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Seeking HD Headlight Wisdom

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Old Nov 18, 2019 | 08:58 AM
  #1  
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Default Seeking HD Headlight Wisdom

I thought I'd tap in to the collective wisdom to see if anyone has encountered this before, and what the fix was. 2006 Softail deluxe. No recent changes, so this isn't a result of piddling around with the electrics
Ridin' down the road, of course headlights are always on. I keep it on low except at night on unlit roads. I notice something below my line of vision, so I look at the the gauge and the hi-beam lamp is lit. Switch is still in the lo position. So I'm glancing at it periodically, and I notice the hi-beam indicator is turning off and on intermittently. When I get behind someone and can the reflection of my headlight, I see that it is going from hi to lo. People probably thing I'm flashing my hi's at 'em.

The switch is stock. The headlight bulb itself is a LED with one of those integral relays.

Any idears?
 
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Old Nov 18, 2019 | 01:29 PM
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Sounds like a short in the switch, if the indicator AND the lights are flipping from normal to hi and back repeatedly. If the indicate and lights are matching operations, gotta be the switch. Sounds like the lights and indicator are doing their job.
 
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Old Nov 18, 2019 | 01:52 PM
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I'm leaning that way too. I don't want to just throw parts at it and hope that fixes it.

As far as I know, is it not a simple Hi-Lo switch and not necessarily controlled electronically? 2006 model year, so I wouldn't think it was that sophisticated that far back
 
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Old Nov 19, 2019 | 07:37 AM
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At some point, the MoCo switched to sealed switches. Not sure when that took place. 08 perhaps?
Older switches can be cleaned up. Newer switches I believe are not serviceable.
 
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Old Nov 19, 2019 | 10:09 AM
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Thanks guys.

This LED bulb has a relay box. I bought it from Amazon (should have known better I reckon). So, I'm going to ditch that, and install a better bulb, and R&R the handlebar switch to clean it.

If it still does it after that.....
Well, I reckon I'll burn that bridge before I get to it!
 
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Old Nov 19, 2019 | 02:01 PM
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Wasn’t aware the bulbs came with built in relays. Why?
 
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Old Nov 19, 2019 | 02:09 PM
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Originally Posted by splattttttt
Wasn’t aware the bulbs came with built in relays. Why?
Relay might not be the correct term. It's box. It may be a current regulator or voltage converter, or something else. The headlight wiring plugs into it rather than the back of the headlight itself. The kit had two bulbs, meant for a car. I couldn't put the other one in my Triumph Bonneville because there's just not enough room in the headlight bucket with everything else that's crammed in there.
 
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Old Nov 19, 2019 | 02:15 PM
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That is a fan to help keep it cool as it tuns
Why
Not just replace the whole lamp
You can get one in the 7@ frim amazon for less than $40
All sealed up nice and better than the bulb
 
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