Triumphrat

JayCee · 09-28-2005

Riding home from work in damp conditions and the headlights went out - then came back on again - then off! After tapping the relays and generally jumping around I continued the ride home trying to work out what made them come back on.... Pulling in the clutch :???:

Any ideas of where to start looking? Probably linked to the startup sequence of pulling in the clutch, pushing in the starter and headlights going off so the battery can turnover the starter.

Help!

kevm · 09-28-2005

Jaycee,

It's not something really stupid like your dipped bulb has blown and your clutch lever is flashing the headlights is it ?

On my other bike a few months ago I noticed it kept flicking to main beam intermittently and it took me a day or so to work out the clutch level was touching the headlight flasher ...

JayCee · 09-29-2005

Kevm
No, both bulbs are working on dipped and main.
When I stopped to investigate and turned the engine off and started again headlights were both on, went all of 10 yds and they were off. Doesn't affect side lights.

When I got closer to home pulling in the clutch to change down made the headlights come on. I don't think its linked to the rear brake light or decelleration.

Hoping this evening will be wet and dark early so I can investigate some more.

Diego · 09-29-2005

> Probably linked to the startup sequence of pulling in the clutch, pushing in the starter and headlights going off so the battery can turnover the starter.

Actually, I suspect it's something much less arcane.

The clutch cable, as it begins its descent toward the steering head and regions beyond, rests beside part of the wiring harness (the part that includes the headlight high/low switch, in fact). When you operate the clutch, there is a very small shifting of the cable jacket. If there's a broken wire in the cable or a bad contact in a connector, this tiny motion may be enough to re-establish good contact again for a while. Check out that portion of your wiring as a possible source of the trouble you're experiencing.

JayCee · 09-29-2005

Diego
Thanks for suggestion, I'll take a look.

No problems tonight though same road just not raining.....
Just for an experiment, I pushed the starter, which turned the headlights off and then pulled in the clutch lever - still stayed off until I released the starter.

Might try a hose pipe to simulate monsoon conditions and then try a few things.

Diego · 09-29-2005

> Just for an experiment, I pushed the starter, which turned the headlights off and then pulled in the clutch lever - still stayed off until I released the starter.

This is normal and shouldn't be related to the problem. Do let us know how your monsoon experiment works out.

djr · 09-30-2005

Quote:

Just for an experiment, I pushed the starter, which turned the headlights off and then pulled in the clutch lever - still stayed off until I released the starter.

thats what the relays with the diodes in them do. Some of us have the lights hard wired on and this stops extra draw during the start up process. Its also why its important when you do the twin light thing to make sure the relays have diodes.

As has been said though, I doubt it has any bearing on your problem.

JayCee · 10-20-2005

Just an update on progress or lack of. I stripped out the starter switch and sprayed with WD-40 and reassembled with a bit of petroleum jelly for good measure; took the tank off followed the clutch cable down and found no problems with any wiring/connectors; generally broke and made each connector and checked for loose wires and sufficient petroleum jelly/grease; and did the same for the relays.

So far no re-occurence despite being left out in the rain at work last week. Is it fixed? Don't know.....