Headlight problems, Help, Please!

[BoroRob]

Hi,

Ive recently bought a 2nd hand nc29 jap import. When I bought it only the one headlight was working (the left). So i thought it was just a case of changing the right bulb.

I have bought some replacement bulbs off ebay which were actually listed as being for an NC30.. Which are a HID H4 imitation bulb. They run at 55w. I have managed to get them to fit, they are a slightly different fitting. I had to bend the 2 outside side clips in (that stop the bulb falling into the housing) and just have the top one in..

First of all I tried putting just the new bulb in the right side to see what would happen as the left one was working ok. Both bulbs came on and worked fine on low, high and full beam. The only problem was the lights were a slightly different colour obviously because the bulbs are different.

I then took the left working bulb out and replaced it with one of the new ones.. And now I have the problem I originally started with where only the left bulb is coming on and the right one is doing nothing.

So obviously it is not the bulbs? Any ideas what might be causing this?

Also, when trying to start the bike up I am now getting like a clicking sound coming from where the battery is and the start motor doesnt sound like it wants to kick off. I dont know if this is just because the bike has been stood for a while. Or its anything to do with putting the new bulbs in. I disconnected the bulbs to see if it was and still getting the same clicking sound. I have had it left on a trickle charger why its been stood?


Thanks in advance.

Rob

[lewdale]

ave you touched the glass of the bulb on the side thats not working?

[BoroRob]

No.. Read^

Its weird. The new right hand side bulb works (55w) when i leave the the left side bulb in. But If i take the left one out and put the new matching bulb in I have the same problem. Left one on right one off?


Rob

[rccaulfield]

The clicking noise is your starter relay, it does that when there's not enuf power getting to it from the battery and it flicks on/off/on/off, charge battery and thats sorted- what wattage is your old light bulb- do you know what the stock wattage should be?

[BoroRob]

55/35w is standard afaik. The bulbs I bought are just 55w I think. But mounts are slightly diff. Anyway im getting the battery charged and waiting upon the arrival of a standard bulb. Will let you know how I get on..

Rob

[Davez29]

Not sure about your problem, possibly something to do with the Hi circut but dont really know. Have you tried the headlamp flasher and does this make them come on? Also theres something about the switch in the NC29 that does not like you to use 55w bulbs, LP will help you out there as she knows more about this. I think some NC30s (UK models) allowed the use of normal H4 bulbs.

On the mounts, what you need is on this ebay page. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/H4-Bulb- ... 3359c89de8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BoroRob]

Where is LP when you need him? Ive sent him a email asking him to take a look at this thread but hes a no show..

[CMSMJ1]

Where is LP when you need him? Ive sent him a email asking him to take a look at this thread but hes a no show..

That will likely be that LP is actually a lass...and will be sharpening a really big stick for you

Sounds like your battery is dying or dead - click when trying to start is the starter solenoid. Do you get high/low beam on both working bulbs?

On a '30 (FTW) the Jap bikes do not like 55/60 bulbs - the lefthand switchgear can melt so you need to fit a relay to take the load.

LP, who is a lady, has some good electrickery skills for the '29.

[cbr400rrn]

CMSMJ1 wrote:
LP, who is a lady, has some good electrickery skills for the '29.

You've gone soft

[leopard_pagan]

lol at you lot. sorry its taken me long to reply, i dont frequent the site much these days. got a lot on my plate with bike club and bike show.

"But mounts are slightly diff"
> any H4 bulbs bought in the UK wont fit as they should. as our bikes are Jap imports they have Jap headlight units where "they" (japs) use an odd type of bulb. BUT what you did is what most of us do, bend the two lower tabs.. or you can buy a shim off USA ebay.. or you can permanently modify the headlight units to take H4 bulbs like i did.

Bulbs.. id remove the old ones, working or not.. and fit the new.. now you can start eliminating things you KNOW work. to test the new bulbs.. swap them in to the side that does let it work (for now).
can you tell us what wattage the old bulbs are + if one of them is higher wattage.. was it in the side that doesnt work?

what normally happens is people fit higher wattage bulbs than spec and burn out the lo beam switch because they did not fit the extra mods required to make higher wattage bulbs work (relay/fuses). BUT this normally affects BOTH headlights, not just one.
sooo. this leads me to think its a wiring/relay or fuse issue.

for the best access i do suggest you remove the front nose cone (+ side panels), trace all headlight wiring from the headlight plugs back to the handle bar switch, look for broken, exposed, burnt or anything looking odd wires. check each of the plugs, clean them with contact cleaner, then squirt WD40 in to them.
the switch gear is far more tricky! it has a spring that always pings and you'll never find it! so leave that till last!
check the fues- LHS front of bike.