Jimi has been real good to me since I found him for sale on the side of the road two years ago for $500 just east of Richfield Springs. He has served as my winter rat, though I keep him well-maintained.
1980 XS650G Special, essentially stock, electrical system unmolested. 6,000 miles on the odo. Some might remember him from local winter trips I've taken.
So, last week we were in the Catskill mountains and the red brake/tail fail light comes flickering on briefly during upshifts. Came to a halt, turned the bike off. Switch on, and the light comes on constant. Start the bike, the light goes off. Take off down the road, and it again flickers on briefly during upshifts. No other anomalies .
The lights all work fine.
Once we were home, I read the other postings about this same issue, so I did the following:
> Tried 2 other 1157 bulbs, and even hooked up a spare complete tail lamp assembly to the connections under the seat. No improvement.
I have read that this brake/tail fail light also serves as an alternator status indicator, so I did these diagnostics:
> Battery is good. 12.6v as it sits. Starts the bike easily, quickly.
> Load test: With volt meter connected, I started the bike: volts drop to 10.5 while the starter is engaged (WNL)
> Idling, I'm getting 12.6V
> At 3,000rpm, I've got 14.7 V
> out on the road, I'm getting 14.8 V at 3,000 and 4,000 rpm, with no voltage peculiarities as I go through the gears, nor when the red light flickers on.
Ive looked inside the headlight bucket and don't see any bad connections.
I put a temporary jumper wire from the battery ground to the taillamp ground wire to make sure I'm getting a solid ground.
So, I'm stumped at this point. Any ideas?
.
.
1980 XS650G Special, essentially stock, electrical system unmolested. 6,000 miles on the odo. Some might remember him from local winter trips I've taken.
So, last week we were in the Catskill mountains and the red brake/tail fail light comes flickering on briefly during upshifts. Came to a halt, turned the bike off. Switch on, and the light comes on constant. Start the bike, the light goes off. Take off down the road, and it again flickers on briefly during upshifts. No other anomalies .
The lights all work fine.
Once we were home, I read the other postings about this same issue, so I did the following:
> Tried 2 other 1157 bulbs, and even hooked up a spare complete tail lamp assembly to the connections under the seat. No improvement.
I have read that this brake/tail fail light also serves as an alternator status indicator, so I did these diagnostics:
> Battery is good. 12.6v as it sits. Starts the bike easily, quickly.
> Load test: With volt meter connected, I started the bike: volts drop to 10.5 while the starter is engaged (WNL)
> Idling, I'm getting 12.6V
> At 3,000rpm, I've got 14.7 V
> out on the road, I'm getting 14.8 V at 3,000 and 4,000 rpm, with no voltage peculiarities as I go through the gears, nor when the red light flickers on.
Ive looked inside the headlight bucket and don't see any bad connections.
I put a temporary jumper wire from the battery ground to the taillamp ground wire to make sure I'm getting a solid ground.
So, I'm stumped at this point. Any ideas?
.
.
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