Forum

[David]

Thanks Dennis I did explain that earlier.

[David]

Thanks for all the help so far, Gwilly it is looking like the reg from your description. I sure hope it is, if the resistor kicks in, how would the headlight behave? Flicker and go out? With the engine running at the head light my bike was only making 8-10 VAC.

[papasmurf]

The headlight doesn't work if you stall the engine? Does that comply with UK regulations? (Serious question by the way as that appears to be a major safety hazard.)

[Gwilly]

Sorry David didn't see your latest post as i was busy typing.. Eagle method, circle and swoop..

Can you not access the connector and pull apart. Leave the reg where it is for now, may be nothing wrong with it..

Make sure the bracket is well earthed/fixed if you replace, should be cool enough behind the coil..

How you sort it ok.. cheers gwilly..

[Gwilly]

Behind again.. If you have an on/off switch then its unlikely to have a resister but who knows with indian wiring..

[David]

So the bracket that bolts the AC reg down, is the earth? The coil, AC reg, DC reg and Rec are all in the left hand tool box. The AC reg is bolted behind the coil, the connection plug for the AC reg is on the outside of the tool box. I could test the AC circuit but its alot of messing around. Think I will wait for the new AC reg to arrive first, and do the swap to see if I get the same problem.

[Gwilly]

Hmmm... When you get this thing on the road again and your out on a ride,,, Do me a favour and look in the toolbox.

Put your hand on the reg/rec and check the temperature, get your nose in there and sniff..

Its not always a great idea to hide it in the tool box out of the airstream, thats what the fins are for..

[Adrian]

There seems to be a lot of confusion and therefore misleading advice being offered.



Dave,



the AC part of the lighting system ***HAS NO EARTH***, just the amber return wire to the alternator. The AC regulator bracket should be fully insulated from the internal components. Only the lights and other components on the DC side of the bike's electrical system will be earthed as usual.



Papasmurf,



most of the 1999 - 2008 Bullets with the classic engine (apart from some late Indian home market TCI ignition models) have a totally independent AC system for the headlight powered directly off its own coils on the alternator. This is completely isolated from the rest of the electrics, and the headlight only gets any power when the engine is running! This was perfectly legal, though you might prefer a system which could provide headlights with the engine off. The Electra-X you're used to has a different system, a 3 phase alternator just supplies the regulator/rectifier, with everything then taken off the main DC supply as normal.



Adrian

[David]

Gwilly, yes I had wondered about putting all the electrics in the tool box and the possible over heating issue. It was not my decision to do this, it was the previous owners. It was like this when I bought the bike. I am already thinking of mounting the new ac reg back in it original position. I might also do the same for the DC reg and rec, if they get warm.

Adrian, thanks for the clarification.

[Norm]

Adrian, first time I split one of those looms apart I couldn't understand what was going on with the orange wire going to earth, it has black wires crimped into it so it doesn't show up on the outside as an orange wire going to earth. This is how the headlight gets its earth, other terminals are for high and low beam