Headlight dimming with turn signals

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maury
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Headlight dimming with turn signals

#1

Post by maury »

When turn signal is activated the Headlight (both low and high beam) is slightly dimming momentarily at same rate.
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Whiskerfish
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Re: Headlight dimming with turn signals

#2

Post by Whiskerfish »

Bout 95% of the time this would indicate a ground issue. Probably a decent sized green wire inside the headlight bucket. Check to make sure that has a good clean connection and that it reads very low resistance to the neg terminal on the battery.
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Shadowjack
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Re: Headlight dimming with turn signals

#3

Post by Shadowjack »

It would be interesting to know what the system voltage is doing at this point. Assume the bike is stopped and idling? Not a lot of alternator output at idle.
redglbx
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Re: Headlight dimming with turn signals

#4

Post by redglbx »

How old is your battery ? Might be worth taking it out and having it tested at your local parts store, most have that ability.
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cfairweather
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Re: Headlight dimming with turn signals

#5

Post by cfairweather »

Also, while you are looking at the battery, replace the main dog bone fuse with a modern inline fuse if you haven't already done this.
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Sidecar Bob
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Re: Headlight dimming with turn signals

#6

Post by Sidecar Bob »

Is this happening while idling with the brakes on or when you are driving along?
As already mentioned, the alternator doesn't have enough output to keep up with demand at idle and the brake light alone draws almost 2 amps, as does each turn signal.

Also, do you have a higher power than stock headlight or accessory running lights or any other extra electrical loads?
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redglbx
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Re: Headlight dimming with turn signals

#7

Post by redglbx »

Just going to LED bulbs for the instrumentation, the turn signals & the brake lights free’s up some electrical power in the marginal electrical system in the early GL’s. I went to LED’s to help when I use my Warm & Safe electric jacket liner which works better, still not as good as the high output system in my FJR but good enough. As a side note you need to include include an led compatible blinker, there’s a number of threads here concerning all this if you do a search.
Red 1976 oe owner
1976 LTD restored
1980 CBX , in the que, to fix the ignorant heavy handed owner
1981 CBX
1977 CB750 K7
2014 FJR OE owner, sold
1980 GL1100
1984 GL1200 naked
1969 CL350, in the que
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