Finally put the bike together...but no tail light
Moderators: CYBORG, Oldewing, robin1731, Forum Moderators
-
- Titanium Member
- Posts: 345
- Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2019 7:53 pm
- Location: East TN
Finally put the bike together...but no tail light
Hey guys,
After one year I finally have the bike together.
Bought a new ignition switch and an Amazon LED head light (photo) since I couldn't make a headlight out of the parts I have.
The headlight comes on together with the gauge cluster when turning the key, it does not turn off. High Beam works.
No tail or brake light.
All fuses ok, new bulb.
No voltage on any of the wires leading to the tail.
There were several unconnected wires in the old headlight bucket that I taped off and tucked away.
Where should I start investigating?
After one year I finally have the bike together.
Bought a new ignition switch and an Amazon LED head light (photo) since I couldn't make a headlight out of the parts I have.
The headlight comes on together with the gauge cluster when turning the key, it does not turn off. High Beam works.
No tail or brake light.
All fuses ok, new bulb.
No voltage on any of the wires leading to the tail.
There were several unconnected wires in the old headlight bucket that I taped off and tucked away.
Where should I start investigating?
- Attachments
-
- 20201013_222842.jpg (184.16 KiB) Viewed 391 times
-
- 20201014_213846.jpg (198.12 KiB) Viewed 391 times
-
- 20201014_213855.jpg (160.96 KiB) Viewed 391 times
-
- 20201014_213917.jpg (160.52 KiB) Viewed 391 times
-
- 20201014_213925.jpg (196.02 KiB) Viewed 391 times
1975 Gl1000
1981 Gl1100, looking for a used good engine.
1981 Gl1100, looking for a used good engine.
-
- Titanium Member
- Posts: 345
- Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2019 7:53 pm
- Location: East TN
Re: Finally put the bike together...but no tail light
LED head light
- Attachments
-
- headlight.JPG (137.09 KiB) Viewed 390 times
1975 Gl1000
1981 Gl1100, looking for a used good engine.
1981 Gl1100, looking for a used good engine.
-
- Titanium Member
- Posts: 345
- Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2019 7:53 pm
- Location: East TN
Re: Finally put the bike together...but no tail light
So this bike used to be fully dressed at some point of it's life.
This connector was hanging out of the front (photo).
Could this be the reason I don't get power to the tail?
This connector was hanging out of the front (photo).
Could this be the reason I don't get power to the tail?
- Attachments
-
- 20201016_224351.jpg (186.49 KiB) Viewed 362 times
1975 Gl1000
1981 Gl1100, looking for a used good engine.
1981 Gl1100, looking for a used good engine.
- Track T 2411
- Honored Life Member
- Posts: 8482
- Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 9:37 pm
- My Album: http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/Track+T+2411/
- Location: Prairie du Sac Wisconsin
Re: Finally put the bike together...but no tail light
That there is the sub harness leading to the front fairing. It should have no impact on the taillight.
"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
"He that is good with a hammer tends to think everything is a nail" - Abraham Maslow
"If you can't take the time to do it right the first time, how are you ever going to find the time to do it over?" -Unknown
Current Rides:
'Grumpy' - '81 Standard, now fully dressed.
'Layla' - '81 Standard w/dealer installed fairing and Hondaline bags.
'Scarlett' '76 'Survivor' nekkid as a j-bird!
Under Construction:
The 'Jalopy' '78-'79 Mash-up
'Quikie' '81 gl1100I back on the lift, project with the step-son!
In The Shed:
'81 gl1100I barn find aka "Josie, the farmer's daughter." (almost comatose build)
'77 gl1000, roller parts bike.
'82 gl1100I, 'Old Crusty' titled roller parts bike (free!)
'82 gl1100I, My first 'Wing, and an expensive lesson!
New2U Bike? Read Me.
"He that is good with a hammer tends to think everything is a nail" - Abraham Maslow
"If you can't take the time to do it right the first time, how are you ever going to find the time to do it over?" -Unknown
Current Rides:
'Grumpy' - '81 Standard, now fully dressed.
'Layla' - '81 Standard w/dealer installed fairing and Hondaline bags.
'Scarlett' '76 'Survivor' nekkid as a j-bird!
Under Construction:
The 'Jalopy' '78-'79 Mash-up
'Quikie' '81 gl1100I back on the lift, project with the step-son!
In The Shed:
'81 gl1100I barn find aka "Josie, the farmer's daughter." (almost comatose build)
'77 gl1000, roller parts bike.
