Author Topic: How to Fix Headlight?  (Read 1354 times)

Vision

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How to Fix Headlight?
« on: June 19, 2017, 12:35:40 AM »
I can't keep a new bulb working for more than a ride or two, regular or led; been through a half dozen bulbs. Most times one will last for the duration of a ride, be working when I turn the bike off, and then be dead at the next start. For background no other lights have burned out and a year ago the cgi went bad and was replaced with a "high performance" cgi. That seems to be when the problems started.

Am wondering if too much energy is being sent to the headlight only and when the bulb cools down it breaks.

CROSSBOLT

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Re: How to Fix Headlight?
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2017, 12:42:08 AM »
What is a cgi?

Karl
Karl

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Vision

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Re: How to Fix Headlight?
« Reply #2 on: June 21, 2017, 10:53:26 PM »
Sorry, meant to say CDI.

CROSSBOLT

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Re: How to Fix Headlight?
« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2017, 01:13:40 AM »
Now that is cleared up, the CDI will have no effect on the lights. The "high performance" cdi probably means there is no rev limit. What sounds to me is your voltage is going way too high. Probably as a result of no rev limit.

Karl
Karl

Three motorcycles 1960-1977 (restored a 1955 BSA)
Agility 50
Yager 200i
Downtown 300i
Navy tech, Ships Engineer, pilot and aircraft mechanic

Vision

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Re: How to Fix Headlight?
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2017, 12:12:55 AM »
What can I do to get a working headlight?

CROSSBOLT

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Re: How to Fix Headlight?
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2017, 01:33:14 AM »
Fix what appears to be an overvoltage problem!

Karl
Karl

Three motorcycles 1960-1977 (restored a 1955 BSA)
Agility 50
Yager 200i
Downtown 300i
Navy tech, Ships Engineer, pilot and aircraft mechanic

Vision

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Re: How to Fix Headlight?
« Reply #6 on: June 25, 2017, 02:07:03 PM »
And how do I do that?

Also the headlight seems to be the only issue, blinkers and brake light have been fine for over a year.

CROSSBOLT

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Re: How to Fix Headlight?
« Reply #7 on: June 25, 2017, 07:27:13 PM »
You start by finding out what voltage your system is putting out. Some of these bikes work directly off the AC output of the stator which I suspect is your case. So I also suspect you torch a headlight everytime you wind your bike up past 9000 rpm since you no longer have a rev limiter. Ya need to find out how your bike works.

Karl
Karl

Three motorcycles 1960-1977 (restored a 1955 BSA)
Agility 50
Yager 200i
Downtown 300i
Navy tech, Ships Engineer, pilot and aircraft mechanic

Vision

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Re: How to Fix Headlight?
« Reply #8 on: June 25, 2017, 09:20:13 PM »
You measure that on the prongs that touch the bulb?

CROSSBOLT

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Re: How to Fix Headlight?
« Reply #9 on: June 25, 2017, 10:43:57 PM »
That would be an excellent place to start!

Karl
Karl

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Agility 50
Yager 200i
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DakLak

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Re: How to Fix Headlight?
« Reply #10 on: August 10, 2017, 07:37:17 PM »
If you are only interested in the headlight problem, assuming there are no other electrical challenges, one fix would be to install a high wattage zener diode with a suitable voltage limit across the feed to the headlight(s).

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