Triumphrat

fominoz

My 1982 T140ES is giving me problems with the taillight, i.e. blowing the bulb all the time...
Not sure if this is something the PO experienced as well, but noted one night that both the tail and stoplight (combo bulb) were gone - the bulb literally exploded, all the glass shreds in the case.
thought this was a strange one-off and replace the bulb (the 'normal' 5/21W) and started to look back regularly, but again the taillight was gone (the breaklight wire still worked).
replaced again - same story
then i put an 'earth' wire from the light directly to the battery, but again after some riding: tail-light gone

however this only seems to happen when riding with the headlight (H4, 35/35W) on, when riding with the pilot light on only, the taillight 'survives'

where to go from here ? thanks in advance for your ideas...!

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fom

Mecchanica

Sounds like vibration to me, if the glass breaks. Try isolating the taillight with rubber grommets or pads. Worked for me on my 68 Bonneville.

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Triumph old, Triumph new, any Triumph will do.

OzBloke

I had similar problems, and ended up putting a liitle blob of silicon bewteen the bulb and the reflector (or more precisely the bolt head in the middle of the reflector) - effectively creating a rubber buffer that holds them together. This will stop the bulb from vibrating within it's rubber mount (causing the filament to break when glowing) and smashing the glass against the bolt head or reflector.

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Per Ardua Ad Astra
(Through difficulties to the stars)

fominoz

Thanks Mecchanica and OzBloke,

funny, never crossed my mind that it could be something 'physical' like vibration - was just thinking about electrics ...

will give it a try

thanks again

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fom