Triumphrat

ericp · 06-13-2009, 11:24 AM

I just road from Philadelphia to Providence last night on my '95 t-bird. After dark a kind cager flagged me down to let me know that I had no rear lights. I noticed the dash lights out at my last fill up but stupidly did not check to see what else was on the circuit. I turned the flashers on and road the last two hours that way until I got here.

I am going to take off the cover and look at the fuse. Maybe it is just a simple thing like that but if the fuse is blown I'll need to determine the cause because it is likely to blow again. Does anyone know what my issue might be here? The only things I did to the bike in the past week were to put on the windscreen and install an Alaskan butpad on the saddle. Oh, and I had a small dropping incident when I tried to put the bike on the centerstand in the garage. It did not go all the way over but it did lean 45 degrees as it came to rest on the kids bikes and battery operated car (don't try to put the centerstand down when barefoot!).

Is there some type of safety thing on the bike where if something goes wrong with the tail light then the dash lights go out as well to alert the rider? I can't find anything in the owners manual that suggests that.

Any insight anyone anyone can share would be much appreciated. I dread the thought of riding 7 hours home tomorrow with flashers on the whole way.

Thanks!!

vonbonds · 06-13-2009, 12:12 PM

It certainly sounds like a fuse but to be safe grab a spare front and rear bulb from a local auto parts store along with fuses. When I did cross country riding I always had spare fuses and bulbs and one time it saved my rear when my front bulb went out in the middle of nowhere.

Best of luck to you and have a safe ride home!!!

ericp · 06-13-2009, 12:15 PM

Thanks for the response. The 10a fuse was blown so i put in the spare and everything works. I can't understand why it blew though. I'll have to start tracing wires around when I get home to figure out where the short is. I'll get some spare fuses and at least two bulbs like you suggest today. I also have to keep a tool kit with me, including a flash light. I usually just commute but you never know when somethings going to go wrong.

vonbonds · 06-13-2009, 01:20 PM

Yeah, a nicely equipped small toolkit is essential when going cross country. Damn, now I miss taking my trips

.

cafetbird · 06-13-2009, 06:23 PM

I had a crack in the instrument light housing for a few years. When it would rain, water would intrude and blow that fuse. I repaired the housing, and have not had a problem since.

Any chance you recently washed the bike, and may have gotten some high pressure spray into the area around that housing?

BigAl8295 · 06-13-2009, 07:37 PM

I had a leak in the housing that holds the bulb that illuminates the license plate. The dampness inside caused the circuit to short out.

ericp · 06-13-2009, 09:00 PM

Hmmmmm. Well I did spray it down quickly with a hose last weekend and this is my first trip out since then. The housing does seem like it should be checked. Thanks!

Muzz Bird98 · 06-13-2009, 09:25 PM

I had the rear lights all go out and it was corrosion just on the earth wire pin in the connection plug under the seat where the wires go through the rear guard. Dosn't take much. A bit of spray and movement got it fixed but once corroded the rust gets in so will replace the plug.

cheers
Murray

cafetbird · 06-15-2009, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericp

Hmmmmm. Well I did spray it down quickly with a hose last weekend and this is my first trip out since then. The housing does seem like it should be checked. Thanks!

Once it dries out, the problem usually goes away. Just keep high pressure spray away from that area...