No Headlight
Thread Starter
|
Stage III
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Scranton, PA
No Headlight
OK. New to board, and I thank any and all in advance. Here goes.
2005 Softail FXSTI.
Low beam stopped working July of last year. High beam stopped working at end of riding season last year (Oct.). I replaced the bulb with a correct HD bulb. No lights on high or low. Now...let me tell you in advance that I swapped out the headlamp bucket for a billet shell last year, and I suspected one of the connections had an issue over time. I pulled the tank and checked all connections (vom) and they appear good. Next I checked voltage at the plug in the shell. Voltage was 12.44 volts on high beam when activated, and the same on low beam when high beam is off. I didn't like the look of the battery (nor the terminal connections) so I replaced the battery with a new HD model and back to good solid (factory) connections. Checked voltage again in bucket. Voltage now at 12.77 in each position. I am checking voltage for each utilizing the ground in the shell. Voltage is good in either switch position. Fuse is good (no relay). I have tried three (3) different bulbs all with the same result. No other apparent electrical issues with the bike. No other electrical mods either.
Where do I look next?
Apologizing in advance for the length of the post but want to provide as much detail as possible.
2005 Softail FXSTI.
Low beam stopped working July of last year. High beam stopped working at end of riding season last year (Oct.). I replaced the bulb with a correct HD bulb. No lights on high or low. Now...let me tell you in advance that I swapped out the headlamp bucket for a billet shell last year, and I suspected one of the connections had an issue over time. I pulled the tank and checked all connections (vom) and they appear good. Next I checked voltage at the plug in the shell. Voltage was 12.44 volts on high beam when activated, and the same on low beam when high beam is off. I didn't like the look of the battery (nor the terminal connections) so I replaced the battery with a new HD model and back to good solid (factory) connections. Checked voltage again in bucket. Voltage now at 12.77 in each position. I am checking voltage for each utilizing the ground in the shell. Voltage is good in either switch position. Fuse is good (no relay). I have tried three (3) different bulbs all with the same result. No other apparent electrical issues with the bike. No other electrical mods either.
Where do I look next?
Apologizing in advance for the length of the post but want to provide as much detail as possible.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,118
Likes: 1,145
From: Directly above the center of the Earth
I had a problem once with something similar. The 'plug' part (part #27 here http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche....GHT%20ASSEMBLY) had gotten hot and brittle and fell apart. I rode to the dealership and got a new one and installed it right there in the parking lot. When I fired the bike up, I saw smoke and by the time I turned the bike off, it had melted! So, I took that one out, threw it away and kust twisted the leads together where they boelonged just to see if that got hot or whatever (left the lens out and all that, so it was just the bucket and bulb) and voila! No hot wires, no melting, and light worked like it was supposed to.
Unfortunately I can't remember if I went in and got another three-way plug or ordered something aftermarket, but knowing me, when I saw a little sticky tag that was wrapped around the wires on the new-but-newly-melted harness that said 'Mad in Mexico', I probably order something aftermarket.
So, if you need to, just jury rig some ends to fit straight to the bulb and bypass the harness (if that turns out to be the problem and naturally a bit of electrical tape will be needed so you don't short or ground out bare wires while riding) temporarily until you find a new harness plug.
Unfortunately I can't remember if I went in and got another three-way plug or ordered something aftermarket, but knowing me, when I saw a little sticky tag that was wrapped around the wires on the new-but-newly-melted harness that said 'Mad in Mexico', I probably order something aftermarket.
So, if you need to, just jury rig some ends to fit straight to the bulb and bypass the harness (if that turns out to be the problem and naturally a bit of electrical tape will be needed so you don't short or ground out bare wires while riding) temporarily until you find a new harness plug.
Thread Starter
|
Stage III
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Scranton, PA
Thanks TS.
A little further info. Have since been able to get bulb to lamp at socket on High beam. I don't like the way the socket fits the bulb. The new shell is deeper than the original and requires too much tension to replace/inspect bulb. I am going to proceed and replace the socket in the shell and see how that goes.
A little further info. Have since been able to get bulb to lamp at socket on High beam. I don't like the way the socket fits the bulb. The new shell is deeper than the original and requires too much tension to replace/inspect bulb. I am going to proceed and replace the socket in the shell and see how that goes.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
