Anyone have their headlights go dim at times?
Thread Starter
Josh
Superstock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 278
From: Spokane, WA
Anyone have their headlights go dim at times?
Since i got my hawk 2 years ago my lights go from bright to dim. They default at dim, but every once in a while, they kick up and get all bright. Sometimes it is because i am ridding a bit harder, but not always. Is it simply the alternator is not sending enough juice to the lights. I really want them to go bright all the time. It is the same way when i have my brights on, they can go SUPER bright and then pretty bright. Well, if anyone has any ideas, let me know. My lights just died, well the brights just went out, so i am going to pick up a new bulb. Thanks for reading.
Also, our bikes use a H4 bulb, correct? Thanks.
Also, our bikes use a H4 bulb, correct? Thanks.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 268
From: San Diego
Generally speaking, a bike's electrical system is similar to a car's system. My guess would be either a worn alternator or shoddy electrical grounds. An alternator is not pumping anywhere near full power at idle, so expect a slightly dimmer light below 2-3k rpms. If you wanted a brighter light at all times, you can either construct a wiring harness with higher gauge wiring that draws power directly from the battery, which also allows the use of a higher wattage bulb,
OR
You could just do an HID retrofit
OR
You could just do an HID retrofit
Administrator
World Champion
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 105,287
From: Fulton, MO
Check all your connectors to the r/r and the generator. Use contact cleaner and dielectric grease. Also check the voltage at your battery. Should be about 12v at idle, 14v or so at 3000rpm. If it's higher or lower, or moving around, then replace your r/r.
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 15
From: Kingsland, GA
I agree. A R/R can do some crazy things to your lights before it goes completely bad. My lights would pulse at idle, then a while later the R/R went bad and took the battery out with it.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Back Marker
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 208
From: East Tennessee
If this is an occasional problem - difficult to reproduce when sitting in the driveway - you might want to take your DVM for a ride.
Hook up your DVM to the system (battery charger connection for example) and tie the meter to a tank bag.... Now hit the road and see if you can reproduce the dim-bright problem. If so, take close note of any system voltage changes. If the voltage looks to be constant then you obviously have a problem in a connection somewhere ... (most likely between the bulb and high-low switch)...
If the system voltage varies with your bulb brightness then replace the R-R.
Hook up your DVM to the system (battery charger connection for example) and tie the meter to a tank bag.... Now hit the road and see if you can reproduce the dim-bright problem. If so, take close note of any system voltage changes. If the voltage looks to be constant then you obviously have a problem in a connection somewhere ... (most likely between the bulb and high-low switch)...
If the system voltage varies with your bulb brightness then replace the R-R.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 151
Whould having bad grounds really make my battery die ? Just wondering because I have a new RR and a new battery yet my battery still died and most people are saying stators going are rare.........my bike was dropped but on the other side............
Thread Starter
Josh
Superstock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 278
From: Spokane, WA
I got got a new R/R for 40 bucks!
Thread Starter
Josh
Superstock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 278
From: Spokane, WA
Wow, well all you guys were totally right! I just didn't have a clue what a R/R was when you were telling me to replace it So i didn't listen until it blew up my battery. Well now my lights are bright as hell, thanks for telling me what to do, even though i didn't listen for another month I didn't know the R/R could blow up a battery because i had no clue what an R/R was
So i didn't listen until it blew up my battery. Well now my lights are bright as hell, thanks for telling me what to do, even though i didn't listen for another month I didn't know the R/R could blow up a battery because i had no clue what an R/R was
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