I'm not familiar how the RLU unit is supposed to work. I have a low glow from the dash cluster bulb for the tail light. The rear running light element and the brake element are both glowing. When I hit the brake both elements brighten. Is this normal? Has anyone opened up the RLU to fix them?
My understanding is the dash light for the rear light should be off and come on when the brake is applied. If the dash light is on all the time it means the running light is not working. Both elements in the bulb work
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
-P.
Tail lights and RLU question
Moderators: CYBORG, Oldewing, robin1731, Forum Moderators
-
- Billet Alum. Member
- Posts: 278
- Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2018 8:30 am
- robin1731
- Membership Admin
- Posts: 21724
- Joined: Mon May 29, 2006 8:31 am
- Location: Decatur, Indiana
Re: Tail lights and RLU question
Most everyone eliminates/bypass the RLU. It causes too many issues.
.
.
1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
- Sidecar Bob
- Honored Life Member
- Posts: 7633
- Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:14 pm
- Location: Kawartha Lakes, Ontario
Re: Tail lights and RLU question
Yep. Problems with them are so common Clymer included how to bypass it in the basic troubleshooting chapter.
The RLU is supposed to monitor current through the tail light's dim filament (marker light) and in the event of zero current flowing (filament burned out) it turns the bright filament on at half voltage while also turning on the light on the instrument panel to notify you that you need to replace the bulb.
It does the same for the headlight, supplying half voltage to the high beam in the event of low beam failure.
Later models didn't have them so I guess bypassing it could be considered an upgrade...
The RLU is supposed to monitor current through the tail light's dim filament (marker light) and in the event of zero current flowing (filament burned out) it turns the bright filament on at half voltage while also turning on the light on the instrument panel to notify you that you need to replace the bulb.
It does the same for the headlight, supplying half voltage to the high beam in the event of low beam failure.
Later models didn't have them so I guess bypassing it could be considered an upgrade...
Mr. Honda ('83 GL1100/Dnepr) summer How a motorcycle evolves thread
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
-
- Billet Alum. Member
- Posts: 278
- Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2018 8:30 am
Re: Tail lights and RLU question
Thank you for the replies. For the time being I'll do the jumpers to bypass the RLU. I would like to duplicate the circuit or fix the RLU. The potting epoxy the RLU is encased it kind of makes repair impossible. From what I can see, the heat sink inside the RLU is also encased in epoxy which kind of makes the heat sink pointless. That is probably the cause of failure on most of these units.
Thanks,
-P.
Thanks,
-P.
-
- Silver Member
- Posts: 654
- Joined: Fri May 26, 2017 11:07 am
Re: Tail lights and RLU question
Both elements glowing at once can be caused by the bulb being forced in backwards.
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
- 2 Replies
- 336 Views
-
Last post by tallnwise
-
- 3 Replies
- 296 Views
-
Last post by Shadowjack
-
- 12 Replies
- 517 Views
-
Last post by n5zhu