Rear light woes continue.....
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,749
Likes: 16
From: sand mountain Alabama
Down by the rear master cylinder is the rear tail light switch. It is adjustable. I have seen them lose-backed off too far and the light would not come on but if it is too tight it will stay on.
Easy to check. With no cost.
Easy to check. With no cost.
Here's a link to one of my older posts on this subject:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/7378764-post4.html
There should be a little wedge (spring clip) in the r/h switch housing that keeps the brake switch positioned. If it's not there or to loose the brake light will stay on all the time.
Here's a link to one of my older posts on this subject:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/7378764-post4.html
Here's a link to one of my older posts on this subject:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/7378764-post4.html
This or the stuck brake light switch is more than likely the culprit. This would explain why both bulbs burned at once. Operating both filaments for extended periods will burn the bulbs. There's no other good explanation for power to exist in the line AND both bulbs burning out.
A short should blow a fuse but bypass the bulb socket (leaving the bulbs intact, unless intermittent power kept sparking the system.)
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 9
From: Marina del Rey
Com'on. Check your mods and known wire damage, first.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 3
From: Oklahoma City, OK
I would add that I was going through bulbs at least one amonth and sometimes the filaments would fail to such a slight degree from thevibrations I presume that they would work correctly occasionally – sometimes theblinker and sometimes the running light portion. I also had issues with my rear wiring to behonest too. When they replaced my rearfender they didn’t get my wiring harness back up in the clips very good and itfell on the tire and got chewed up – had to bandage it back together.
I finally wised up and bought some LED replacement bulbs andhaven’t ridden a lot since, but they seem to be holding up so far. The LED lights are way cooler anyway –brighter and just look cool. They make anumber of varieties of them from what I gather. I just picked some up from a local parts store, but you can order reallyfancy ones online.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 14
From: Right where I belong!
Everything is good to go now thanks to my new best friend Joe! The bad ground/short, was actually coming from the license plate light wire. Though I new the wire insulation was damaged from the tire rubbing on it, I didnt realize that when I threw some electrical tape on as a bandaid, that I actually put the two wires in contact with each other.
The other problem was the brake lights not working and that came from the handlebar switch housing as mentioned by another on this thread. Basically something got out of position.
So I am back on the road and happier than ever! Many thanks to Joe who saved me a lot of frustration and a lot of $$$.
The other problem was the brake lights not working and that came from the handlebar switch housing as mentioned by another on this thread. Basically something got out of position.
So I am back on the road and happier than ever! Many thanks to Joe who saved me a lot of frustration and a lot of $$$.
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