Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Blowing head light bulbs

  1. #1
    Join Date
    11th May 2006 - 17:01
    Bike
    88 GL145, 81 cm400 custom, 03 KLR650a
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    553

    Blowing head light bulbs

    My bike has started blowing it's head light bulb but only when I'm revving the engine. My brother reckons my stator coil is stuffed as he put the multi meter across it and came to that conclusion. Its only putting out voltage on 1 of the phases apparently. (I'm an electrical dummy. I can change a light bulb but that's about it.)

    Any suggestions for what I should check and how I should go about checking it? Please make the answers as simple as possible.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    5th February 2008 - 13:07
    Bike
    2006 Hyosung GT650R
    Location
    BOP
    Posts
    7,141
    If he knows his stuff, it is quite likely he's right, but I'd be surprised to see it blow only headlamp bulbs (and nothing else) running on one phase. In fact, if it was a three phase floating system I'd say that was impossible.


    Steve
    "I am a licenced motorcycle instructor, I agree with dangerousbastard, no point in repeating what he said."
    "read what Steve says. He's right."
    "What Steve said pretty much summed it up."
    "I did axactly as you said and it worked...!!"
    "Wow, Great advise there DB."
    WTB: Hyosung bikes or going or not.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    11th May 2006 - 17:01
    Bike
    88 GL145, 81 cm400 custom, 03 KLR650a
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    553
    Quote Originally Posted by DangerousBastard View Post
    If he knows his stuff, it is quite likely he's right, but I'd be surprised to see it blow only headlamp bulbs (and nothing else) running on one phase. In fact, if it was a three phase floating system I'd say that was impossible.


    Steve
    I watched him test it and he did test 3 wires so I'd assume it is a 3 phase system. This must mean I have a separate problem thats causing the bulb to blow right?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    3rd March 2008 - 11:55
    Bike
    ST2 NZ250
    Location
    The evil flatlands
    Posts
    2,316
    What bike is this on? A wiring diagram would be useful to narrow down what it might be.
    Riding cheap crappy old bikes badly since 1987

    Tagorama maps: Transalpers map first 100 tags..................Map of tags 101-200......................Latest map, tag # 201-->

  5. #5
    Join Date
    20th November 2006 - 18:38
    Bike
    '87 GSX750SF Katana, 08 Cagiva Raptor
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    1,062
    Good luck finding a manual for this bike. Its like the bike doesnt exist online.

    2 of the phases short to earth and one seems fine as its putting out about 55v. The battery voltage doesnt increase when the bike is rev'ed so Im guessing that the stator coil is fucked.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    5th February 2008 - 13:07
    Bike
    2006 Hyosung GT650R
    Location
    BOP
    Posts
    7,141
    Quote Originally Posted by Spuds1234 View Post
    2 of the phases short to earth and one seems fine as its putting out about 55v. The battery voltage doesnt increase when the bike is rev'ed so Im guessing that the stator coil is fucked.
    Rewind time - it's not expensive.

    That shouldn't make the bike blow headlamp bulbs though.

    Steve
    "I am a licenced motorcycle instructor, I agree with dangerousbastard, no point in repeating what he said."
    "read what Steve says. He's right."
    "What Steve said pretty much summed it up."
    "I did axactly as you said and it worked...!!"
    "Wow, Great advise there DB."
    WTB: Hyosung bikes or going or not.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    20th November 2006 - 18:38
    Bike
    '87 GSX750SF Katana, 08 Cagiva Raptor
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    1,062
    The bulb holder for the head lamp was dodgy so thats been fixed now and should be sweet.

    Im still trying to get him to go over the bike's electrics with a fine tooth comb and check all the connections and make sure they are clean and there are no shorts or broken wires.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    11th June 2006 - 15:52
    Bike
    Suzuki GSX1250FA, TGB 50cc moped
    Location
    Horowhenua
    Posts
    1,879
    Quote Originally Posted by DangerousBastard View Post
    Rewind time - it's not expensive.

    That shouldn't make the bike blow headlamp bulbs though.

    Steve
    I had an xj650 that used to blow headlight bulbs at high rpm. It usually waited until I was passing a truck in the dark.

    It was caused by a vibration from the front mudguard. I could actually feel it "buzz" at some revs. I chopped 2" off the front and back of the mudguard and problem solved.

    Of course, at the time I was an electrical apprentice. I therefore fucked around for ages trying to find an electrical fault that wasnt there. Even though I could feel the buzz, I was determined to fix the electrics electrically.
    David must play fair with the other kids, even the idiots.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    11th May 2006 - 17:01
    Bike
    88 GL145, 81 cm400 custom, 03 KLR650a
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    553
    Quote Originally Posted by davereid View Post
    I had an xj650 that used to blow headlight bulbs at high rpm. It usually waited until I was passing a truck in the dark.

    It was caused by a vibration from the front mudguard. I could actually feel it "buzz" at some revs. I chopped 2" off the front and back of the mudguard and problem solved.

    Of course, at the time I was an electrical apprentice. I therefore fucked around for ages trying to find an electrical fault that wasnt there. Even though I could feel the buzz, I was determined to fix the electrics electrically.
    My front mud guard does have a bit of a rattle. Its got a crack in it which wouldn't be helping. Gonna go over the wiring loom when I get a chance. will start chopping parts off as a last resort.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    14th April 2007 - 07:47
    Bike
    1997 Moto Guzzi California
    Location
    Huntly
    Posts
    349
    Quote Originally Posted by Spuds1234 View Post
    The bulb holder for the head lamp was dodgy so thats been fixed now and should be sweet.

    Im still trying to get him to go over the bike's electrics with a fine tooth comb and check all the connections and make sure they are clean and there are no shorts or broken wires.
    I had a similar problem with my California blowing headlight circuit fuses randomly. I pulled the headlight apart and found a metal clip floating around inside which must have vibrated / bounced up across the spade terminals every now and then causing a short. Problem seems to have gone now.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    11th June 2006 - 15:52
    Bike
    Suzuki GSX1250FA, TGB 50cc moped
    Location
    Horowhenua
    Posts
    1,879
    Quote Originally Posted by MotoKuzzi View Post
    I pulled the headlight apart and found a metal clip floating around inside which must have vibrated / bounced up across the spade terminals every now and then causing a short..
    Thats a normal factory option on Italian Bikes, the random short circuit.

    Mind you, my BMW has one of those lurking, I just haven't been able to find it. I'm glad its my bike not a customers, I have spent many miserable moments stopped on the side of the road after "fixing" it !
    David must play fair with the other kids, even the idiots.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •