| Author | Message | ||
     Maximum |
There I was...out riding in beautiful 70 degree Alabama weather (had to throw that one in for you guys up north), when just before sunset I noticed the red check engine light. I only saw it on for a second, but it could have been there longer. There was no change in performance, and nothing else that indicated a problem. I stopped at Walmart to pick up a few things...and when I came out to start the bike there was no headlight. In closer inspection the high beam did not work either. By now it was dark and I thought that I was in trouble. I double pulsed my high beam flash switch (which is how I turn on the PIAA 510's with the Autoswitch installed) and the aux light came on. I was able to ride back home with only the PIAA's. This morning I found two bad bulbs, strangely failing at either the same time, or within a few hours of each other. Two things I learned: 1. It is a good thing to have additional lights (or bulbs) available so you don't find yourself stranded at night. 2. The Autoswitch still works with a burned out high beam. The flash switch will not turn on the aux lights when the high beam switch is already on, so it looks like the Autoswitch just needs the double pulse of current to work, even when the headlight is blown. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Uh oh. I think you had better check your charging system. or at least put a voltmeter across it when it's running. | ||
| Chrisgrant |
Talk to me about this autoswitch that you speek of. Never heard of one, but it sounds like a good idea. | ||
| Florida_lime |
http://www.autoswitch.com/ Several people on this site have them. There are different ones; it switches on the accessory by pressing the flash to pass light twice for example, etc. | ||
| Barker |
There is no way it could be the electrical system and/or the billion farkles you have put on the bike.  (Message edited by barker on December 04, 2007) | ||
| Jmhinkle |
I have this same set up with the Ulytility bar and autoswitch wired in for sale still. I also have 2 PIAA superwhite H7 conveniently for sale Maximum!! | ||
| Maximum |
Barker: It might soon be a billion and one! The Autoswitch is a great accessory. It took a few minutes to figure the wiring diagrams, but it works as advertised! Here is where I installed it...  There is an LED that tells you when it is on...here is where I installed the LED...  This is the best place to buy it from... http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/product.asp?Item=AS | ||
| Maximum |
As Paul Harvey would say..."now here is the rest of the story". Monday I replaced both my headlights, and by the time I finished my ride home from work around 11 pm, both lights were blown again! I witnessed the high beam fail as I accelerated hard out of a corner above 5000 rpms. Good thing for the PIAA's again. I did a search on Badweb for blown headlights and everything I read pointed to a bad voltage regulator. For the past few weeks I have had signs of a weak battery indicated by slow starts, so maybe these problems are connected. Tuesday morning I ventured back down to my trusty lower Alabama Buell dealer to see what they could do to help. I was out of there in 1 hour and 20 minutes with a new voltage regulator, a new battery, and two new headlight bulbs! I leave in 10 days to head back to Colorado, and the service folks at Dothan HD/Buell went out of their way to make sure I have an uneventful trip home. I have a very good servicing dealer in Colorado too, but these guys almost make me wish that I lived here full time! I just got back from my ride home from work tonight and...so far...so good! So the lesson learned today was...spikes in voltage are not good for light bulbs!  | ||
| Jammin_joules |
I installed a black Kuryakyn LED voltage gauge on my dash. It lets you see in advance when the charge system is going off on its own more than a mere idiot light. http://www.ridegear.com/1/1/17357-kuryakyn-led-bat tery-gauges.html I think electrics are the only thing ever left me on the side of the road in 24 years of riding Harleys, flats excluded. My H-D/Buell dealer carries them. ~jammer | ||
| Jammin_joules |
You can see the (red 8-10v; yellow 10-12v; green 12-14) volts LEDs lit on my dash here, 14+ go red. It auto senses night so they dim. I have these on all my bikes, cheap insurance. IMHO not too gawdy, excuse me, farkle, either.  | ||
| Jmhinkle |
Where'd you find the black one? That website only has only chrome. Never mind, Ebay free shipping. (Message edited by jmhinkle on December 05, 2007) |
