Hey, I'm having problems with my lighting. My headlight works fine, but my horn doesn't work, and my tail light is REAL weak. I checked the frame and it seems to be the ground, but I can't find anything wrong. What's this "Zener Diode" what does it do, where do I find it, and could It be the problem. I have a motobecane 50v....and It's in pretty rough shape but I'm getting there.
Thanks, Kurt
Kurt,
What year is it?
Ron
It's a 1975
Kurt,
I have never figured out the wiring on a 6v Motobecane because the wiring diagram does not have a picture of the internal light switch connections. I do know it is strang, as the tail lamp and brake lamp fillaments are both wired to the brake lamp switches. I can only assume that the tail lamp goes out when the brake lamp is on, but I dont know this for sure.
The voltage regulator is a Zener diode, I think it is mounted on the steering hed where it is grounded and has a single black wire connected to what looks like the brake lamp circuit.
Get your hands on a vom and make sure that the tail lamp socket has a good ground, the bulb is grounded to it and both connections to the bulb base are good. Also, look closely at the bulb and determine if one or both filaments are glowing and if anything changes when you apply the brakes.
I dont think any of this affects the horn, use a vom and check for voltage and ground.
Ron
I checked both of those last night witha multimeter and they both have a good ground but they have barely no voltage. could the be a ground somewhere else where there shouldn't be? I also got an 1157 style stop and tail trailer light thinking that would help. I got a 6 volt bulb and put it in there and it didn't make a difference. the only thing I could think of is that there is a ground wire bolted to the frame, But it just dangling above the cylinder i don't know where it is supposed to go to..... any suggestions?
Kurt,
Look at the right hand flecible motor mount bushing. There should be a terminal lug from the end of that ground cable in there. This ground is important because the motor is isolated from the frame by the flex mounts.
Ron
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