Tech Talk > The Garage

No head light

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Gumbo:
Blew the bulb while trouble shooting!
All is well in VTX land!

paffap:
Its nice to get your bulb blown.

Gumbo:

--- Quote from: paffap on September 25, 2017, 11:28:08 AM ---Its nice to get your bulb blown.

--- End quote ---

Getting your bulb blown ever so often aint so bad :D

bluestreak:
I know my response is three years late....................but this info is good for future trouble shooting.


If you determined your bulb was the actual issue .............That's good you found the problem.
I have also seen the headlight stay OFF immediatly after a normal startup event.

The headlight should go out during cranking when you attempt to start the bike.  This is a normal occurance.  It should come back on after you release the start button.  If not............The following may be happening.

The starter switch on the handlebar is a two pole device.
One of the two poles of the switch controls the headlight circuit ..........the other controls the starter motor.  During a START event.......... When you push the start button...........Honda disconnects the headlight so the starter gets full current to crank the engine when you push the START button.
If the contacts that control the headlight stick in the OFF position (when you pushed the start button)..................The headlight will remain OFF even though you released the button.........the starter has stopped spinning........the engine has started....... and it is running fine.  Everything will be fine and you can still ride the bike, even though the headlight is not ON.

If this happens after the bike has started....... Gently bang on the right handlebar control housing with something hard to shock the housing in an attempt the release the HEADLIGHT electrical contacts........... but not hard enough break the housing....(duhhhhh!).  That housing contains the START/HEADLIGHT contacts button ..........and that might release the electrical contacts which will cause the headlight contacts to release and to light up again.  If it stays stuck in the OFF position and will not release by it self after a START event and you release the button.................You'll need to pull it apart and manually un-stick the switch contact points (pry them apart) and re-dress them with a point file or fine sand paper so they will not stick again or just replace that entire switch assembly which will be costly.
The button may be dragging in the housing or the button spring may be collapsed and too weak from old age.  Expand the spring a little to put more pressure on the button to make sure it releases cleanly when you get your thumb off the button.

This issue could also be caused due to running a very high wattage headlight bulb.  The high wattage draw will cause a larger than normal arc at the switch contact points every time you start the bike. Exceeding the switch amp rating from using a high wattage bulb can eventually cause the points to melt and stick.

xcaliber:
a little late but always good to know. Welcome back.

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