'82 gl1100I, 'Old Crusty' titled roller parts bike (free!)
'82 gl1100I, My first 'Wing, and an expensive lesson!
New2U Bike? Read Me.
-
- Silver Member
- Posts: 654
- Joined: Fri May 26, 2017 11:07 am
Re: Finally put the bike together...but no tail light
Make sure the green ground is connected properly, to a known good ground point, or nothing will light. Easy to be victimized this way.
Power to the taillight (and dash lights) is brown or maybe brown with a white stripe. This should be live when the ignition switch is on, and the original switch had a park position which also turned the taillight on. That might be the reason why there is a plain brown wire and a brown/white striped wire; you don't want the dash lights on when in Park.
Power to the brake light is green with a yellow stripe. This will be live when either the front brake or the rear brake switch is made, so check to see if you have power to those. It will likely be a white wire with a green stripe (intermittent stuff like the horn and brake light).
Maybe you could tell us what color the unconnected wires you taped off were.
Power to the taillight (and dash lights) is brown or maybe brown with a white stripe. This should be live when the ignition switch is on, and the original switch had a park position which also turned the taillight on. That might be the reason why there is a plain brown wire and a brown/white striped wire; you don't want the dash lights on when in Park.
Power to the brake light is green with a yellow stripe. This will be live when either the front brake or the rear brake switch is made, so check to see if you have power to those. It will likely be a white wire with a green stripe (intermittent stuff like the horn and brake light).
Maybe you could tell us what color the unconnected wires you taped off were.
-
- Titanium Member
- Posts: 345
- Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2019 7:53 pm
- Location: East TN
Re: Finally put the bike together...but no tail light
Thanks Shadowjack,
that helped a lot. I took the tail light apart and fixed the previous owners wiring. Found the brown power, a green ground and tested the brake light power. All works now although the brake light is weak.
Got a new rear brake switch spring but the switch isn't working. There is also a light blue wire along the rear brake switch.
Is this the suspension warning? I have progressive shocks in and would like to disable the red warning light.
In the front there is a light blue/white striped, an orange/white stripe wire , a red and a light blue/black striped wire sticking out of the harness that I taped.
Thank you.
Had the first ride ever on this bike today and it was a lot of fun.
that helped a lot. I took the tail light apart and fixed the previous owners wiring. Found the brown power, a green ground and tested the brake light power. All works now although the brake light is weak.
Got a new rear brake switch spring but the switch isn't working. There is also a light blue wire along the rear brake switch.
Is this the suspension warning? I have progressive shocks in and would like to disable the red warning light.
In the front there is a light blue/white striped, an orange/white stripe wire , a red and a light blue/black striped wire sticking out of the harness that I taped.
Thank you.
Had the first ride ever on this bike today and it was a lot of fun.
1975 Gl1000
1981 Gl1100, looking for a used good engine.
1981 Gl1100, looking for a used good engine.
-
- Silver Member
- Posts: 654
- Joined: Fri May 26, 2017 11:07 am
Re: Finally put the bike together...but no tail light
Assuming the wiring is the same as the CB900C with air suspension (and there's no reason to think not, since Honda used the same wire colors across the lines and years), the light blue wire you reference comes from the air sensor to the control unit. Normally light blue is for the right turn signal, but... I believe you could try grounding this wire to see if the warning light goes out. The sensor is probably just a simple pressure switch, like the oil pressure switch. When pressure drops, it makes to ground.
The light blue with white stripe and orange with white stripe are for the front running lights in the stock turn signals.
Not sure about the others; might be for a factory option like a radio.
The light blue with white stripe and orange with white stripe are for the front running lights in the stock turn signals.
Not sure about the others; might be for a factory option like a radio.
-
- Titanium Member
- Posts: 345
- Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2019 7:53 pm
- Location: East TN
Re: Finally put the bike together...but no tail light
I grounded the wire before my second ride today and the light still came on. It comes on intermittently.
And all of a sudden the tachometer made a screeching grinding noise.
I guess it has to come off and get cleaned and lubed and the red bulb taken out.
Cheers.
And all of a sudden the tachometer made a screeching grinding noise.
I guess it has to come off and get cleaned and lubed and the red bulb taken out.
Cheers.
1975 Gl1000
1981 Gl1100, looking for a used good engine.
1981 Gl1100, looking for a used good engine.
-
- Titanium Member
- Posts: 345
- Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2019 7:53 pm
- Location: East TN
Re: Finally put the bike together...but no tail light
Has anybody had good experience with replacing the 1157 bulb with a red LED?
