Power dimming when braking

The bike is a 1980, and truth be told I've done most of the electrical myself without having much of any idea what I was doing. So this problem just started coming up recently, although I haven't touched the electrical system in a few months. When I brake my headlight/tach/speedo all dim out, and if I brake too much too quickly the whole bike dies. I'd blame it on brake lights drawing power, but my front brake lever isn't hooked up to the lights and it still happens using front brake only. Read somewhere else that it's possible the charging system isn't producing enough juice at idle? But I wouldn't know how to fix this.

Go up to the orange tech tab, down to electrical and read the charging system guide. All the info you need is there.

Sounds like worn out alternator brushes too me! Check and replace before your 1000 miles from home with no spare parts and your only hope is cleaning the contacts surface with an eraser.

dopesickness said:

I'd blame it on brake lights drawing power, but my front brake lever isn't hooked up to the lights and it still happens using front brake only. Read somewhere else that it's possible the charging system isn't producing enough juice at idle? But I wouldn't know how to fix this.

Click to expand...

Please describe further about the front brake comment above.

The charging system does not produce any, nada, electricity at idle, the battery's charge is producing all of the current necessary at idle.

Start by taking your battery to an auto parts store, they will test it for free, take it to a couple of stores to see if you get the same results. Always a good idea to do alternator tests any time you can.

Scott

Sounds like something's shifting during deceleration.
Wiring wiggle tests...

TwoManyXS1Bs said:

Sounds like something's shifting during deceleration.
Wiring wiggle tests...

Click to expand...

Yep, those can put you in the Funny Farm.

Scott

definitely sounds like a loose connection somewhere. For the record though, if you pull in the clutch and let off the throttle while rolling, without hitting either brake, do you have any symptoms?

Hi dopesickness and welcome,
like they all said, check your battery, charging system and wiring connections.
Here's a quick and dirty alternator check.
After dark works best, point your headlight at a wall and rev the engine up from idle to 3,000+rpm.
If the light gets brighter with revs, it's charging.
If it don't, it ain't.