[mktsc]

I didn't even get to enjoy my bike for a day before the taillight burnt out. The bulb's rusted in, and the lens is cracked, so I decided to pick up a new one. I stopped by the local trucker store and picked up two plain round universal tail/stop lights. One with 2 wires, and one with 3. I can't get either one to work. I'm looking at 3 wires on the bike. One solid green, one green with yellow stripe, and one brown(ish). I'm guessing one is ground, one is the marker light function and the other is for brake light.

How can I hook up these lights to work? The two wire looks PERFECT, but I can't get either one to light up.

HELP?

-MK

 

[66Sprint]

Green is the ground.....
Green/yellow is the brake light....
Brown is the running (tail) light

 

[mktsc]

**** that was quick steve!

I hooked it up that way, and it still won't light up. Is there a certain type of bulb I need to run, or sould any old light work??

What could I be doing wrong? All of the fuses are still good.

-MK

 

[jayel]

What could I be doing wrong? All of the fuses are still good...-MK

don't think those fuses are still good just by looking at them fuses lie check them with a meter

 

[66Sprint]

Is the headlight on? ...Key on?.... The 360's might need to be running, although I believe not.... Could be "under the fender..... Check by jumping the brown to B+, then the Green/yellow to B+ (with ground hooked to frame) if works, problem in wires... if not problem in socket or elsewhere....Are you sure the bulb in the new light is good?.... Any two of it's three wires across the battery should light something

 

[mktsc]

Both lights work when I touch the wires to the battery. Fuses are good.

The light normally comes on when the key is in the "ON" position. The bulb burned out by "contact" yesterday when I accidentally hit it while in the garage. I'm wondering if I didn't do more than kill the bulb/crack the lens...

Guess I'll run new wires in the morning and see if that does it...

 

[mktsc]

I'm looking at the wiring schematic, and I'm having trouble tracing the destination of the wires that lead to the taillight. I mean the ground is obvious, and I understand that one wire goes to the switch activated by the foot brake. I'm wondering if I didn't bump something when I put the tank back on yesterday.

Are there any wires that run up the spine of the frame that I could've accidentally disconnected that could cause the taillight to not function at all?

-MK

 

[66Sprint]

Yep...The 360 has a junction cluster (mostly from the handlebar switching) with the main loom right under the tank if I remember correctly....

 

[leethal]

Yep...The 360 has a junction cluster (mostly from the handlebar switching) with the main loom right under the tank if I remember correctly....

Yep, get yer tank off and check those connections. I've been making use of a $2 continuity test light, may work out cheaper that new wires/bullet connectors if you had one...

 

[mktsc]

Got it. I had my headlight off, so the light didnt light up until the bike is running. However it looks like crap, so I'll be spending today mocking up a mount out of cardboard so I can bend it up tomorrow at work out of sheetmetal. I couldn't resist though, so I duct taped that bitch on there and went for a spin. I can't believe how well the bike runs now...

Is there any way to ground the 2 wire light I have and make it work? It looks much better than the 3 wire one I have.

 

[66Sprint]

IF it has/holds a two-filament bulb, you can just ground the housing....More likely though, it has a single filament bulb and one of the two wires IS the ground....Got a pic?

 

[mktsc]

It's a double filament bulb meant for brake/turn signal. I fabbed a mount for the 3 wire one. In the meantime I might work on something a little more permanent/stylish for the smaller 2 wire light.

 

[cyrusdavirus]

Did you fix the problem after all? I am working on mine now and will soon run into the same problem. I am not bright when it comes to electronics and I am wondering why my 1973 Honda CL350 front turn signal has one wire and the rear have two? I bought some aftermarkets similar to yours and they both have two wires. I am thinking I will have to find a spot to ground the front turn signals.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

The front signals have a grounded mounting collar that they thread into I do believe.. Inside of the headlight shell..

GB :mrgreen:

 

[KERRY]

When you're trying to solve circuit problems, like with the lights, don't make the automatic assumption that the ground IS a ground. Connect your test light to the battery hot side and probe the socket shell to be sure there's a ground for the bulb.

 

[R_O_M173]

On the Honda CL 350, the collar is the ground, for the front blinkers. I tried to test mine without being grounded and they wouldn't blink. Duh, rookie mistake. On the taillight I am facing the same prob. Three wire hook up with a two wire light. I thought I would get another wire to ground the bulb housing to the frame, under the seat. Hope it works. Well see.......

 

[tbpmusic]

. I thought I would get another wire to ground the bulb housing to the frame, under the seat. Hope it works. Well see.......

There's usually a spare female green connector under the seat somewhere......