hello again,
You guys havent failed me in the past when i ask anything so here I am again with another issue. My tail light wont light up as a running light. The brake light and the turn signals work fine just no running light. I checked the bulb and the filaments look fine. Is there a fuse or relay or something I'm missing?
Thanks

also attached an updated picture of my bike, '85 fatbob with FL front end and fenders. the front one will be on shortly, waiting on paint to dry.

 

It's it a custom setup, or stock and just quit working? I can't see the rear light setup in your pic.

If its a custom setup, you may need an aftermarket run/turn/brake controller to make em work right. Im using a badlands controller and it works great.

Let us know if it's stock or not.

 

Try another bulb or check the socket with a volt meter or even a test light. After that, start following the wire back (forward, actually) and check the voltage at each connector. There's no fuse, relay or anything but connections. Well, there's a breaker, but if it wasn't working your headlight wouldn't work either.

 

Its a stock setup, sorry. I'll get out in the garage this afternoon and start working my way through the connections. Thanks for the input guys.

 

Also be sure to check the wire running under the fender. Historically, I would guestimate that 90% of tail light issues are related to that wire (if the bulb is good).

 

I would change out the bulb first they are cheap enough. If that doesn't work by looking at a similar bike of your year (did not have a wiring diagram of your bike) you will see two wires. One is green the other is red. The red is your brake and the green is your running.

Good luck....

 

i would bet you're losing a ground somewhere

 

Think of the anatomy. The brake light works. They use the same ground.

 

If you have a fender tip light, unplug it and see if tailite comes back on, if it does, tip lite is shorted inside and assy needs to be replaced

 

Thanks a lot for all the suggestions guys. Spent the afternoon in the garage and got it sorted. Some gunk and rust had built up in the socket for the bulb and wasnt making a connection on the post for the tail light. Cleaned the bulb and the socket and it came right on.