Guzzi electrics?

[MotoKuzzi]

Any one able to shed any light ( no pun intended ) on why my Cali would be blowing headlight fuses. It's blown 2 in the last 600 or so km. Only reason I've noticed in daylight riding is because the rev counter has dropped off.

[ralley]

Failed reg/rec can result in overvoltage which then blows bulbs. Put a volt meter on it an confirm that voltage is ~14.8V at 2000rpm, should'nt go much beyond that voltage as you increase the revs.

Other posibility is dodgy bulbs, bikes are a harsh environment and the vibration can cause cheap bulbs to phyiscally fail.

Rob.

[MotoKuzzi]

[QUOTE][Put a volt meter on it an confirm that voltage is ~14.8V at 2000rpm, should'nt go much beyond that voltage as you increase the revs.
/QUOTE]

Thanks. I assume it's across the battery terminals where you measure.

[ralley]

Yep accross the battery terminals. This is a good fault finding guide: http://www.electrosport.com/technical-resources/library/diagnosis/pdf/fault-finding-diagram.pdf

[SS90]

It's unlikely if it is the fuse that is blowing and not the bulb that over voltage is the problem.

The headlight and the tacho are on the same fuse, and I think the tail light as well, so it could be any of the ancilleries on that fuse (or wiring to and from that ancillery) that is causing a "short" to earth, and causing the fuse to rupture.

Experience is a help here, and when the Cali injected came out, we had a few (not too many) that had a problem with the tacho not working (fixed under warranty).

Easy test is disconnect the power (signal) wire from the tacho (been a while, I can't remember the colours), insulate it, and run with out a tacho for 1000 KM's

If no blown fuse, send the tacho to Parrots in Christchurch, they know Cali Tacho's well.

That is where I would start.

[Dodgyiti]

Anything on the same circuit as the headlamp fuse should be considered suspect. Crossed or contacting wires, bad earths etc. Process of elimination.

http://guzzitech.com/guzzi007/schematics/1996_California_1100i.gif

Bugger Mark, keep thinking 'hows he doing' when ever I pass by your place.

[MotoKuzzi]

Thanks for the advice guys, been a while since I looked at this thread. Picked it up again while googling guzzi electrics. I haven't progressed much further, but did change the location of the earth wire bolted to the voltage regulator, didnt look to flash there, so I've bolted it through crash bar at the front which goes directly into the frame. Did a 100km or so today and no problems so far. If it is a tacho problem, where would I disconnect the wire? I have been thinking about getting the headlight wired up separately on a circuit of its own. I can afford to have the tacho, front brake and panel lights go out but not the headlight, especially at night.

[CookMySock]

[....] blowing headlight fuses [....] the rev counter has dropped off.Both of these symptoms suggest an intermittant wiring-short to the frame somewhere.

Wriggle the loom gently and see if you can make it blow a fuse or make the tacho falter. Do the same test at night and you will see the spark.


Steve

[MotoKuzzi]

Anything on the same circuit as the headlamp fuse should be considered suspect. Crossed or contacting wires, bad earths etc. Process of elimination.

http://guzzitech.com/guzzi007/schematics/1996_California_1100i.gif

Bugger Mark, keep thinking 'hows he doing' when ever I pass by your place.

Found a possible cause when I removed the headlight from it's brackets ( while I was changing bars yet again ). I noticed a rattle coming from the headlight so pulled it apart and found a spring clip rattling around inside where it could possbly flick up across the terminals, no obvious burn marks on anything but guess if the fuse blows it's instant power off. Done about a 1000km since with no problems yet.:yes: