Headlight Help?

Hey guys, I've been working to get my bike road worthy. Finally got it started and have been working to get the carbs tuned, but noticed that my headlight was not on while the bike was running. I flipped the switch to high beam and that one works... I have the wiring diagram printed out but am trying to nail down most probable places to check.

My thoughts are that it could be:
1) The switch not making proper contact
2) Issue with the relay
3) Possible wiring issue

The bike still has stock wiring, aside from me adding LED front and rear turn signals. I spliced in a diode in the front signal wires and put in an LED flasher relay to get everything flashing properly. All lights on the bike aside from the headlight function as expected.

Thoughts?

 

Bulb?

 

I agree with Simmy, the first check would be the bulb. But it helps to know which XJ you have as some activate the headlight differently. I spent quite awhile chasing an intermittant headlight issue on a new to me '83 750 Maxim to discover it routes the power thru the starter button, different than all the rest.
John

 

1980 XJ650

I did a little interweb browsing for the heck of it... Could this bike use a dual filament bulb and possibly have just the low beam burn out, but high beam still function? I honestly didn't inspect the bulb very closely when I had the front end of the bike all torn apart, a quick check looked like the filament was intact so I slapped it back in and went for it.

 

yup.

 

Very likely just the low beam burned out. Low beam is burning the majority of the time the bike is running.
John

 

I'll get my hands on a new bulb and see how it goes. Thanks everyone!

 

or a meter to check for 12 volts at connector

 

Okay, I get 12v to the low beam connector when the bike is running, out in a new bulb and it’s working now.

What I have notice while diagnosing this light issue, is that my blinkers are acting funny on me. With the key on, bike not running, they flash normal. When the bike is running they flash spastically... the blinkers are all LED, and I did wire in an LED flasher relay as well as a diode which I spliced in up front inside the headlight bucket... wondering what I should check out to diagnose this issue?

 

diode? Just 1 ? is it for the blinker indicator?
what diode did you use and if it is for the indicator should be 2 diodes for bikes with 1 indicator bulb.

higher running voltage will affect flast rate does youe flasher have an adjustment


test voltage at battery when running.

 

Sorry not a single diode, a diode kit so two diodes.

Battery sits around 12.3v at idle, when I rev the throttle it goes up to 14.7v...

I just noticed that at idle it flashes as in the video, but when I roll the throttle on they flash at the proper rate...

 

ok a metric diode kit is what the led place calls it
i would look at flasher relay it may be adjustable or you may need a different one