Prev: Changing crank seals on an RD-400
Next: Flat performance question
From: Biker Dude on 15 Nov 2009 15:38
I am now well equipped with TWO repair manuals and a full toolbox and
a Positive Mental Attitude. Time to go to work.......

I was watching the dimming of the headlight on my Kawie as I engaged
the starter. The headlight is hard-wired to the "ON" position and is
always illuminated when the key is turner to the run position.

That extra load will slow down the starter a bit, shorten the life of
the battery a bit, and slow down the recharging of the battery.

The charging circuit is designed the the headlight load to be there
continuously. Would anything be damaged if I added a switch in series
to leave the headlight off for continuous running? I know it's
illegal not to have a headlight as a running light, but my concern is
that the loss of the load would spike some voltages and then possibly
harm something expensive such as an electronic ignition system.

What say ye, would it hurt to disconnect the headlight for extended
running?

Thanks in advance,

Biker Dude
From: The Older Gentleman on 15 Nov 2009 17:11
Biker Dude <jacobsenpaule(a)hotmail.com> wrote:

> circuit is designed the the headlight load to be there
> continuously. Would anything be damaged if I added a switch in series
> to leave the headlight off for continuous running?

No.

> I know it's
> illegal not to have a headlight as a running light, but my concern is
> that the loss of the load would spike some voltages and then possibly
> harm something expensive such as an electronic ignition system.

Generations of bikes, in other countries, have had headlights that
aren't permanently on, and have had no such problems.
>
> What say ye, would it hurt to disconnect the headlight for extended
> running?

No. It might even save you a few bucks a year in extended bulb life.


--
BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Honda CB400F Triumph Street Triple
Suzuki TS250ER GN250 Damn, back to six bikes!
Try Googling before asking a damn silly question.
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com
From: Mark Olson on 15 Nov 2009 18:31
Biker Dude wrote:

> I was watching the dimming of the headlight on my Kawie as I engaged
> the starter. The headlight is hard-wired to the "ON" position and is
> always illuminated when the key is turner to the run position.

Someone has screwed around with your Kawasaki's headlight circuit.
The headlight should be off until the engine starts running. There
is a relay box and one or more diodes that makes this happen. It's
been a feature of Kawasakis ever since the late 70s/early 80s.

> That extra load will slow down the starter a bit, shorten the life of
> the battery a bit, and slow down the recharging of the battery.
>
> The charging circuit is designed the the headlight load to be there
> continuously. Would anything be damaged if I added a switch in series
> to leave the headlight off for continuous running? I know it's
> illegal not to have a headlight as a running light, but my concern is
> that the loss of the load would spike some voltages and then possibly
> harm something expensive such as an electronic ignition system.

Adding a switch is unnecessary. As you say, the bike's charging system
is designed to have the headlight on all the time when the engine is
running and has enough capacity to charge the battery while running the
headlight.

> What say ye, would it hurt to disconnect the headlight for extended
> running?

It really won't hurt anything but you're better off leaving the system
alone and staying legal. In my state and I suspect all 50 states are
the same, you are required to have the headlight on while riding. You
are in the USA, correct?
From: Biker Dude on 15 Nov 2009 22:46

>
> Someone has screwed around with your Kawasaki's headlight circuit.
> The headlight should be off until the engine starts running.  There
> is a relay box and one or more diodes that makes this happen.  It's
> been a feature of Kawasakis ever since the late 70s/early 80s.

It's an 82. So the headlight is supposed to stay off whilst cranking
the starter? Best idea I've heard, will look at the wiring diagram to
locate the exact relay or timer that does this.



>
> Adding a switch is unnecessary.  As you say, the bike's charging system
> is designed to have the headlight on all the time when the engine is
> running and has enough capacity to charge the battery while running the
> headlight.
>

When the battery is a bit low it takes too much to energize both the
headlight and the starter.......

Will go to work on this.

Thanks,

Biker Dude
From: The Older Gentleman on 16 Nov 2009 02:15
Biker Dude <jacobsenpaule(a)hotmail.com> wrote:

> It's an 82. So the headlight is supposed to stay off whilst cranking
> the starter? Best idea I've heard, will look at the wiring diagram to
> locate the exact relay or timer that does this.

On US spec bikes I've owned and ridden, and now on modern EU-spec bikes
(one of which I own), pressing the starter button disengages the
headlight, yes.>
>
>
> >
> > Adding a switch is unnecessary. As you say, the bike's charging system
> > is designed to have the headlight on all the time when the engine is
> > running and has enough capacity to charge the battery while running the
> > headlight.
> >
>
> When the battery is a bit low it takes too much to energize both the
> headlight and the starter.......

Fit a new battery.


--
BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Honda CB400F Triumph Street Triple
Suzuki TS250ER GN250 Damn, back to six bikes!
Try Googling before asking a damn silly question.
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com
 |  Next  |  Last
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5
Prev: Changing crank seals on an RD-400
Next: Flat performance question