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Replacing sealed beam headlight on XJ Maxim 550

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by camelCase, Nov 20, 2018.

  1. camelCase

    camelCase Member

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    My headlight went out sometime over the past couple days but I didn't notice it until last night when I was riding at dusk. I don't have high or low beams working. Turn-signal indicators work. Dashboard is fine. Brake-lights fine.

    I pulled out the headlight and see that it's one of those old sealed ones. I called an autoparts store and they don't have anything specifically for this bike, but can I use a universal type that works for all bikes? Do they exist?
     
  2. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    Have you applied 12v directly to the light to be sure that is where the problem lies?
    The headlight is a common size (7" round, used on all manner of motorcycles and cars for over 60 years), but if the bike isn't listed in the auto-parts store computer they won't be able to tell you that they have one (grumble, grumble, old-man complaining about kids and crappy service these days).
    If you can't find one locally (odds are that you can), then start a conversation with @chacal
     
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2018
  3. camelCase

    camelCase Member

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    The light has three "prongs" coming out of it. Should I take the leads from my bike battery and apply to 2/3 of them?
     
  4. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    one prong is ground , one prong is high beam, one prong is low beam

    hook a lead to the ground then swap between the other 2

    did you check your headlight fuse?
     
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  5. camelCase

    camelCase Member

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    Where is the headlight fuse on this bike and .. what does it look like? I've got a multimeter with me. Black wire is ground right?
    Sorry for not knowing sh*t about this stuff. Brand new to motorcycles (3 months).

    Thanks for the help though.
     
  6. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    550 maxim fuse box is under seat. open the rear chain box undo the rubber bands.

    should be a 20 amp main then headlight 10 amp
    black is ground then you have a dark green(low) and yellow (high) wires

    bike should be running to test voltage to connector flip between high and low.

    could be headlight relay
     
  7. Fuller56

    Fuller56 Well-Known Member

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    XJ550ElectricalDiagram1.1

    Here is a link to a very nice color coded, in color wiring diagram for the XJ550. It does not give you the physical location of the components but it does nicely show where they are and how they interconnect electrically.
    Good Luck, this isn't really that hard, it just takes a little persistence.
    John
     
  8. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    the diagram you listed is for a seca 550 , so there is a voltage gauge a fuel gauge to ignorealso the seca blinkers are a little different the seca has 2 turn indicators each going to ground. with the Maxim the single turn indicator grounds through the opposite blinker bulb than the ones you are turning on.

    it is the worlds greatest wiring diagram it also lists how to bypass the relays
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2018
  9. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    Edited for clarity.
     
  10. camelCase

    camelCase Member

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    Thanks everyone. Really helped a lot.
     
  11. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    Please post up the solution.
    Future readers will benefit.
     
  12. camelCase

    camelCase Member

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    Turns out all I needed was a new sealed bulb. Bought one from O'Reilly's. The filament was broken. I thought it was a wiring issue until I took it apart and didn't see anything wrong at face-value. Simple solution but I guess I always think worst-case scenario automatically.
     
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