Canterbury Wednesday Night Ride

[Georged]

Crap, is it wednesday already. Was going to go for a ride this week.

I have a question for Peeteey re bass playing - would you like to email me at george.drayton@xtra.co.nz so that i can ask a question or two....tks gd P.S does anyone have his email address they could send to me?

[Buyasta]

Blown headlight bulb would be my guess.

It appears to have been a loose connection in the nest of wiring above the headlight - after poking around while doing some other stuff I noticed it'd started working again, and while I had a go at trying to find where the issue was by prodding and pulling various bits of wiring, I couldn't get it to stop working again.
Ah well, it works now, and if it ever crops up again I know roughly where to look, if it does it again I'll do a more thorough job of going through the wiring.

[Spuds1234]

It appears to have been a loose connection in the nest of wiring above the headlight - after poking around while doing some other stuff I noticed it'd started working again, and while I had a go at trying to find where the issue was by prodding and pulling various bits of wiring, I couldn't get it to stop working again.
Ah well, it works now, and if it ever crops up again I know roughly where to look, if it does it again I'll do a more thorough job of going through the wiring.

If you ever get the time and the inclination might pay to replace that part of the wiring. It would suck to loose your headlight suddenly going into a bend at night just because you twisted the bars just the right way...

[Gareth123]

If you ever get the time and the inclination might pay to replace that part of the wiring. It would suck to loose your headlight suddenly going into a bend at night just because you twisted the bars just the right way...

This man (although it kills me to say it) speaks the truth. It does suck to lose your headlight halfway round a bend at night. I have never pulled up a bike as quickly as I did that time on the way to Nelson!

[willytheekid]

This man (although it kills me to say it) speaks the truth. It does suck to lose your headlight halfway round a bend at night. I have never pulled up a bike as quickly as I did that time on the way to Nelson!

Completely normal for old Trumpys

I had a 71 trident that used to blow EVERY bulb at once for no apparent reason...heaps of fun at night...POOF!...no lights...no dash..and no clean undies! (And it was the model with conical hubs!...you get to use the brakes 3 times...and ONLY 3 times before they over heat lol)

And +1...fix it!...sparky problems are buggers to find...but much easier to do so in the garage...than on the side of the road!

[Buyasta]

If you ever get the time and the inclination might pay to replace that part of the wiring. It would suck to loose your headlight suddenly going into a bend at night just because you twisted the bars just the right way...

This man (although it kills me to say it) speaks the truth. It does suck to lose your headlight halfway round a bend at night. I have never pulled up a bike as quickly as I did that time on the way to Nelson!

And +1...fix it!...sparky problems are buggers to find...but much easier to do so in the garage...than on the side of the road!

Hmmn, these are some good points, I'll have another poke around. I'm hoping the issue is a loose connection where the headlight wires connect to the headlight plug, in which case it'll just need a quick resolder, because if it's in the big run of wiring running back to the rest of the electrics beneath the seat it'll be a freaking nightmare to find and fix.

[Spuds1234]

Hmmn, these are some good points, I'll have another poke around. I'm hoping the issue is a loose connection where the headlight wires connect to the headlight plug, in which case it'll just need a quick resolder, because if it's in the big run of wiring running back to the rest of the electrics beneath the seat it'll be a freaking nightmare to find and fix.

If its just a big run of wire, just replace the whole lot.

Way easier than trying to find the break in the wire.

[Buyasta]

If its just a big run of wire, just replace the whole lot.

Way easier than trying to find the break in the wire.

When I say a run of wire I mean pretty much every wire in the entire damn bike, probably a good 20m or so worth.

Turns out the problem was in fact at the socket though - the wire had snapped inside it's insulation at the point it crimps into the h4 socket, so depending which direction it was being pushed or pulled it wasn't making a connection.
Unfortunately to fix it properly I need a new H4 female socket, and those don't appear to be so easy to find - I can't find anywhere in NZ that has them listed online.
In the meantime I can just solder the wire onto the old crimp connector and jam it back in, but it looks like I might have to order a plug from the states if I want to fix it properly.

[Subike]

Unfortunately to fix it properly I need a new H4 female socket, and those don't appear to be so easy to find - I can't find anywhere in NZ that has them listed online.
ly.

Canterbury Auto Electrical service LTD 159/161 Waterloo road Hornby, go there and for about $6 you can get a new plug with connectors, You can also get plug sets, in 2/3/4/5/6/7/8/ wire plugs, male with female set, which are great for repairing looms.
A point, soldered joints are NOT as long lasting as crimped joints. A soldered joint will flex and break in the vibrational environment of a bike, Always use crimped joints for repairs, other wise you will get the ""Lucas Lord of Darkness"" gremlin invade your electrics.

[Buyasta]

Canterbury Auto Electrical service LTD 159/161 Waterloo road Hornby, go there and for about $6 you can get a new plug with connectors, You can also get plug sets, in 2/3/4/5/6/7/8/ wire plugs, male with female set, which are great for repairing looms.
A point, soldered joints are NOT as long lasting as crimped joints. A soldered joint will flex and break in the vibrational environment of a bike, Always use crimped joints for repairs, other wise you will get the ""Lucas Lord of Darkness"" gremlin invade your electrics.

Awesome, thanks for that, I'll pay them a visit tomorrow.
I decided that since it'd replace the plug anyway, I'd chuck a headlight relay kit in, and I was going to solder the wire onto the old connector until that arrives, but for a few bucks for a new connector, I may as well do it properly even in the short term.
I realize soldered connections won't hold up as well as crimped ones in a vibration-heavy environment, it just would've been for a temporary connection.
I've been getting some good use out of some posi-lock and posi-twist connectors I grabbed a week or so back out of curiosity, they're so much easier than crimping, and you can just undo and redo them if you need to make changes.

[KiwiPhoenix]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...3-2013-Peeteey

Hey guys, check this out!!

[Buyasta]

Cheers for the tip Subike, that place is awesome. I picked up the H4 socket for $4.60, and a quick clip, strip and posi-lock later, my headlight issue is all sorted.

[Peeteey]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...3-2013-Peeteey

Hey guys, check this out!!

Ha ha, thanks chick, the marketing world is missing out not having you.

[Peeteey]

Completely normal for old Trumpys

Speaking of completely normal, where are we slightly not-so-normal people going this week?

Willy, when you joining us again bro, miss you!

[willytheekid]

Speaking of completely normal, where are we slightly not-so-normal people going this week?

Willy, when you joining us again bro, miss you!

Gidday Peeteey

I just can't seem to find the time sorry mate (2 kids and a retarded dog to look after an all that...and they also cost so much to run! lol)

I did try to catch up with ya a few weeks backs...was just too fine a day, so I had to keep riding past work lol, ended up out your way (eventually), gave you a call...but your better half said you was..."working!?!"

...but I promise, I will make some form of an effort soon to catch up with everyone...and then go for a ride!
(Just as long as Gloplg promisies not to doze off and have another "road nap" on a bridge...he's such a trend setter!{word has it...he invented planking!!...honest!)



Have great ride tonight everyone (truly wish I was there )