Is my RLU just messin with me?

Hi All...back again.....I need a little help understanding an issue I am having with the Headlight Failure Indicator......the 'white' light on the pilot box.

Since restoration, I have put about 500 miles on the bike working my way through break-in miles and adjustments. The issue I am dealing with now has to do with the white light coming on.

Both high beam and low beam seems to work fine, I changed over to a spare lamp but the white indicator still does whatever it wants. When I first start the bike it will want to be on, then it shuts off after a while only to come back on later.

Here is the page from the owners manual that says what it is indicating. "If either filament burns out, the other filament will come on and the indicator will come on"

If the filaments are fine and the white light is still coming on does it mean the RLU is bad or could it be indicating another problem that would simulate a bad filament? It sounds like many of you just remove their RLU. I am fine with ditching it but could there be more to this than just a bad RLU?

Its a 77D, new battery, Hugh's pma with rec/reg, pamco w/ e-advance, all new wiring.

Thanks. I'll save my carb tuning questions for another post...(one thing at a time).

XStretchified

quick fix:

1. remove both screws holding it down.
2. unplug.
3. throw in garbage can.



sharp bike btw!

Deadchef....

Could the white light be indicating anything else or it just lit up based on lies from the RLU? Do I have it right...the RLU turns on the light?

XStretchified

could be a bad connection or the rlu failing.

What the Chef said, "Throw it away"!

roy

......It sound like you guys really hate these things (RLU's).

XStretchified

You can't just unplug it or your headlight won't work at all. You have to jumper a couple wires, info is here .....

http://www.excess650.co.uk/tips & tricks.htm

Now you will have that white indicator light on the dash that does nothing. Turn it into a charge indicator light like the "Gen" light on your car's dash .....

http://xs650temp.proboards.com/thread/9140/charging-indicator-light

Are the white light symptoms I am experiencing considered the typical failure process for an RLU? I did see one thread about the RLU going into flames...sure don't want that either.

I'll be removing it. I think I will use the white light location for a digital voltage meter I've wanted to add. I'll look for a small one and see if I can change out the white lens....saw a thread about that here somewhere.

Thanks everybody.

XStretchified

5twins said:

You can't just unplug it or your headlight won't work at all. You have to jumper a couple wires, info is here .....

http://www.excess650.co.uk/tips & tricks.htm

Now you will have that white indicator light on the dash that does nothing. Turn it into a charge indicator light like the "Gen" light on your car's dash .....

http://xs650temp.proboards.com/thread/9140/charging-indicator-light

Click to expand...

sorry, should have been more thorough in my first post.

i like the charge indicator mod! i've been thinking how i can use that spot for some kind of volt meter but a simple 'light on or light off' is pretty clean.

I saw the threads about the Sparkbright charging monitor. I am going to install one of the 5mm Eclipse models. I've got one on order. XStretchified

deadchef said:

sorry, should have been more thorough in my first post.

i like the charge indicator mod! i've been thinking how i can use that spot for some kind of volt meter but a simple 'light on or light off' is pretty clean.

Click to expand...

Problem solved!!http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6v-12v-24v-Programmable-LED-Battery-level-voltage-monitor-meter-indicator-J-/200843083721?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item2ec32e3fc9

Or sparkbrite if you preferhttp://www.sparkbright.co.uk/sparkright-eclipse-battery-voltage-monitor.php

What does rlu stand for? What does it do, what is its function? Do I have 1 on my stock 80 special?

As for replacing that white light with something, in his hot rods my dad always wires in a small red indicator light hooked to the brakes, so he knows the brake light is working. a tiny voltmeter would be more useful tho.

RLU= Reserve Lighting Unit. I still have mine in operation, as I have a switch in line with the headlight to turn off my headlight during the day. It let's the high beam come on at a much less voltage and amperage. It helps in keeping the battery charged. FWIW, this does put a load on the RLU and it will eventually burn out.
I like Twins mod for using the lamp for a charging indicator.

Ya that little voltage indicator looks great. I wanna keep my rlu and put one of those in. Says u wire it right to pos n neg, easybenough.

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