Headlamp Wiring

In the process of completing a headlanp shell swap from hirider 5 3/4" to roadster 7". All connections were straightfoward match ups or needed a schematic confirmation except for one.

There is a smaller diameter black conduit carrying two wires from harness into shell. One wire is white connects to another white via bullet in shell. Second wire is sort of a reddish brown, no tracer as seen in picture below. There is an unoccupied connector on a properly brown wire (not visible in picture ) continuing into another black conduit with the previous white line. Does the reddish brown go into the brown connector?
Cannot see a brown or reddish brown in schematic other than brake light (brown).
Will whip out the test lamp before committing but thought the forum may known.

Usually red is ground. So it might go to the shell.

napanorton said:

Usually red is ground. So it might go to the shell.

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That crossed my mind but the colour isnt a good match to the other reds in the shell. Nor a good match to the brown in that conduit with single bullet connector. Hence my hesitation.

I think those two wires are for the front brake light switch.

Scout63 said:

I think those two wires are for the front brake light switch.

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I agree - on my 74, there is a two wire mini-harness that goes from the (front) brake light switch into the headlight shell. it's covered with a black electrical type tubing or conduit. you may be mistaking brown for reddish-brown. best thing to do is throw a multi-meter for a continunity check.

joe czech said:

I agree - on my 74, there is a two wire mini-harness that goes from the (front) brake light switch into the headlight shell. it's covered with a black electrical type tubing or conduit. you may be mistaking brown for reddish-brown. best thing to do is throw a multi-meter for a continunity check.

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Yes thats my best guess until I can test it. Suppose the wire colour may have altered to reddish brown over the ages.

With everything turned off, a red wire will test as ground with an ohmmeter. Should be easy to tell.

OK, it checks out to be the front brake switch line. All good after connecting to the proper brown line. Headlight/pilot light and high beam (plus its warning lamp) all working correctly. Now I just need to figure out why not getting turn signal lights. I understand the turns need to ground through the lamp casing. The red positive line to the shell casing rivetted fixing point seems ok, though the rivet allows the fixing to swivel a bit, should be enough for grounding though. Had this happen two yrs back when the battery was too low. It's close to +2 Cel. today and I've had the battery on a trickle charger overnight.

90% of electrical problems are due to poor grounds. Check that loose rivet!

Slick

Welp figured out why winkers weren't winking. I hadn't opened the AntiWetSump valve and thus ignition circuit was defeated. The flashers get power off that same circuit from ignition switch. Headlight and brake light use a separate feed. All good, nothing to see here!