Hey Guys,
I'm having trouble diagnosing an electrical problem that just creeped up on my shovelhead and was hoping for some insight. It started out that I blew a headlight. I replaced the headlight and it blew again. This time when I went to replace it, the plastic receptor piece in the light bucket was partially melted from too much heat. So 2 headlights down I'm thinking I got a regulator issue. Battery is putting out between 14 and 14.5 volts when running and so is the headlight so I don't think it's that. Also, I have not blown a tail light yet, it seems to be that only the headlight is the issue. So I try soldering in a new plastic receptor into the headlight thinking the last one that melted is too far damaged, maybe drawing too much heat. Ride it around the block, come back and both the headlight and tail light are pulsing, but still reading between 14 and 14.5 volts when running. I can't figure this shit out. Also, for the record, the one time the light blew I was sitting as a stop light, saw the light pulsing followed by a blue flash and it was out so I don't think its vibrations either. I really don't want to replace the regulator just to find out that wasn't it. Any insight gentlemen?
Bike is a '74 shovel in a hardtail frame. Kick only, electronic ignition. 12v battery. Running a headlight and tail light only, both are aftermarket. Bulbs have been 55 watt every time which is what i was running in there for years with no problem.
I'm having trouble diagnosing an electrical problem that just creeped up on my shovelhead and was hoping for some insight. It started out that I blew a headlight. I replaced the headlight and it blew again. This time when I went to replace it, the plastic receptor piece in the light bucket was partially melted from too much heat. So 2 headlights down I'm thinking I got a regulator issue. Battery is putting out between 14 and 14.5 volts when running and so is the headlight so I don't think it's that. Also, I have not blown a tail light yet, it seems to be that only the headlight is the issue. So I try soldering in a new plastic receptor into the headlight thinking the last one that melted is too far damaged, maybe drawing too much heat. Ride it around the block, come back and both the headlight and tail light are pulsing, but still reading between 14 and 14.5 volts when running. I can't figure this shit out. Also, for the record, the one time the light blew I was sitting as a stop light, saw the light pulsing followed by a blue flash and it was out so I don't think its vibrations either. I really don't want to replace the regulator just to find out that wasn't it. Any insight gentlemen?
Bike is a '74 shovel in a hardtail frame. Kick only, electronic ignition. 12v battery. Running a headlight and tail light only, both are aftermarket. Bulbs have been 55 watt every time which is what i was running in there for years with no problem.
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