Headlight

[Zod]

So last night I noticed that the headlight on the bike isn't working as good as it used to. Whilst riding from Pontarddulais to Gorseinon I noticed that just after I had passed the bridge that my headlight was either off or had died completely. Turned on main beam and turned it off again which got the headlight working for another 2-3 minutes, while passing the road to Pontarddulais garden center it had gone off once again or had just dimmed.

After turning the main beam on and off again, I eventually found a safe place to stop which is a bit further on up the road.

I stopped, got off and left the bike running and went in front of the light. Then turned the bike off and back on again, and waited about 5 minutes before the headlight went off completely.

Now, for it to be working after turning main beam on and off I wouldn't think its the bulb itself...

But, this is why I'm posting this here now.

So, could it be the bulb or the battery?

EDIT: Or could it be a loose connection somewhere?

[megawatt]

Could be a broken filament or loose connection. Have a look at the lamp, but don't touch the glass. Also look for signs of burning or overheating. Could be the HiLo switch.

[Mrbarry]

Most likely a faulty relay or a corroded connection. It's a easy fix but I'd your not used to working on electrical systems it could be a faff about.

[Mrbarry]

Or as said the switch, haha. Some bikes don't use relays they switch on load with the switch

[priest]

well did it go off gradually or instantly?

your last test was on a steady bike, you did not touch anything, you just watched and waited for it to go off, right? if it is a connection issue then i would expect the light to come on and off intermittently while riding. so far seems like a bulb, but that's just a guess. how old is your bike, your battery and mileage?

[Mrbarry]

If its a bad connection it will get hot as its on and get high resistance causing the light to dull. It's a vicious circle too.

[Chrissb6]

It sounds to me that you have a high resistive connection on your lighting circuit which needs to be sorted sooner rather than later. Could be the switch, a connection check you earths or maybe even section of corroded wire in the loom. With a voltmeter switch the light on and check the voltage across the terminal to the lamp. Should be as near as dam 12volts if not work your way back through the +and - of the circuits until you get the correct voltage. PS l don’t think it will be the lamp as normally they just blow, but by all means check it also check the connectors on the lamp. Hope this helps

[Mrbarry]

Technically should be 14.7 with engine running. But expect more like 14 if all is well.

[Tango]

I'm with megawatt here, start with simple stuff like new bulb, then look elsewhere if that don't work. KISS!

[Zod]

Yeah a loose connection was one of my first thoughts before I thought about the bulb and battery.

Will take a look at it now and see where the fault is. Luckily enough my brother has a spare bulb for it somewhere so will look for that now before I look at the thing.

But the bike isn't all that old, it's an 08 plate. Mileage is somewhere between 70000 - 75000 (Not entirely certain on the exact mileage), when I had bought the bike the mileage on it was around say 14000...And that was back in April or May

Since then it has been well looked after.

But anyway yeah will take a look at it now

[mattycoops43]

60k miles since May?

[davefly76]

60k miles since May?

 

lol I'm guessing there is a extra 0 at the end of those figures..

[Zod]

60k miles since May?

 

My bad, i read the thing wrong. The mileage is actually near enough to 8000.

So I took the whole headlamp unit off and done some tests with the wires and those were fine, took a look at the connections and those were fine and then took a look at the bulb, couldn't see anything wrong with the bulb but replaced it anyway. Went out on it last night with no problems so.

All is fine now