Question-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...
-----Question-----
I have replaced the headlight three time in the last two weeks. All the bulbs are from the same manufacturer that the dealer provided. No sooner do I replace the bulb and take the bike down the street, less than two blocks, the bulb has blown. My room mate and I are racking our brains trying to figure it out. The only things that we have came up with are:
1. Just cheap bulbs
2. Voltage spikes from the alternator
Would just like another opinion on this and any other advice that can be offered.
Thanks in advance
David in Tampa
-----Answer-----
Hi David.
Great town, Tampa. Went to high school there.
There is a short in the headlight light circuit somewhere. Not enough to blow thee fuse, but enough to pop the headlight.
Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON
------- What I found that fixed it ---------------------
After reading your answer, searching the web and asking local mechanics that I know I was pointed in the direction of the voltage regulator. The normal voltage to headlight should be a maximum of 14 volts, mine would change according to the amount of RPM's from the engine. Once the regulator was changed from the wimpy sock one to a heavy duty version the voltage was a coconsistent3.5 volts. Due to regulator being bad it was recommended to check the alternator out put voltage. The only other problem encountered from the bad regulator was a fried battery. I hope this helps others as well.
Ride safe
David
AnswerThanks David.
I hadn't even thought of that one, since the regulators don't often go bad. The one that my 86 XV700 had was the original one that it had from original manufacture. It was still on the bike after 147,000 miles, when the motor finally gave out.
Ride safe.
FALCON
