Dimming lights

brasco18 · Posted: April 30, 2008, 2:34 pm Post subject: Dimming lights

While holding a steady speed, my headlight will change intensities. It seems to be an amber light when it will suddenly brighten up. What could be causing this?

Retiredgentleman · Posted: April 30, 2008, 7:00 pm Post subject: Re: Dimming lights

Check the headlight connector itself for corrosion/green coloured stuff...........needs to be bright and shiny. If you have a headlight fuse, check that also. If you rev your engine does the voltage increase to 14.5 volts and remain constant? Might need to adjust the voltage regulator relay under the left side cover.
If the age of the headlight is unknown and it looks old, it probably is old and is starting to fail. Replace it with a Halogen H6024 60/40 Watt.............Walmart, cost $16.77 here in Canada.

brasco18 · Posted: April 30, 2008, 7:27 pm Post subject: Re: Dimming lights

Thanks for the input.
There are some issues with the wiring. But why would that cause it to dim? If the connection was bad, wouldn't it blink on and off? I don't know about the voltage regulator. I recently adjusted it, increasing the output, but it was really hard to test. I test it by starting it up, then disconnecting the red wire from the fuse on the right side, connect positive lead from voltmeter to it, connect negative lead to ground, and rev engine to 2500 rpms. Is this the way to do it? I only seem to get about five seconds before the battery dies on me. I know the battery is low. It does need a charging. Also, my voltmeter has an aligator clip on one lead and a point on the other, making it tricky. I think I need to simplify my setup.

Retiredgentleman · Posted: April 30, 2008, 7:37 pm Post subject: Re: Dimming lights

brasco18; If your battery is low, remove it from the bike and charge it on the bench so that you know you're starting with a healthy battery. Get yourself some better leads for your voltmeter...........I have leads that can add and remove aligator clips as required. To test the voltage regulator, you simply put your voltmeter across the battery terminals (no need to disconnect wires)...........start engine...........measure voltage at idle and then rev to 2500 and read voltage again. 13.5 at idle..............14.5 at 2500 RPM.

jayel · Posted: April 30, 2008, 8:43 pm Post subject: Re: Dimming lights

you don't need to pull that wire off the fuse just go acrossed the battery +and - with your voltmeter, the headlight dimming and brightening is probably your regulator cutting in and out, as to why.......good question

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