head light flickering

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Jul 23, 2009 | 09:08 AM

jj_dahlheimer

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head light flickering

Last night I rode and everything was fine on my way but I was getting ready to leave and I turn my key to start and the first thing I notice is the high beams light is on and my switch is not set to high beams. Then I notice my head light is not working. It is starting to get dark so at this point I am thinking better get my a$$ home. Get going and the light starts to work within a couple of minutes which I thought was weird. So I pull over check things over shut off the bike everything looks normal go and start it again and it is not working. So I am pretty stumped but I figure loose connection somewhere. I pull in the clutch to put it in 1st and the light comes on so whatever connection it is it cannot be real loose. I get within a quarter mile of my house and it is almost dark and it starts to flicker and then it goes out about 100 yards from my driveway and when I got in my driveway I rapped it out a little and it turned on again.

So tonight I am going to take apart the headlight and check connections in there and probably check the fuses. Which by the way stupid question where are they? I have yet to have to look at them and I don't remember seeing them under the seat but since I was never looking for them I probably would not have spotted them. And is there anywhere else I should be checking. Thanks.

99 sportster 1200 xl

Jul 23, 2009 | 12:33 PM

stng_96

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From: Marion Ill

I would check the wires/connections to the switch intself, may be a wire has worn through or something.

Jul 23, 2009 | 02:42 PM

cHarley

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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh

Quote:

Originally Posted by jj_dahlheimer

Last night I rode and everything was fine on my way but I was getting ready to leave and I turn my key to start and the first thing I notice is the high beams light is on and my switch is not set to high beams. Then I notice my head light is not working. It is starting to get dark so at this point I am thinking better get my a$$ home. Get going and the light starts to work within a couple of minutes which I thought was weird. So I pull over check things over shut off the bike everything looks normal go and start it again and it is not working. So I am pretty stumped but I figure loose connection somewhere. I pull in the clutch to put it in 1st and the light comes on so whatever connection it is it cannot be real loose. I get within a quarter mile of my house and it is almost dark and it starts to flicker and then it goes out about 100 yards from my driveway and when I got in my driveway I rapped it out a little and it turned on again.

So tonight I am going to take apart the headlight and check connections in there and probably check the fuses. Which by the way stupid question where are they? I have yet to have to look at them and I don't remember seeing them under the seat but since I was never looking for them I probably would not have spotted them. And is there anywhere else I should be checking. Thanks.

99 sportster 1200 xl

I don't know what "it" is that you rapped on, but therein likely lies the loose or bad connection.

Jul 23, 2009 | 06:05 PM

jj_dahlheimer

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Sorry should have been a little more specific when I say rapped it out what I mean is rev the motor up a bit. So I assuming when I did that whatever connection was loose the vibration from the bike shook it back into place.

I will have to make sure I check out the switch also.

Thanks.

Jul 23, 2009 | 06:10 PM

notfried

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From: East Texas

had the very same problem on a '97 883...turned out to be the plug on the light itself...it did all the same things you're talking about...take the light out and look at the factory plug...they're very cheap if that ends up being what it is

Jul 23, 2009 | 07:24 PM

jj_dahlheimer

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I took off the head light and where the ground goes into the plug in the back of the light bulb is starting to melt. So I am either thinking a short somewhere or a bad ground wire. The one ground wire that runs to the head light housing seems fine but the other one runs into the regulator underneath the tank and then I lose it. I have not yet taken apart the handle bar switch as I did not think that would be the issue but could it still be? Thanks.

Jul 23, 2009 | 08:28 PM

notfried

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From: East Texas

get a three wire replacement plug from the dealer and i betcha you'll be good to go

everytime i had the bike parked for at least a few hours the high beam indicator light would be on and the headlight would be off...for a while i'd just slap the headlight and it would come on

Last edited by notfried; Jul 23, 2009 at 08:31 PM.