Maxi: No tail or brake lites

A. J. Souza /
aljmoss
Jan 16, 2006 03:03PM

Head light works fine. No tail or brake lites. New bulbs in each. Actually checked them to see if they worked off bike. Checked ground from brake lite fixture to fender, double-checked to see if brake handle wires were connected, checked magneto-brake lite wires, checked entire wireharness for continuity prior to assembling bike.

Still, no brake or tail lites. For a short time with the new bulb, the tail light was on when bike was running, then off. Connections appear clean. Removed bulbs again to make sure they hadn't blown out. Still intact.

So what now? Recheck wiring harness from magneto to tail light? Other?

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Re: Maxi: No tail or brake lites

Brian Mikami /
butnut
Jan 16, 2006 05:02PM

Unless you have a solid piece of solder on the wire ends, the screw will go right through it giving an unstable connection. You can use a small wire nut and tie the wires together for a more soild connection...the tail will light up, but the weak link on the brakes is the switch in the lever, check for continuity. Good luck.

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Re: Maxi: No tail or brake lites

See Ya Moped Army /
giddyup98
Jan 16, 2006 06:24PM

It could also be a bad light coil in the magneto.

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Re: Maxi: No tail or brake lites

A. J. Souza /
aljmoss
Jan 16, 2006 10:30PM

But wouldn't that mean the headlite wouldn't work also?

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Re: Maxi: No tail or brake lites

Ben Van Zoest /
bernard
Jan 16, 2006 10:43PM

Like bunut said redo the connections in the wire terminal. What I have done sussesfully is, to use crimped on thin copper tube 1/2" lg from a ballpint pen as wire ends.

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Re: Maxi: No tail or brake lites

See Ya Moped Army /
giddyup98
Jan 16, 2006 10:55PM

The tail/stop light coil is separate from the Headlight coil.

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Re: Maxi: No tail or brake lites

Chris Paz /
chrispaz
Jan 17, 2006 04:26PM

I would suggest using a volt meter to back track where you are loosing voltage.

Remove the grey wire (running light) (magneto side) from your terminal. Attach one lead of the meter to that and another to a known good ground (find some bare metal on your frame). With your bike running look for voltage on the Ac scale. If you have voltage then reattach the other grey wire to your terminal. And go check the voltage coming out of the running light terminal (again use a known good ground). If you are getting voltage at the tail light then... There is something wrong with your ground wire (usually the issue) Your bulb is shot, or you might be trying to run the wrong voltage bulb.

Diagnosing electrical issues is all about isolating and testing one variable at a time.

Having a wiring diagram really helps you plan out your strategy

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