Help! - No Lights!

MusclePump · #1 11th August 2005

On my twenty mile trip home tonight I had about half a dozen people pull up beside me and yell over that, on a motorcycle, I had no lights!!! I flicked the high/low switch a hundred times, nothing happened. When I got home, I turn it on/off, on/off and nothing happens. And as far as I know, every bike in the last decade or so has lights that turn on with the bike. And mine used to! How do I fix this???

Moker · #2 11th August 2005

check the fuses?

itsshemp · #3 11th August 2005

sound like it would just be a fuse. Hopefully so!

You will still need to figure out why it blew a fuse, if that turns out to be the problem.

Do ya have tailight, marker lights?

Y2K · #4 11th August 2005

Sounds like a warranty issue to me,take it in and say fix it!

Moved On · #5 11th August 2005

It's doubtful that you blew both the high and low beam at the same time. Usually if one blows the other is still good. Have you ever taken the bulb out? The bulb may have broken glass if you touched it and left a finger print behind or if it got some water inside.

Check the fuses first.

Then take the headlamp out and look at the connector to the bulb. It's pretty common (on higher milage) Sporties for the connector to come loose from vibration, then arc and over heat and melt. If that happened you will need to get a replacement connector from the dealer or an auto parts store. It should be under warranty. Putting some dielectric grease on the connector is a good thing to do to reduce the chances of burning out a connector.

If thats all okay, then take the bulb out and inspect it for blown filaments or broken glass.

The connector should be under warranty, but a blown/broken bulb or a blown fuse probably won't be covered, so do a little investigative work first. If you find a problem that you think should be under waranty, put it all back together and take it too the dealer. They won't warranty a burnt connector if you replace it and just take the burnt part into the shop.

Gazza

warpig · #6 11th August 2005

Does HD uses fuses now?

Mine has a self resetting circuit breaker on the headlight circuit. If it trips it automatically resets as it cools off. I had a short once when I was doing some wiring and tested it. It resets in just a few seconds cycling the light off and on.

MusclePump · #7 11th August 2005

Is it possible I did this when I took off my seat??

Moker · #8 11th August 2005

the fuse panel is located on the left side under the cover. simple as heck to check

Takingabreak · #9 11th August 2005

Did you cycle the key switch fully?
I have seen this on some bikes, they will run in the accessory position.
Take the key out, and slowly insert it and turn it so you feel both notches.

Are the lights on now?
Juggle the key, do they flicker?

Let me know MP.

MusclePump · #10 11th August 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffytune

Did you cycle the key switch fully?
I have seen this on some bikes, they will run in the accessory position.
Take the key out, and slowly insert it and turn it so you feel both notches.

Are the lights on now?
Juggle the key, do they flicker?

Let me know MP.

it was all forward, tried a dozen times to be sure. no go