lights out

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lemonjelly

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After returning from an excellent International at Baskerville Hall I noticed my front lights had stopped working I ve checked the fuses with a m meter, the relay is clicking for the flash option but not flashing the beam and the parking light comes on ok,I know this is on a Sprint so not standard,I doubt both bulbs have gone and I suppose a wire may be loose,but before I take off the fairing tank etc would the wet weather cause  shorting out  and dry out later?.I loathe electrics!

LJ
 
I know Reggie but whats the point of a forum if you cant  ask politley about any problem though.
 
Shaun
I'd start with the earth to the lamps, mine are earthed to the head stock, but the previous owner had put the wiring in. So not too sure where yours will be.
Maybe got a bit of corrosion from all that Welsh air. By the way, mines no longer a slapper.  ;) ;)
 
Lemon, after checking that the bulbs aren't burned out, check your fuses to see if they're intact. If you still have ceramic fuses, wipe off the ends by rubbing them very gently on something like the front of your jeans or similar to remove invisible corrosion which can be enough on an RG to stop the lights completely.
I had the same problem on PC's RGS, when Drikko put relays on it the lights failed completely until we cleaned the fuses. Sometimes the wires attaching to the fusebox develop similar corrosion, take the wires out and just put them straight back, tightening the screws firmly (but not too tight).
If those tips fail, then it may be a loose wire elsewhere. Our bikes are 30 or more years old, frankly it's a wonder that they work as well as they do.

Ken
 
Cheers Ken ,Allan useful stuff I ll give that a go Ken.

LJ

Good to hear Allan a reformed girl :D
 
Funny thing that Shaun..My rear light and brakelight also have stopped working...but my headlight is lovely and bright : )

Time to get the voltmeter out..I find that is the easiest way to suss out these annoying faults in rather than pulling and tugging at the wiring ; )

Had a great time at the rally too...and didn't get wet at all on the way home...lovely to meet you guys..

atb

joe
 
Joe,

If your rear light mounting rubbers have deterirated (or are starting to), your rear lamp assembly will bounce around. This can cause the connector to work it's way off. If you are lucky, then you can just re-plug it. If unlucky, the irregular feed will have blown the filaments.

Do you use a heavy duty bulbs? Recommend for a 180. For convienience with 'OK' quality, Halfords do a heavy duty stop and tail.

HTH, Hag.
 
Check for a black wire that conects direct to the neg on the battery terminal. I had exactly the same 2 wks ago on my Sprint, no mains but parking light ok and it was a bad connection.

John
 
shaun,

if ken's  or john's remedies don't sort it
and if my memory serves  ...

"production" sprints used a pair of relays
forward of the clocks on the fairing mount
one each high and low
using flash option with fingers on relay will identify which one is which

basic relay will have two circuits
first
earth with + from switch
or + with earth from switch
either way it energizes a coil (second)
connecting
12v+ in from fuse
12v+ out to lamp 

if it is clicking then power is getting to the relay coil and there must be a relay ground
else it wouldn't click ... maybe no + to relay from fuse
easy enough to check with test lamp (might be able to do this without removing fairing)

if its hot going in  and out
you have a bad earth from lamps

cheers,
scott
 
Great guys this gives me a good grounding for searching for the problem now.Much appreciated,I ll get back to you.

Many thanks
Shaun
 
Sorted extra fuse in link to battery burnt out red wire for me John,but you put me at the right end of the bike,I know its minor but when your heads been full of Wye Valley beer all weekend at the International raly well...

Thanks to all and I ve learnt how the relays work too.ta Scott

BTW where are you  and your Sprint John ?

Shaun
 
Jota981 said:
Joe,

If your rear light mounting rubbers have deterirated (or are starting to), your rear lamp assembly will bounce around. This can cause the connector to work it's way off. If you are lucky, then you can just re-plug it. If unlucky, the irregular feed will have blown the filaments.

Do you use a heavy duty bulbs? Recommend for a 180. For convienience with 'OK' quality, Halfords do a heavy duty stop and tail.

HTH, Hag.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your advice ...Especially on  the heavy duty bulbs.Didn't know there was such a thing...  I'll check it all out later and see what gives. I believe the tail lamp mounts are pretty well ok..but blimey stuff does vibrate on these 180's ! I lost a tax disc recently and my Voxbell on the way to the Baskerville Hall. Fortuitously a well positioned zip tie caught the hooter before it bounced off and into a Welsh ditch !

ta very much

joe
 
Lucky lad John,I ve been to Toronto a couple of times,flew over the CN Tower in a helicopter,but going up it in the lift was scarier! Hows the Manchester Arms in Mississuaga?

Looks good in red  btw.

Shaun

 
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