Dimming headlights?

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Mar 16, 2011 | 06:15 AM

Failz

Thread Starter

Tourer

Joined: Oct 2008

Posts: 430

Likes: 1

From: Hampton, VA

Dimming headlights?

Last night headed into work my headlights (Headlight and 2 spotlights) started dimming down to almost nothing and then jumping back to full brightness and repeating for the rest of the ride and the ride home this morning. The dimming cycle took about 5 seconds. What the golly gosh goodness could be causing this? It's annoying and worrying me that it could be part of a bigger problem. Battery connections are tight.

Mar 16, 2011 | 06:20 AM

artt

Cruiser

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 173

Likes: 1

From: New York

From the symptoms it sounds like it's in the battery charging circuit. I would check the voltage regulator output and the battery charge when it's not running. Also might be the alternator.

Mar 16, 2011 | 11:20 AM

Phat09flhx

Road Captain

Joined: Nov 2009

Posts: 594

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From: Arkansas

I agree something is failing, might check battery connections or as stated above the regulator or maybe the stator giving way.

Mar 16, 2011 | 11:56 AM

relli

Road Warrior

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 1,853

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From: central florida

its either the regulator or the stator (which u would replace the reg also) so i would start out with the reg. easier and cheaper of the two

Mar 16, 2011 | 01:12 PM

Failz

Thread Starter

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Joined: Oct 2008

Posts: 430

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From: Hampton, VA

Thank you, all

Mar 16, 2011 | 01:21 PM

sanlyn

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Joined: Jul 2009

Posts: 1,221

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From: Monmouth, OR

Quote:

Originally Posted by artt

From the symptoms it sounds like it's in the battery charging circuit. I would check the voltage regulator output and the battery charge when it's not running. Also might be the alternator.

Quote:

Originally Posted by relli

its either the regulator or the stator (which u would replace the reg also) so i would start out with the reg. easier and cheaper of the two

+1 on both these comments.

Mar 16, 2011 | 02:35 PM

skdvr

Tourer

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 404

Likes: 3

From: St Louis, MO

I had this same thing happen to me on my last ride of the season last year. Got the bike out about 2 weeks ago and it has not done it again. Absolutely no idea what caused my issue, but I'm still keeping an eye out for it...

Phil