Low Beam Headlights Not Working

[nicknikolovski]

Hi, I had something very wierd happen to my bike one night (luckly 2 mins from home). My low beam headlights cut out all of a sudden. I then pulled over and started messing with the switch to try get them to turn back on. They wouldn't turn back on. I got home and immediately checked both globes thinking they may have overheated in traffic and blown. They were both ok. I started messing with the high/low beam press in switch and I some how got the headlights working again.

Now for about a month everything has been ok until one morning, when the headlights wouldn't come on. Park lights work and when change to high beam, I can hear the relay click and the high beams activate. When I go back to low beam I get nothing.

Tomorrow I will recheck the headlight bulbs again, and then check the relay. Should the relay click when I switch back to low beam from high beam? Because it doesn't at the moment. Is there a relay for each high beam and low beam or are they controlled by one relay? Anything else I should check?

Thanks, Nick

[Neosophist]

Let me guess.

Japanese import with H4 bulbs in it!?

Very common problem.

The Jap bulbs are 35/60 watt as opposed to 55/60.. that gives you 110watt over 70watt.

The extra power melts the switch!

The UK bike had an extra relay fitted to handle the power and thus avoid melting the switch

http://www.vsource.org/VFR-RVF_files/NC ... mRelay.htm

Lots of information and pictures about how to do this to your bike is here.

You'll prob need to take the switch apart and clean it up (trim back any melted plastic!)

but do the relay mod else it'll happen again

[nicknikolovski]

Thanks for the info. Yes it has 2x 55W globes H4. Can I just put the jap spec globes in?

I opened up the switch and found some melted shit inside, like you said. I sprayed the high/low beam switch with multi-purpose spray and the bloody thing started working again.

[Neosophist]

Thanks for the info. Yes it has 2x 55W globes H4. Can I just put the jap spec globes in?

I opened up the switch and found some melted shit inside, like you said. I sprayed the high/low beam switch with multi-purpose spray and the bloody thing started working again.

dont' carry on using it with the 55w unless you put the relay in else it will melt again (it gets to the point where it breaks forever)

you can put the jap 35w/60 bulbs in but there more expensive and kinda dull.

if you put them in though it'll fix your problem without having to put a relay in :)

34901KY2702 is the correct part number for the Japanese bulbs :)

[banoffee]

I've done the relay and 60/55 bulb conversion - it's worth it

[nicknikolovski]

Thanks again, I ordered the Jap spec globes, will see how they look and perform. Will definently consider the relay conversion.