Headlight keeps blowing

[Hellman]

Hey Guys,

Couple of weeks ago I got some new boots for the busa (Michelins FYI) and that afternoon I blew a headlight whilst out and about.

Didn't think much of it and happened to be at Action MC closing down in Melbourne. Picked up some nice blue coloured ones for about 20 bucks. Gave one to my mate and took his OEM one as a spare for me. I threw the other blue one into my busa and it lasted about three days. I figured just might have been a shit globe. (I didn't touch the globe and no bubbling is on the glass)

Well two more OEM globes later I think something has happened. Took it back to the guys who did the tyres on the the off chance they may remeber something. As I thought they didn't which is fair enough. They helped to an extent but said we'd need to book it in.

Wondering if anyone has some tips. The globes themselves tend to blow when I am putting any load on the engine. They have blown at startup and during normal use. I have noticed on the inside of the globe spade connectors some "soot" type carbon burn marks. The high beam works fine, I have been using that as an interim measure.

The high beam has been replaced with one of the blue lights as well.

Any tips or suggestions would be worthwhile. If I can't sort it I am going to get an auto electrician to look but I don't want to spend any more bucks if I dont have too.

Chris <i></i>

[Evil]

Before you spent any money on it, just check the battery with a multimeter while the engine is running.

Hold the rpm at about 4500 and your charging rate should read between 13.5 volts to 15 volts if it is showing more I would be replacing the regulator/rectifier.

If this fails your bike is possessed and following an exorcism you should sell it immediatly to a good catholic family. Every ten seconds, somewhere on this earth,there is a woman giving birth to a child.She must be found and stopped<i></i>

[GDYUP]

Gone through 4 headlight globes in the last 12 months......

I have been using the HID blue ones too. They give a great night beam. Glad they're cheap enough?

Trouble is with the air horns jammed in the nose cone I have to remove the nose cone to replace the bloody things!!!

I just put it down to another " " item? Got a few high beams spares at the moment...

Cheers, Riding not Talking <i></i>

[Evil]

Maybe its just the make. I never knew they were so shitty ! Every ten seconds, somewhere on this earth,there is a woman giving birth to a child.She must be found and stopped<i></i>

[ih8cars]

Had the same problem Hellman,went through about 6 globes in about a 14 month period.The charge rate checked out ok,everything else seemed ok(wiring,loose connections etc etc)couldnt find a f*&^ing thing wrong with it.I just tried a couple of different makes of globe and it has stopped doing it .As gdy has said just another cheesecake item!Has been a while since ive changed it so not sure of the brand of bulb,have had a look at it and the only thing stamped on it other than the norm is osram-not sure if its a brand name though.Good luck with it ,

Cheers Dave. <i></i>

[Hellman]

Well I had to go visit a customer of mine on Saturday who just happens to be Ian Drysdale (of the Drysdale V8 motorcyle fame and the 2*2*2 dirt bike as well).

He had a look and we figured out that it wasn't the battery, it was getting around 15volts at a good rev. So thanks for the suggest there.

He also took off the arse end and had a test of the reg/rec whatever that thingy is and said there was nothing shorting to ground.

That was the extent of his knowledge on electrics and said I should basically have a look for any bodgy wiring/shorts in the front end.

Still nowhere, just a little closer to it <i></i>

[BUSGO]

Hellman,
See my recent topic on fault finding electrics for Japanese bikes.
Rgds BUSGO
<i></i>

[Hellman]

Short Answer: No
Reason: too lazy to search further than the page I am on.

I have been looking at the electrics though, looking for any loose connections, electrolytic/acid corrosion, poor earth etc

Found a few dirty plugs, one was slightly loose. Jiggled and tugged a lot of cables, that was fun, then I examined them on the bike

Also got the Osram globe as per an earlier posting....have not had a problem since. But will keep everyone informed as I am sure this is a widely viewed thread :-)

Chris <i></i>