1975 Gl1000
1981 Gl1100, looking for a used good engine.
1981 Gl1100, looking for a used good engine.
-
- Titanium Member
- Posts: 345
- Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2019 7:53 pm
- Location: East TN
Re: Finally put the bike together...but no tail light
I guess I didn't ground the blue wire properly. But it works now, no more low pressure warning.
Found a 1157 LED at Napa that is very bright and comes on quickly for $17 for two.
Found a 1157 LED at Napa that is very bright and comes on quickly for $17 for two.
- Attachments
-
- 20201109_223129_HDR.jpg (109.93 KiB) Viewed 254 times
1975 Gl1000
1981 Gl1100, looking for a used good engine.
1981 Gl1100, looking for a used good engine.
- desertrefugee
- SUPER BIKER!!!!
- Posts: 3947
- Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 9:33 pm
- Location: Chandler, AZ, USA
Re: Finally put the bike together...but no tail light
LEDs work fine in tail lights. If used in turn signals, you will need to upgrade the flasher unit.
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
-
- Titanium Member
- Posts: 345
- Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2019 7:53 pm
- Location: East TN
Re: Finally put the bike together...but no tail light
I understand the upgrade to an electronic flasher.
I have seen several YouTube videos of people upgrading old Hondas with LED.
One guy said that the wiring is set up so the turn signal indicator lights draw power through the bulbs of the opposite direction and LEDs can not do that.
Did you have to change the wiring for the indicators as well or do they just stay on?
I have seen several YouTube videos of people upgrading old Hondas with LED.
One guy said that the wiring is set up so the turn signal indicator lights draw power through the bulbs of the opposite direction and LEDs can not do that.
Did you have to change the wiring for the indicators as well or do they just stay on?
1975 Gl1000
1981 Gl1100, looking for a used good engine.
1981 Gl1100, looking for a used good engine.
-
- Silver Member
- Posts: 654
- Joined: Fri May 26, 2017 11:07 am
Re: Finally put the bike together...but no tail light
Indicators do not draw power back through the opposite bulb, but a bad ground can make it seem that way.
- desertrefugee
- SUPER BIKER!!!!
- Posts: 3947
- Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 9:33 pm
- Location: Chandler, AZ, USA
Re: Finally put the bike together...but no tail light
And only the flasher unit needs to be changed if, as SJ says, the harness is otherwise intact and functional.
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
- flyin900
- Gold Member
- Posts: 1489
- Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 3:50 pm
- Location: Canada
Re: Finally put the bike together...but no tail light
Question: Why choose a red LED for the rear brake/running light panel? The lens is already red and the clear panel on the bottom of the lens is for the license plate illumination. Wouldn't that plate illumination now show as red or pink which could be a traffic infraction?
Current Bikes:
1966 CL77 - Honda 305cc - Dual purpose - "Gentleman's Scrambler" was a period moniker.
1967 CL175K0 - Low production number with #802 engine serial- winter 2019/2020 full restoration.
1972 CB350F - Baby Four with low mileage - Cosmetic refresh to the next level 2021/2022.
1978 CB550K - Very original bike with only 7499 Km. from new - light cleanup and refresh done.
1983 CB1100F - Canadian model - DOHC Supersport in pristine low kilometre condition from new.
1984 GL1200 - Standard model in showroom condition - two owner bike from new.
1984 CX650E - Restored summer 2017 - a rare Eurosport model - excellent one owner bike.
1966 CL77 - Honda 305cc - Dual purpose - "Gentleman's Scrambler" was a period moniker.
1967 CL175K0 - Low production number with #802 engine serial- winter 2019/2020 full restoration.
1972 CB350F - Baby Four with low mileage - Cosmetic refresh to the next level 2021/2022.
1978 CB550K - Very original bike with only 7499 Km. from new - light cleanup and refresh done.
1983 CB1100F - Canadian model - DOHC Supersport in pristine low kilometre condition from new.
1984 GL1200 - Standard model in showroom condition - two owner bike from new.
1984 CX650E - Restored summer 2017 - a rare Eurosport model - excellent one owner bike.
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
- 3 Replies
- 296 Views
-
Last post by Shadowjack
-
- 1 Replies
- 282 Views
-
Last post by wehrd1
-
- 2 Replies
- 136 Views
-
Last post by OhioBill
-
- 14 Replies
- 680 Views
-
Last post by CYBORG