Electrical Help!!!!
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 30
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From: california
Electrical Help!!!!
I have a 85 FXR evo, last ride when i would break my headlight would dim very bad, then after a few times breaking would kill headlight. Tested it in the garage not running just with key on, and stepping on break pedal a few times would hear one of the relays click the just headlight turns off, then turn key on and off a few times the relay clicks again when key off and headlight works again till the relay clicks again and all happens again. Does this mean that the relay is just bad??? not sure how to test it, I am a little electrical savvy but no expert by any means. Battery is fairly new, and haven't had any problems. Any help will be much appreciated thanks!!
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
This is one of those needles in a haystack! It could be as simple as a bad ground, or a chafed wire, somewhere. Not easy to diagnose, just needs some dogged determination to seek the darned thing out.
Bear in mind that electrical problems like this are often mechanical. In other words something visible and easily fixed, once found. I would start at the brake switch and follow the wiring into the bike. Careful disconnect every connection, clean and make sure it is tight and reconnect. Study the wires to see if the insulation is intact.
Best of luck!
Bear in mind that electrical problems like this are often mechanical. In other words something visible and easily fixed, once found. I would start at the brake switch and follow the wiring into the bike. Careful disconnect every connection, clean and make sure it is tight and reconnect. Study the wires to see if the insulation is intact.
Best of luck!
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 30
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From: california
Yes, your right it is a circuit breaker tripping!! For some reason had relay in my head, so the surch begins!!! Anyone know of an easy way to find a short, or is it just the prosses of elimination thing!!
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
With a circuit breaker tripping you could try a replacement. If that also trips, then you have a search on your hands! Electrical problems like this are usually mechanical, in other words something visible, such as a loose connector, broken or chafed wire, poor ground. Just work your way along the wiring from the circuit breaker, checking as you go. Pull every connector apart, dismantle every ground, clean grease and refit.
Best of luck!
Best of luck!
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 794
Likes: 1
From: Alvin TX
when the last time you had a tank off ? headlight open ? rear fender/ tail light off/opened If any of these thats where I would start looking also double any & all grounds pull them & clean under neith then dirt/rust can build up
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,202
Likes: 3,089
From: NW AR
Yeah, you have a short in the brake light circuit. Look under the rear fender and where the wires come through the fender. The MoCo just ran the wires through a hole in the fender without even using a grommet. Start on one end and work your way to the other. That is, start at the tail light and work to the brake switches or vice-verse.
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