Headlight bulb keeps blowing after riding

Chazzz

Member
Hi I have a 2008 big dog pittbull have noticed on the last few rides the headlight bulb keeps blowing the bike is never in the rain and is always garaged and cleaned with shammy cloth so water is never near it has any1 had this problem or know how I fix it thanks Chaz
 

Little-Boo

Well-Known Member
Troop Supporter
I would check the wires in the bucket, there may be a cut on one of the wire causing a short. You can replace the wire harness to the bucket and see it that takes care of it.

Carlos :whoop:
 

francoblay1

The Spaniard
These bulbs solved the problem in my K9... its been 9 months and so far spo good! :2thumbs:

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/PIAA-70456-Xtreme-White-Anti-vibration/dp/B000TK3U4O/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1355461042&sr=1-2&keywords=PIA+antivibration]Amazon.com: PIAA 70456 Xtreme White Plus H4 Anti-vibration Bulb: Automotive[/ame]

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/PIAA-70476-Super-Plasma-Anti-vibration/dp/B000TK5SGW/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1355461042&sr=1-1&keywords=PIA+antivibration]Amazon.com: PIAA 70476 Super Plasma GT-X Anti-vibration H4 Bulb: Automotive[/ame]

:cheers:
 

BigDogBro1

Made in the USA
Hi I have a 2008 big dog pittbull have noticed on the last few rides the headlight bulb keeps blowing the bike is never in the rain and is always garaged and cleaned with shammy cloth so water is never near it has any1 had this problem or know how I fix it thanks Chaz
Does your wiring harness have the 15 to 20 turn 1" diameter BLACK (ground) coil of wire in the headlight bucket.

On my "07" I think the coil of wire is used as an air core inductor to slow the in-rush of current through the bulb filiment when it's turned ON. This helps to save the bulb but the main reason is to protect the headlight driver circuit in the EHC module.

You could splice one IN if your harness doesn't already have it.

Check you battery voltage when you engine is near 2000 RPM for around 14 volts max. Your voltage regulator could be failing.
 

pknowles

RETIRED
Does your wiring harness have the 15 to 20 turn 1" diameter BLACK (ground) coil of wire in the headlight bucket.

On my "07" I think the coil of wire is used as an air core inductor to slow the in-rush of current through the bulb filiment when it's turned ON. This helps to save the bulb but the main reason is to protect the headlight driver circuit in the EHC module.

You could splice one IN if your harness doesn't already have it.

Check you battery voltage when you engine is near 2000 RPM for around 14 volts max. Your voltage regulator could be failing.
If the voltage regulator was over charging, would the lights be brighter. Probably a dumb question, but had to ask.
 

Sven

Well-Known Member
If the voltage regulator was over charging, would the lights be brighter. Probably a dumb question, but had to ask.
Yes, it would also blow the taillight as well. Let me state that differently... Yes, if the v/reg was out of the loop or was broken internally, you are going to get AC voltage, not converted to DC and balanced up to 14v at the bulbs. Now, it is more like 17v/19v and that ohm's conversion says a 12v bulb times 3w for the tail and 55w for the h/l bulb = Blown like a fuse.

Like installing a 6v bulb in a 12v system = Pops or burns out within seconds.
 

Chazzz

Member
Hi thanks guys I've cut out the original plug and spliced in a new plug aswell I did have the extra coil of black earth wire but have just replaced with another plug will check on my ride 2moro and get back to you's with how it all goes do I need to keep that black coiled wire
 

Chazzz

Member
Keeped the black coil on the harness went for a 2hour ride and it blew again changed it on side of road it blew again when I got home after 2hours have had metre put ova it everything fine am now trying a Hella bulb longer life and have rubber mounted the headlight to the tree also noticed I have a blown left fork seal will fix that this weekend bulb seems good so far have also found the little screw that holds bulb in headlight was coming lose so used lock tight hope this works
 

Chazzz

Member
When the bulb goes it shows the blue high beam on the speedo then it flashes until bulb is changed I'm trying to find a anti vibration bulb here in New Zealand I could only find them in 24v not 12v will keep looking cheers for all your help
 

BigDogBro1

Made in the USA
When the bulb goes it shows the blue high beam on the speedo then it flashes until bulb is changed I'm trying to find a anti vibration bulb here in New Zealand I could only find them in 24v not 12v will keep looking cheers for all your help
The EHC monitors the H/L beam current and will switch to high beam when the low beam burns out and will flash the H/L indicator.
 

