blowing headlights

[83xlh]

I have an 83 xlh and blew 2 headlights.Unfortunatly it was at night! That sucked! I checked voltage at the battery and it is good. Would it be a regulator problem or a generator problem?

[decman]

I would check for a bad ground first.

[misterT]

try checking the voltage while you are reving it up. the charging system doesn't really put much out untill the rpms are up to about 3000. it will put out more the higher you rev it. if the regulator is bad the voltage will climb with the rpms.also if you are using a halogen bulb you cannot touch the bulb. this will cause it to blow also.the only other thing i can think of off hand is a bad connection causing arching( you should see a black spot) can cause voltage surges. hope this helps Tracy

[SLS]

...and check the condition of the wiring in the headlight bucket in general.

I had the same problem when got my ol' 1980 Ironhead. Went through 2 original sealed beam type bulbs in a row....which are not the cheapest or easiest to locate. After locating the shorting wire I replaced the headlight bulb with a modern-type H4 w/reflector unit. No issues since (crossing fingers).

The problem was that one of the wires on the headlight socket was rubbing against the metal edge of the signal flasher retainer. It wore a small spot in the wire's insulation and would short out the bulb once the bare spot eventually vibrated againt bare metal in the bucket. The act of changing the bulb would move the wire away from where it was shorting out....a real head scratcher at first....as it was hard to see....LOL!

Good luck finding the source of your gremlin! :)

[IronMick]

I had this problem on my other XL. There was water leaking into the headlite bucket during rain, and when i might have washed the bike.

[wildmike_ftw]

I had this problem on my other XL. There was water leaking into the headlite bucket during rain, and when i might have washed the bike.

you wash your bike?

[SpringerSam]

If you detect a blackened bulb, then the vacuum was lost...if the bulb lost vacuum, it was most probably caused by water touching the hot bulb and causing it to crack (and thus losing vacuum). It happens at night because your headlight is on causing heat...heat plus water will crack the bulb. I cannot believe you have an overvoltage problem (which would take time to cause problems) because other components of you electrical system seem to be operating correctly...just my thoughts!

Sam

[83xlh]

thanks all for your input. I found the problem in the headlight bucket. There was a wire with copper showing due to the insulation being worn down most likely do to vibration.

[cantolina]

you wash your bike?

He said MIGHT....:laugh:laugh:laugh:laugh

[IronMick]

you wash your bike?

He said MIGHT....:laugh:laugh:laugh:laugh

That is correct. I very intentionally said might.