headlight woes

Hey all-
Not to break up the current "my bike is better than yours" argument, but I
actually have a bike-related question, though not a VFR related question. Hope
it won't matter.

On my other bike (ZX), I'm having some issues with the headlight. It's really
dim @ idle on hi and lo beam. Now, if I rev it, it gets substantially
brighter...actually bright enough to see by at night probably. Right now, I don't
ride it @ night, and I'm a little timid on it during the day, as people have told
me it's harder to see. It didn't use to be like this, for sure.

I checked the bulb, and it's fine. Even bought another one as a back-up which
does the same thing. I have had a headlight modulator on this bike for a
decade or more, and initially I though it may be the problem, so I took it off,
returned it, and it checked out fine @ the manufacturer. In fact, even without
the modulator there is no difference in the output of just the straight bulb.

I did have alternator woes @ the USGP last year, and found that the male into
female clip @ the alt. was fried into a plastic mess. I removed the alt., and
it checked out a-ok at both the dealer and an independent alt. shop. I put
some simple male/female clips on the wires and it seems to start-up fine since
then. Battery is new and on a Tender 24/7.

So...I have a multimeter, but not sure where to start. Love to hear
ideas/tips/thoughts, esp. on steps to take, no matter how pedestrian (bike 'lectrics
are not my thang, to be sure.)

-greginLA


**************
Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on
family favorites at AOL Food.

(http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?N...00030000000001)

_______________________________________________
vfr mailing list
vfr@xxxxxx
For subscription and delivery options:
https://lists.cs.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vfr

Greg,
Sounds like a definite under voltage situation...

You've checked the alt., but it sounds like the tests were conducted with the alt. out of the bike. So, I'd say check the system voltage while the alt. is in the bike as you change rev's. It's possible that the R/R has a problem caused by your earlier woes, or it's possible that the R/R was the problem all along and just hanging-on by a thread.

Where was that check list...?
Try this...

Good luck...

Ken in ATL

_____


From: Greg in LA
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 2:26 PM
Subject: headlight woes


Hey all-
Not to break up the current "my bike is better than yours" argument, but I actually have a bike-related question, though not a VFR related question. Hope it won't matter.

On my other bike (ZX) , I'm having some issues with the headlight. ....

I did have alternator woes @ the USGP last year, and found that the male into female clip @ the alt. was fried into a plastic mess. I removed the alt., and it checked out a-ok at both the dealer and an independent alt. shop. I put some simple male/female clips on the wires and it seems to start-up fine since then. Battery is new and on a Tender 24/ 7...





_______________________________________________
vfr mailing list
vfr@xxxxxx
For subscription and delivery options:
https://lists.cs.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vfr

In a message dated 5/20/08 8:40:38 AM, kens@xxxxxx writes:


> Sounds like a definite under voltage situation...
> *
> You've checked the alt., but it sounds like the tests were conducted with
> the alt. out of the bike.* So, I'd say check the system voltage while the alt.
> is in the bike as you change rev's.* It's possible that the R/R has a
> problem caused by your earlier woes, or it's possible that*the*R/R*was the problem
> all along and just hanging-on by a thread.
>
>
Ken-
Will do. I found the electrosport flow chart last night as well. I did hook
up the mm to the battery last night in the garage. Aside from deafness in the
right ear, pissed-off neighbors (who, truthfully, never liked "the biker" next
door anyhow), and a lot of fumes, here's what I found out:

MM on battery positive pole and battery neg pole.

-idle. 1100 RPMs, +/- : 12.5 V
-Bike off. Key off. : 13.0 V
-bike @ 4k : 14.8 V

I did notice that @ 4k, the headlight bulb got SUPER bright. I'd say as
bright as it can get. Quick blips past 4K didn't seem to get it any brighter..

PS The battery's been on a Battery Tender since day one. It's only off when I
ride it.

This bike has the alt/reg/rect all in one casing, like a car's generator
(Letter D on the flow chart). So, I guess I'll look into the alt again and report
back what I find.

-greginLA



**************
Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family
favorites at AOL Food.

(http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?N...00030000000001)

_______________________________________________
vfr mailing list
vfr@xxxxxx
For subscription and delivery options:
https://lists.cs.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vfr