| Author | Message | ||
     Piercethekiki |
The problems: Low beam does not work. High beam works, flashing light switch (the switch operated by your left index finger while riding) used to work but now doesn't either. Turn signal dummy lights intermittently work, and oil pressure dummy light recently went out. Neutral light still works. My solution attempts: I have replaced the whole headlight recently. The wiring harness was slightly pinched just behind the headlamp bucket, it was rubbing on the steering column (theres a weird square part of the frame that juts out). After massaging the wires and relieving the kink the low beam is on but very dim (I remember it being brighter). I recently fully replaced the charging system (stator and VR), replaced all fuses, diodes, and relays under the seat, cleaned/tightened all known grounds (braided strap, battery terminals, ground wire at the VR), and replaced the main fuse. Now that the low beam is on, is it supposed to be that dim? (To give you an idea, it's so dim you cant see it in the reflection of a car in front of you in daylight, but you can easily see the highbeam in the reflection) Anyone think that the dummy lights going out could be pa clue to the issue? My instinct says I should make a new connector from the headlamp to the wiring harness. As always thanks for reading | ||
| Brother_in_buells |
I would start with checking all the wires were they got pinched and go from there! | ||
| Victory |
Make sure you are using Standard Motorcycle Products Micro Starter Relay MC-RLY5 At Amazon for $13.00 Under the seat. If you are not using this exact part. Install it before doing anything else. QTY 2 Study the schematic. have someone shake wires while you use a meter on the wires. I can tell you this much. The electrical system doesnt handle modifications well. I thought I had some Led turn signals stable with the LED Flasher. Nope - would pop the fuse. At some point the headlight fuse popped. That was the last straw - I went back to bulbs and the stock flasher. New idea - Get a nice new Sylvania H4 bulb some of these are very bright and so never think about LED again.  New Style bulb would pop the fuse for the head light when using the rocker for low to high. So I put the original 24 year old bulb back in and no more light problems now. The old Harley bulbs are on ebay. Make sure you are using one of those. There is a proper bottle of cleaner to use for the fuse box because after all of these year we all might have a couple corroding from water. DEOXIT Made in USA D100L There are several of those switch boxs for sale but you might try the Deoxit first. (Message edited by victory on October 01, 2024) | ||
| Piercethekiki |
Brothers in Buell: Yes I think I may try a new wire from the headlamp to the harness. H4 on the headlamp end, not sure on the harness end but I can look it up in my Manual. I'll have to fabricate it myself or see if one pops up used. Victory: Thank you for the amazing insight as always! I will order these new relays and try them. I will also try the fuse box cleaner you mentioned. I already use a brand new Sylvania Silverlight H4 halogen, It's beautifully bright (high beam works without issue). I don't mind running highbeam at all times but I don't want an undiagnosed electrical issue just floundering about on the bike. As for turn signals and flasher relay, they are all stock.Replaced the relay a few years ago with a official Buell relay from St Paul. I like to leave things stock. I'll even try a stock 4W low beam bulb from Harley instead of from generic autoparts. I'll report back soon | ||
| Victory |
Standard Motorcycle Products Micro Starter Relay MC-RLY5 At Amazon These new relays would be a World Wide Recall if the company existed. 1. They are SEALED so they cant corrode. 2. Many bikes are running on the corroded originals that are enclosed with a cover much like you would get out of a 25 cent toy - egg dispenser.  | ||
| Upthemaiden |
Barely any of my indicator lights work anymore. The neutral light works(although stays on when in gear if I'm riding in the rain). I'm just hoping the oil light works correctly someday if I need it. I think those little bulbs just get the life shaken out of them. At one point I did replace all of my dash bulbs with LEDs and they worked great because the LEDs were so bright and easier to see, but they eventually stopped working as well. I don't have too much to add that the others didn't already mention, but I will say I don't really remember seeing my headlight in cars as much during the day time, keeping in mind your high beam shines straight forward and your low beam should be angled down slightly, so it's reflection in the back of cars should be angled downward. A couple years ago I did replace my whole headlight with an LED light from amazon. I think it was only about $45 and it works great, also really cleans up the front of the bike, since I was never crazy about the appearance of that old style front headlight. My turn signals are LEDs with build in flashers, so I was able to just remove the original flasher entirely, so it's feeding constant power to the signals, and then they flash on their own. They are plastic though, and regularly try to shake themselves apart, so they've been epoxied back together numerous times, and I do need to eventually replace them with some nicer signals and probably reinstall a normal flasher relay. Good look with getting yours sorted out. Ooh and that weird square thing on your frame... I'm assuming you have an M2, they use the same frame as the S3 and those are the mounting tabs for the front fairing. |
