Headlight inop

If you headlight goes out will it kill your bike?
XJ700X

Current issue-Bike was running while I was doing a carb sync. then I shut it off to view a video to double check that I was doing it right and now it won't start.

By this I mean the turn signal light come on and the taillight BUT NO HEADLIGHT, No Neutral green either and when I go to push the start button nothing at all.

 

front turn lights come on but no flashy flashy. Brake lights inop as well.
headlight works when I pulled it out and ran two wires to the battery
I'll say it right now I am not very good with electrical!!!!
I even did the wiggle the wires to see if something would happen and no.

I don't think that having the fuel switch connected would affect it ?
Some guidance would be great

 

Ignition switch contacts? Or a fuse

 

I've checked the fuses actually checked the battery then the fuses.
Not sure looks like I gonna crash course in electrical wiring.
It the electrical fairy has to be somewhere either the ignition switch or behind the headlight I believe. As it is odd that the front running lights and the rear tail light come on but nothing else.
I was thinking that it may be the safety switch on the kickstand but I would think that only cut outs the ignition system not the lights.

 

while you working this out, put a charger on it. you don't need a low battery too.
go back to the last place you were, under the tank, wiggle wires and re-plug plugs

 

great idea on both counts this is what makes this site so great-
Lots of information gathered by veteran XJ owners who have had the same problem and were able to resolve the issue.
Plus everybody shares!!

 

Did you happen to kick the bike into gear? And does the headlight come on after the bike starts? Can't remember if it has the relay of earlier models.

 

There is no headlight relay on the X.

 

the starter button controls the head light take the right control off and clean the contacts on the starter button with electrical contact cleaner spray and put some dielecrtic grease on it

if your clutch safety switch is working try starting in gear with clutch pulled in.

you may have a bad neutral switch or disconnected wire, bad bulb

 

follow the wires back from the right control to its connector the connector is probally loose it supplies voltage to the run/kill switch and then back to starter relay it is/should be under the gas tank . did you accidently hit the run/kill switch shutting it off?

it is hard to tell with the fsm for the x

 

No the bike is not starting or even turning over, the headlight nor any of the little lights in the cluster come on either.
I checked to make sure that the bike is not in gear. I even put it into gear and back out again and spun the rear tire to verify.\
All fuses are good.

 

Have you got power at red wire to ignition switch? Start there

 

if tail light comes on you have voltage from main fuse feed through key to tail lights.

the brown wire from key feeds all the fuses except main fuse


Neutral light gets its power from signal fuse directly and goes to ground by way of neutral switch. check fuse for voltage if present , check bulb and test neutral switch.
headlight and cluster lights voltage supplied by head light fuse through the right control check head light fuse for voltage.

starter safety relay is supplied voltage from ignition fuse check voltage.

 

okay here is a picture of m y ignition switch.

 

Checked every connection and cleaned applied dielectric grease. Been using test light to see where I have power and were I do not.
Currently I have power to the ignition switch.
None to the fuses. All fuses are good and newly replaced to make sure and ohm tested.

 

do you have a photo of the disc that the wires are attached to in the base of the switch?
the brown wire in the 3 prong connector sends voltage to the other fuses
the blue wire sends voltage to tail lights.

if you can hook a jumper wire to the red wire prong from + on battery on ignition switch then connect 1 end of test light to battery- ground the other end to brown wire
turn on key see if you have voltage if you do switch is good if not check wires to see if they are soldered in place.

this link will help
Clean and lube the ignition switch

the next step would be testing connector on harness that the ignition switch hooks to you would be looking for continuity from the brown wire back to the fuses if you do not have a meter it would be best to use a fuse on the jumper wires to make this connection
clean copper spots with eraser. take out screw and wire retaining clip and look at solder joints

 

thank you so much cause I put it back together incorrectly. I will do this tomorrow night after work.
Summer term started so I get to do homework first then bike. One must have their priorities in the correct order.

I have actually seen that place before I just could not remember where.

 

Walla listen to what others recommend and the maxim is alive its alive and now in need of a headlight readjustment LOL
Switch was dirty and corroded. Cleaned, plugged everything back in and the lights come on all of them.
She even turns over YEAH!\
Complete reassembly time!

 

in chacals web site www.xj4ever.com there are a lot of how to pdfs to help with things. always worth a look

 

Just took her for ride. One thing I forgot to mention is that I lubed the throttle cable and handle, probably the first time since it was new in 1986 and what a difference!! Talk about being able to roll on the throttle!!
Prior to this it felt as though I actually had to use some effort to throttle up and now I have to be careful of how much twist, I twist.
I am sure that I will make adjustments accordingly in the next two days.

 

Am I correct in assuming that is French for "voila"?

 

Native American for many waters. That's probably not what he meant though.

 

Hmm. Walla Walla Washington must have many many waters.

 

. . . Or a stutter

 

...Or it's the diminutive form of a tribal name.

 

Lube throttle cable - good. Lube handle - not good.
The hard plastic throttle is meant to slide against the bare metal of the handle bar, no lube required. Adding lube adds resistance to throttle snapping closed. This becomes more pronounced when dirt gets in there or you ride when it's cold outside. I suggest you clean this as it is now a safety issue.

 

It has been a few days now with the lubricated throttle and here is what I have noticed.

I have to be careful in the corners as now any pressure or twist initiates more throttle. First couple of times scared the crap out of me!! The idea to throttle through the corner is the objective. Ideally throttle enough to seat the tire to the road smoothly. I kinda had the jerky motion cause I immediately left off the throttle which is one of the DO NOTS to be a safe rider as it made the bike sit straight up. Fortunately I wasn't hard into a corner just cruising through.

On a positive note when done correctly I feel much more confidant when entering and exiting corners. I just went back to my practice road were it is newly paved with banked turns. This allows me to practice and like all ways riding within my limit or skill level.

Indeed after reading about the hard plastic throttle not needing any lube I will be cleaning that off tomorrow morning. This is why-SAFETY- also due to the throttle has developed a hang up on closing the carbs when I left off.

Again gentlemen thank you for educational tips not only with motorcycling but with my word usage.