Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

LED Headlight not functioning properly

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 2, 2018 | 03:59 PM
  #1  
CGLTD's Avatar
CGLTD
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 279
From: .
Default LED Headlight not functioning properly

I posted this in electrical, but there is much more traffic here:

I have a 2013 FLHTK with TruckLite headlight and passing lamps and Custom Dynamics turn signals, tourpack lighting and tail light. I've had everything for about for 3 years. I haven't installed anything else recently.

The headlight recently started "strobe lighting" and eventually staying on high beams. It goes randomly from low to strobe and only high beams in no particular order all while the switch in low position. It does not do this when the light is plugged into the high and low beams separately. Only with everything plugged in.

I plugged in a halogen bulb and it works fine. The LED quit operating the Harley garage door opener that is ten years old. The halogen operates it just fine. In preparation of sending in the light for warranty I ordered the Sunpie Daymaker to have a light as this is my daily driver. The Sunpie does not operate the garage door opener, but the halogen bulb operates it. It's hard to tell, but I think the Sunpie high beam has a very small flicker when lows are on, but is hardly noticeable. The high beam indicator is not coming on when the low beam is selected as with the TruckLite. There is no strobe lighting. I am suspicious as to why the Sunpie is not operating the door opener.

I took the light and plugged it into another bike and it works. Still, only halogen bulbs work properly. I also disconnected the garage door transmitter with the same results. I am assuming it has something to do with the hi-beam wire?

Hopefully, i am detailed enough. Thanks for the help!
 
Reply
Old Jan 2, 2018 | 04:12 PM
  #2  
HDSAE60's Avatar
HDSAE60
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 13
From: Broken Bow Oklahoma
Default

My garage door opener will work when no light is connected. It has nothing to do with the light itself. Have you hooked the led to just a battery to see if it will work?
 
Reply
Old Jan 2, 2018 | 04:17 PM
  #3  
longrideshields-1's Avatar
longrideshields-1
Premium Sponsor
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,185
Likes: 92
From: Sparks NV
Default

For both of those issues you will need a particular diode for the headlight your are using, My company sells Headlights as well and we have to provide a DIODE for certain models to stop electronic feedback and smooth out the signal. If you cant get answers from your headlights manufacturer let me know and Ill get the specs on the Diodes we use inline.
 
__________________

General Inquiries:
Info@LongRideShields.com
Sales and Marketing:
Sales@LongRideShields.com
Phone:
775.331.3789

Reply
Old Jan 2, 2018 | 04:18 PM
  #4  
longrideshields-1's Avatar
longrideshields-1
Premium Sponsor
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,185
Likes: 92
From: Sparks NV
Default

 
Reply
Old Jan 2, 2018 | 06:17 PM
  #5  
CGLTD's Avatar
CGLTD
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 279
From: .
Default

Originally Posted by HDSAE60
My garage door opener will work when no light is connected. It has nothing to do with the light itself. Have you hooked the led to just a battery to see if it will work?
Opener is wired into the headlights so only works when a light is plugged in. I did not hook directly to the battery since it works on another bike.
 
Reply
Old Jan 2, 2018 | 06:25 PM
  #6  
CGLTD's Avatar
CGLTD
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 279
From: .
Default

Originally Posted by longrideshields-1
If you cant get answers from your headlights manufacturer let me know and Ill get the specs on the Diodes we use inline.
I'm sent
 
Reply
Old Mar 17, 2018 | 08:52 AM
  #7  
CGLTD's Avatar
CGLTD
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 279
From: .
Default

Ok I found the problem. I have been out to sea a lot (Navy) so troubleshooting has been delayed. It turns out that one of the wires from the switch was loose from the crimp. Not sure what the previous owner did, but all of the wires were cut and crimped together. I am removing all of the crimps and soldering everything to make it much cleaner and secure. Bought the bike in 2014 with 5K miles.

 
Reply
Old Mar 17, 2018 | 09:12 AM
  #8  
TriGeezer's Avatar
TriGeezer
Seasoned HDF Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,027
From: Carlsbad, CA
Default

Glad you found the issue! Thanks for your service.

As you are doing, it is best to solder vs. crimp connections on a motorcycle. But, crimping can be reliable if done properly, and then hestshrunk tightly.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 17, 2018 | 12:36 PM
  #9  
MotoJockey's Avatar
MotoJockey
Grand HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 4,620
Likes: 3,939
From: Near Yosemite
Default

Good find man! Glad you found it! I've been running TL 7's on the last 3 bikes AND my Jeep and love them. I was hoping that your issue was not with the lights themselves. And as others have said and you have already done, solder wins out over crimps for sure.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
RiverCityRocker
General Harley Davidson Chat
5
Aug 13, 2018 01:46 PM
CGLTD
Electrical/Lighting/Alarm
1
Jan 2, 2018 03:53 PM
Big Money
Touring Models
5
Feb 22, 2015 06:50 AM
c50plus
Touring Models
44
Sep 1, 2014 10:44 PM
nchogfan
Touring Models
3
Dec 4, 2013 05:07 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:01 PM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE