| Author | Message | ||
     Sgtofkillers |
My 2008 Ulysses keeps blowing the Low beam bulb, I used to get about 2 weeks out of a bulb , now I get 2 mins out of one. Im getting used to riding around with my High beam on. But what should I look for ??? | ||
| Froggy |
Voltage regulator. | ||
| Etennuly |
Loose plug on the bulb, bad switch, failing relay, pinched wire, bad ground at the steering head(behind headlights), bulb not clipped into the socket all of the way. It seems like if it is not blowing the hi beam it would not be the voltage regulator. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I gotta side with Vern on this one. If the high beam isn't dying, it's not system voltage. Check connections. Do a ground short check. Verify the connector pins are tight. And, MAKE SURE you aren't touching the bulb when you install it. If they have a big silver wart on them after they blow...you touched it. That wart is oils from your skin that boiled on the glass, causing it to bubble and get a hole, allowing the bulb to burn out. | ||
| Lastcyclone |
Voltage regulator. Maybe stator too. Do a search. This is not uncommon. The high and low beams operate on separate circuits. | ||
| Crusty |
My wife's Ss was doing the same thing. I tested the alternator and voltage regulator, and everything was as it should be. I tore into the wiring harness, and looked for anything and everything that might be a problem. I changed brands of bulbs. I re-routed wires, in case they were picking up a surge from the spark plug leads. Over a two week span, I worked on that bike every day; I'd think I'd found the problem, then the next day it would blow another low beam bulb.(but not the high beam, nor tail light, dash lights nor anything else). It wasn't until I borrowed a good multimeter from work that would indicate and hold peak voltage that I found the problem. The Voltage regulator would work fine, most of the time; but every so often would allow the voltage from the alternator to exceed the maximum limit. I took the bike out for a ride, and suddenly, the voltage from the regulator went up to 19.8 volts. I replaced the regulator, and the charging system has been fine, since. The really baffling part was that, although I tested the VR a number of times, voltage was always within spec. Then it would spike for no obvious reason, then return to normal. The reason the high beam didn't blow was that it wasn't on when the voltage would spike. I don't know why neither the tail light nor dash lights blew out. Just the headlight. (Message edited by Crusty on February 03, 2012) | ||
| Djohnk |
Crusty, thats what mine was doing also. I was blowing headlight bulbs (first lows then highs) so I changed over to HID on both lights. After I installed in a voltage meter several months later I noticed the spikes and got worried about ruining the ECM or something ... I then swapped out the VR for the Shindengen MOSFET, and no more problems with the spikes. http://roadstercycle.com/Shindengen%20FH012AA%20Re gulator%20upgrade%20kit.htm | ||
| Druelly |
I had similar problem. I put dielectric grease on plugs solved my problem. Might be worth trying before spending a bunch of money | ||
| Sgtofkillers |
Thanks everyone for there .02 This will give me a start on something to look for. | ||
| Andrejs2112 |
Mine did the same thing. Drove me nuts for months. Lots of bulbs later, I changed the VR. Problem solved. | ||
| Tootal |
Before you change the VR be sure and do all three test on the stator. I changed the VR but my stator was grounded and trashed a brand new VR. Learn from others mistakes, it's cheaper!  | ||
| Conchop |
Halogen lights are notorious for blowing - try a lil diaelectric grease in the socket - BTW - anytime any electrical connection or plug, battery , wiring harness, etc is taken loose, put the diaelctric grease to it - rainy days are a lot less worrisome. PS - DO NOT get your greasy fingers on the glass of the bulb - that creates too much heat and blows them like clock work. |
