Headlight takes engine fire quickly

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Craig

Craig

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last night while out on bike using self wired ( loom too) ‘72 Commando after replacing fork gaiters and center stand .... I flicked headlight on when getting close to home , it obviously was drawing all my juice so switched off and got home..... have brembo m/c on right side bar nothing except inline brake switch there and an original switch on left that I modded to run headlight and horn .... the paddle in mid position is headlight off, paddle up is high beam paddle down is low , horn is bottom button , top unused , .... I did reposition left side switch when mounting bars after gaiter install , switch may be tighter on bar than before .... any thoughts on where to start search appreciated .... newer stator and rotor with podtronics R/R ... did not have this issue previous .... tried multi- meter with bike at idle and got too much interference to read , will “R” plugs be enough to quelch the interference I have a set on bench .... digging potato’s today so won’t get to it until later , thanks for all and any informed replies !
 
Hi Craig, I guess a good place to start would be to remove the left switch cluster, start the engine and see if it still happens when you switch on the lights. To me it sounds like you have a contact touching the bars.

Cheers,

cliffa.
 
Craig said:
last night while out on bike using self wired ( loom too) ‘72 Commando after replacing fork gaiters and center stand .... I flicked headlight on when getting close to home , it obviously was drawing all my juice so switched off and got home..... have brembo m/c on right side bar nothing except inline brake switch there and an original switch on left that I modded to run headlight and horn .... the paddle in mid position is headlight off, paddle up is high beam paddle down is low , horn is bottom button , top unused , .... I did reposition left side switch when mounting bars after gaiter install , switch may be tighter on bar than before .... any thoughts on where to start search appreciated .... newer stator and rotor with podtronics R/R ... did not have this issue previous .... tried multi- meter with bike at idle and got too much interference to read , will “R” plugs be enough to quelch the interference I have a set on bench .... digging potato’s today so won’t get to it until later , thanks for all and any informed replies !
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No enough info to say much. However, you need to start by buying an inexpensive analog multimeter. Digital meters are about worthless on running old bikes. "R" plugs will stop some noise, but not enough to make a digital meter settle.

Did the headlight work? If not, then you probably have a short to ground when you turn it on. If it did work, then you may have a bad battery, PODtronics, stator, etc. If you still have the capacitor installed, start the bike remove the fuse and turn on the headlight - that can help eliminated a sulfated battery.

The best way to know what is going on is using an analog meter across the battery to determine you have a battery that is charging.
 
What Marshg246 said...it sounds like when you switch the headlamp on you are also grounding out the rest of the system.
 
Think Cliffa and Marsh suggested that .... Marsh was also giving me the good natured gears over a previous post , thanks .... yup headlight worked both positions , once home shut off bike and checked battery with multi meter it was 12.? something but had been dragged Dow last mile or so from headlight draw .... going to check switch first ....
 
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Craig said:
Think Cliffa and Marsh suggested that .... Marsh was also giving me the good natured gears over a previous post , thanks .... yup headlight worked both positions , once home shut off bike and checked battery with multi meter it was 12.? something but had been dragged Dow last mile or so from headlight draw .... going to check switch first ....
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I'm lost, don't understand what you're saying.
 
Mr. Marsh that was a Non - important comment , I apologize, thought your “ not enough info” comment was related to another thread .... however, You , Cliff and myself are correct ,one of my newer solder joints was touching bar after cluster being over tightened on re-install .... just another aggravation of getting sub-quality parts from my well known local supplier .... this is the 3rd and final set of gaiters for this Commando .. my local seller sold me first 2 pair one was economy second was supposed to be first rate , neither lasted more than 16 months , local seller offered to credit my account , no refunds , I asked them not to bother ... the quality of this pair from Andover was so easy to see and feel compared to set that was rotting off was laughable , excluding shipping ,cost was same as I had paid for second set locally which didn’t quite last 16 months , 350 miles and stored inside heated shed ..... lesson learned , eh .... thanks to all for taking time to read and respond !
 
Yes , had my new center stand and mounting kit included ...45.00 Brit.pounds for shipping , then another $43.00CAD for taxes & duty charges ... not cheap in total .... I think just about $300CAD all in to my door .... that’s for a pair of gaiters and above stand , fixings .... shipping ,tax, duty was 50% of total or more ....
 
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Craig said:
Mr. Marsh that was a Non - important comment , I apologize, thought your “ not enough info” comment was related to another thread .... however, You , Cliff and myself are correct ,one of my newer solder joints was touching bar after cluster being over tightened on re-install .... just another aggravation of getting sub-quality parts from my well known local supplier .... this is the 3rd and final set of gaiters for this Commando .. my local seller sold me first 2 pair one was economy second was supposed to be first rate , neither lasted more than 16 months , local seller offered to credit my account , no refunds , I asked them not to bother ... the quality of this pair from Andover was so easy to see and feel compared to set that was rotting off was laughable , excluding shipping ,cost was same as I had paid for second set locally which didn’t quite last 16 months , 350 miles and stored inside heated shed ..... lesson learned , eh .... thanks to all for taking time to read and respond !
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Nice to hear you found the culprit Craig.


Cheers,

cliffa.
 
Yes , was pretty sure that was problem .... cut a nice rectangle from some thin flat rubber and press fit into the wire side , all good !
 
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