francoblay1

The Spaniard
When the bulb goes it shows the blue high beam on the speedo then it flashes until bulb is changed I'm trying to find a anti vibration bulb here in New Zealand I could only find them in 24v not 12v will keep looking cheers for all your help
Hey Bro, I will be coming over end of January... my house is in Papakura.. if you are in the Auckland area I can bring some of these: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/PIAA-70456-Xtreme-White-Anti-vibration/dp/B000TK3U4O/]Amazon.com: PIAA 70456 Xtreme White Plus H4 Anti-vibration Bulb: Automotive[/ame]

Those are the ones I am using and after a year I am still in the first one.. :2thumbs:
 

Brew

Troop Supporter
The coil of black wire within the headlight bucket was one of the first attempts for BDM in preventing the headlight failure issues.
It was a VERY LAME attempt at creating what is known as a "Choke Coil", to slow the in rush of current during the initial energizing of the Low or High beams.

It did NOT work,..because that was not the issue behind the headlight failures!
Eventually BDM (NightTrain) located the true problem causing the headlight failure issue, and it was resolved with SB-1077.


Since the coil of wire really didn't help things, but didn't hurt things either, and due to the fact that BDM was mass producing a lot of parts. It took quite a while for BDM to use up all of these headlight harnesses with the black coil of wire on them!

At one time, you could order (2) headlight harnesses, and receive (1) with, and (1) without the coil of black wire on the harnesses. This really confused everyone!
..


But in all reality, it's NOT necessary!



You might want to check your Headlight Harness, at the JST Connector end, under the gas tank!

Sounds like there might be intermittent connection, or possible condensation within the JST connector itself, causing a shorting condition.
Also check the EHC Serial Connectors for secure connections.
These types of things happen most frequently and cause a whole lot of confusion.

Good luck and hope you find the issue!
 

Quasimodo

Active Member
had a similar issue that my light bulb blew out ever few weeks. I noticed that my rim from the headlight always losened up and hence the reflector and bulb were exposed to lots of vibration. Once I fixed that the rim remained firm in place I had no further problems.

goog luck
 

Quasimodo

Active Member
had a similar issue that my light bulb blew out ever few weeks. I noticed that my rim from the headlight always losened up and hence the reflector and bulb were exposed to lots of vibration. Once I fixed that the rim remained firm in place I had no further problems.

goog luck
 

BigDogBro1

Made in the USA
The coil of black wire within the headlight bucket was one of the first attempts for BDM in preventing the headlight failure issues.
It was a VERY LAME attempt at creating what is known as a "Choke Coil", to slow the in rush of current during the initial energizing of the Low or High beams.

It did NOT work,..because that was not the issue behind the headlight failures!
Eventually BDM (NightTrain) located the true problem causing the headlight failure issue, and it was resolved with SB-1077.


Since the coil of wire really didn't help things, but didn't hurt things either, and due to the fact that BDM was mass producing a lot of parts. It took quite a while for BDM to use up all of these headlight harnesses with the black coil of wire on them!

At one time, you could order (2) headlight harnesses, and receive (1) with, and (1) without the coil of black wire on the harnesses. This really confused everyone!
..


But in all reality, it's NOT necessary!



You might want to check your Headlight Harness, at the JST Connector end, under the gas tank!

Sounds like there might be intermittent connection, or possible condensation within the JST connector itself, causing a shorting condition.
Also check the EHC Serial Connectors for secure connections.
These types of things happen most frequently and cause a whole lot of confusion.

Good luck and hope you find the issue!
Although this is an old thread, I wanted to clarify some "SHORTED" explanations.

"You might want to check your Headlight Harness, at the JST Connector end, under the gas tank! Sounds like there might be intermittent connection, or possible condensation within the JST connector itself, causing a shorting condition."

Well, with that being said...
A connector or harness short condition upstream of the headlight bulb supplying power to the filiments will not cause the bulb filiment to burn out because the filiment is at the end of the circuit run, considered a LOAD, away from the power source.

A connector or harness short condition would affect that connector area or somewhere else back upstream to the next weakest point towards power source.


Link to explanation of failures and attempts to correct them.
http://www.bdmrcusa.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=1150
 
Last edited:

Slider

Active Member
Stock bucket or oem? Mine blew every two weeks with an adjure I had, vibration. But I got a springer too
 
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