short shorts???

[dmor1019]

No this isn't about what you MIGHT think, this is about an electrical short. Ok I need some help thinking this through, so any help will be great. I have an '82 wing with the factory fairing. Now I don't know the history of this bike so be kind to me here, it has the radio, the indicator for radio and volt meter on fairing just below windshield, has air suspension front and rear, but no on board computer. I am having trouble with the lights, I installed a JC Whitney head light modulator with a by pass switch. Everything worked fine with the wiring and headlight out of fairing, but when I push everything back in I get a very dim head light and turn signals. I have a factory manual I am using to understand the wiring, but I am thinking I have a short some where. The PO's, have many blue wire connectors on several wires which I know aren't factory. So am I thinking correctly, or am I missing something? I am ready to remove all the wiring and start over, but I don't want to re-invent the wheel. :head bang:



Thanks,

Denny :beer:

 

[dan filipi]

I think the trouble is more likely a loose connection at a hot or ground rather than a short, a short would blow a fuse.
Since it works until stuffing all the wires back, pull them out and move the connectors around til the loose one shows up as dim lighting or lights go off.
Also check the greens good, greens are ground.

 

[dmor1019]

Thanks I will give that a try tomorrow. Should one of the greens be attached to metal part of fairing some where?

 

[slabghost]

I suspect it is a weak connection or bad ground as well. Now where pray tell is the metal part of the fairing? :headscratch:

 

[dmor1019]

Well that was definitely a miss thought, however at Dan's suggestion I did check the greens for connections, I have an extra green wire coming off the headlight green where it plugs into the headlight, I took a wire and inserted into the extra green and touched it to the metal housing of the the tach and wonderful lights, so I will either find the bad ground or just run an extra from the headlight.

 

[slabghost]

BTW I love short shorts on the ladies. :smilie_happy: :Egyptian: arty: :thanks:

 

[54Greybeard]

Does that headlight modulator lessen headlight bulb life? How about the alternator with the amperage going up and down. I've heard of those for the brake lights too. In this day and age I'm all for things that make us more visible to cars. Right now I wear one of those bright green workman's vests. I felt ridiculous until I noticed that police don't give you a second look. Cool!!

 

[macka]

Does that headlight modulator lessen headlight bulb life? How about the alternator with the amperage going up and down. I've heard of those for the brake lights too. In this day and age I'm all for things that make us more visible to cars. Right now I wear one of those bright green workman's vests. I felt ridiculous until I noticed that police don't give you a second look. Cool!!

I'm no electrician, but modulating load will effect a bulb. Whether it lengthens the life or shortens it, is anybodys guess. As for the traffic vest, cops know that any 1%er wouldn't cover their colours.