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Buell Forum » Big, Bad & Dirty (Buell XB12X Ulysses Adventure Board) » Archive through December 15, 2014 » Headlight fault « Previous Next »

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Yo_barry
Posted on Friday, October 10, 2014 - 05:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

A friend and I just returned from a two week ride in NE California, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and back to CA.

Some background..

-2009 XB12X with approximately 10k miles
-I had this mod installed that turned on the low beam along with the high when high beam was selected.

"Blue and yellow wires

I had the diode mounted under the fly screen. Basically I soldered a wire on each end of the diode, Put tape or heat shrink over the exposed wires (and diode if you want) then clipped it onto the head light wires with those blue 3m connectors. If you want to remove it, just pull off the connectors and put sealer over the mark the connector made in the jacket.

IF a head light is 55w, take 55w divided by 14 volts = 3.9 amp. Plus add some for safety and 6A is more then enough. I used Radioshack 276-1661 (pack of 4 for $2.69), which is found is most stores"

My low beam had burned out a couple of days before this happened. I hadn't replaced the low beam yet.

We were riding some dirt roads in the morning when we stopped for a few minutes. When I went to restart the Uly, it cycled through its diagnostic, fuel pump ran, and yellow light went off. But when I touched the start button, nothing happened. We were able to bump start and get to the nearest town (Vale, OR.) The 15 amp headlight fuse was blown. Replaced it. It was blown again after we rode to Vale.

I ended up getting towed to the HD near Boise, ID. When the technician disconnected the headlights, the Uly started right up. He replaced the headlight, fuse and removed the mod for two lights on.
When I looked at the headlight earlier, the bulb looked to be intact. When it was removed the only thing there was the base of the bulb.

What are your thoughts on this bulb causing a bad enough short to not allow it to turn over?
Do you think the mod had anything to do with it?

Btw, the battery was 5 years old. I replaced it a couple of days later.

Barry
Hollister, CA
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Ratbuell
Posted on Friday, October 10, 2014 - 10:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Why did you do a diode? Common practice - and what I've had on my bike for...oh...20k miles or so - is to switch wires in the 4 pin connector at the headlight. On the headlight end of the connector, swap the wire for the low beam (yellow) and the marker light (I want to say..orange/white?). Done. No other mods required. All this does is keep voltage going to the low beam anytime the ignition is on, regardless of high beam state. Your position marker turns off...but who cares. You can't see it with the headlights on anyway.
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Etennuly
Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2014 - 07:34 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Has your hi beam bulb also burned out recently? Could be an indicator of voltage regulator starting to go bad.

I think unplugging the light to have the bike then start to be a coincidence. He more likely moved some other wire to make contact.

Check the ground wires on the steering neck. Those need to be un-bolted to check for a break in the loop ends. Also check the plug on your ignition switch.
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Froggy
Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2014 - 09:02 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

There is a safety feature on 08+ bikes, if your headlight fuse is blown or out you can't start the bike.

(Message edited by Froggy on October 11, 2014)
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Ratbuell
Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2014 - 10:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Also check the HOT wire going to the ignition - it comes from the same splice where I just found a bad battery lead to my cluster.
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Yo_barry
Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2014 - 01:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Thx Froggy, that has to be it.

Barry
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