1994 Softail tail light hot
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2013
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From: San Diego
1994 Softail tail light hot
Hello, I rewired my 1994 Heritage Softail. I used a Bruce Linsday main harness and used V-Twin for everything else (their main harness is not exactly made for my bike). Anyhow, I turned the ignition on, no wires smoke or are hot, but the tail light bulb gets extremely hot to the touch. The first bulb turned a blue marble color on the glass.
I felt the wires going from that up to the main harness, nothing bad there. Traced it all the way to the blue wire going from the switch to the light circuit breaker and it is warm. Not melting, just warm. I could wiggle that terminal in my switch so I decided that was most likely the problem. I replaced the switch and now the blue wire is fine, however the bulb is still very hot.
I have traced the grounds, most connections again and everything seems tight. One problem I am having is my battery keeps draining. This could be due to me using it for testing purposes, it is a couple years old, it has been sitting for a few months, etc. I performed a voltage regulator bleed test, the ignition module current draw test, and have been poking around with both a test light and a multimeter. I do not have any draw when disconnecting the negative cable and putting the multimeter in line with it and the battery, nor does my test light light up. Any suggestions? This is my first major wiring project. Thanks.
I felt the wires going from that up to the main harness, nothing bad there. Traced it all the way to the blue wire going from the switch to the light circuit breaker and it is warm. Not melting, just warm. I could wiggle that terminal in my switch so I decided that was most likely the problem. I replaced the switch and now the blue wire is fine, however the bulb is still very hot.
I have traced the grounds, most connections again and everything seems tight. One problem I am having is my battery keeps draining. This could be due to me using it for testing purposes, it is a couple years old, it has been sitting for a few months, etc. I performed a voltage regulator bleed test, the ignition module current draw test, and have been poking around with both a test light and a multimeter. I do not have any draw when disconnecting the negative cable and putting the multimeter in line with it and the battery, nor does my test light light up. Any suggestions? This is my first major wiring project. Thanks.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
Hello, I rewired my 1994 Heritage Softail. I used a Bruce Linsday main harness and used V-Twin for everything else (their main harness is not exactly made for my bike). Anyhow, I turned the ignition on, no wires smoke or are hot, but the tail light bulb gets extremely hot to the touch. The first bulb turned a blue marble color on the glass.
I felt the wires going from that up to the main harness, nothing bad there. Traced it all the way to the blue wire going from the switch to the light circuit breaker and it is warm. Not melting, just warm. I could wiggle that terminal in my switch so I decided that was most likely the problem. I replaced the switch and now the blue wire is fine, however the bulb is still very hot.
I have traced the grounds, most connections again and everything seems tight. One problem I am having is my battery keeps draining. This could be due to me using it for testing purposes, it is a couple years old, it has been sitting for a few months, etc. I performed a voltage regulator bleed test, the ignition module current draw test, and have been poking around with both a test light and a multimeter. I do not have any draw when disconnecting the negative cable and putting the multimeter in line with it and the battery, nor does my test light light up. Any suggestions? This is my first major wiring project. Thanks.
I felt the wires going from that up to the main harness, nothing bad there. Traced it all the way to the blue wire going from the switch to the light circuit breaker and it is warm. Not melting, just warm. I could wiggle that terminal in my switch so I decided that was most likely the problem. I replaced the switch and now the blue wire is fine, however the bulb is still very hot.
I have traced the grounds, most connections again and everything seems tight. One problem I am having is my battery keeps draining. This could be due to me using it for testing purposes, it is a couple years old, it has been sitting for a few months, etc. I performed a voltage regulator bleed test, the ignition module current draw test, and have been poking around with both a test light and a multimeter. I do not have any draw when disconnecting the negative cable and putting the multimeter in line with it and the battery, nor does my test light light up. Any suggestions? This is my first major wiring project. Thanks.
What makes you think yours is excessively hot??
Is it melting your brake light lens?
As mentioned above the only cure for the heat of an incandescent light is to switch the bulb to an LED.
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From: Beyond Fucital
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From: San Diego
Ok, this makes me feel a bit better. I had to change my tail light assembly out because the original had loads of mud and dirt in it and the wiring itself was encased in dielectric grease, not to mention the wiring was starting to come apart. I replaced it with a Mid-USA one and the wiring and bulb they include are a bit cheap.
The bulb like I said turned blue, so I assumed that was not normal temp. However I changed it to a brand name bulb and so far it has not discolored however I was afraid it may melt the lens. I figured headlights and halogens get extremely hot but not a tail light bulb. Thanks for your help, I'll put it back together and see what happens, otherwise an LED may be a better option anyway.
The bulb like I said turned blue, so I assumed that was not normal temp. However I changed it to a brand name bulb and so far it has not discolored however I was afraid it may melt the lens. I figured headlights and halogens get extremely hot but not a tail light bulb. Thanks for your help, I'll put it back together and see what happens, otherwise an LED may be a better option anyway.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
Ok, this makes me feel a bit better. I had to change my tail light assembly out because the original had loads of mud and dirt in it and the wiring itself was encased in dielectric grease, not to mention the wiring was starting to come apart. I replaced it with a Mid-USA one and the wiring and bulb they include are a bit cheap.
The bulb like I said turned blue, so I assumed that was not normal temp. However I changed it to a brand name bulb and so far it has not discolored however I was afraid it may melt the lens. I figured headlights and halogens get extremely hot but not a tail light bulb. Thanks for your help, I'll put it back together and see what happens, otherwise an LED may be a better option anyway.
The bulb like I said turned blue, so I assumed that was not normal temp. However I changed it to a brand name bulb and so far it has not discolored however I was afraid it may melt the lens. I figured headlights and halogens get extremely hot but not a tail light bulb. Thanks for your help, I'll put it back together and see what happens, otherwise an LED may be a better option anyway.
It doesn't matter where it is they all do it!!
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From: la la land jerzey
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
No bulb should get so hot that any part of it turns blue, as on steel that represents several hundred degrees, which is not desirable at all!
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