Do a search on here for more info. This does not affect 08+ bikes. | ||
| Dtech |
Here is the part number for the "77" Connector service kit: Y1312.02A8 About $25 | ||
| Sifo |
The "77" connector upgrade is cheap enough and easy enough to do that if you don't have the new style connector, I would recommend it for cheap insurance. When mine went bad the first indication I had was when the engine simply shut off going down the road. I could really have kind of sucked if I wasn't already slowing down to turn into my driveway. I'm guessing most times people won't have that kind of luck. | ||
| Limelight |
OK. Everybody loses. Including me. Survey says: Ground connection on headlight(H/L/P/G) connection! The 4 pin black/yellow/white/orange master connector had corrosion all over it (female side/male side already cleaned and die greased) and the ground/black connection female side had a loose "spring". Pulled all 4 wires from connector. Checked each with meter. Dry fitted each connector to a male pin on other connector. All fit tight until I got to ground and TADA, barely making contact. Carefully pried open connection, bent it upwards. Cleaned all 4 internally while there. Used a small probe to put a small amount of die grease inside each connector. Reassembled, make connection. Working perfectly! Side note here. Last night after me and buddy rode down about 80 miles from his shop and loaded a moving truck, both my headlights went out AND my LED parking light. So we loaded his bike into back of truck and strapped it down as per plan. Then walked over to walmart and bought another set of straps and spare bulb just in case. Then weighted the options: Push bike up that ramp into truck (for his bike we had a hill to back truck and ramp up to and was barely a foot incline. Mine was going to be 3 feet) or Try to fix the headlight first... Popped off headlight assembly, getting to be a master at this I swear, and turned bike on, voilarrrr, both headlights and parking light working. Reassembled and drove back to his shop with no problems or flickering or double brightness. I did almost 100mph the entire way back, carving lanes, and the SOB passed me in the truck 2 blocks from his shop as I pulled in to get us food. He drives a moving truck just like he rides a bike. lol Got his bike off the back, headed towards my place, got 1 block and low beam blew out. Turned around, slept on his shop floor, then rode her home today in the daylight. Pulled in, high beam working fine, say, wth, try the low beam and then back to high just one last time. Take it low, dead of course, back to high beam....nothing. Not even Parking light. Right then I knew it was a ground connection for sure. Also found 3 more loose bolts under the seat in the process. New rule, check every single bolt on bike when changing the oil. |
