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BRIDON123

Joined:

Feb 08

Posts: 7

BRIDON123 says:

Headlight failure

I ride a 2003 suzuki bandit 600s and on a recent rideout i made use of the headlight flash button to inform my dad, on his bike ahead of me, that he had left his indicator on.
When i got home an hour later i found that the flash had stopped working and i first thought the bulb had simply blown.                       I tried the high beam switch out of curiosity and found the high beam was working ok and after asking my dad he told me he had seen me flash him earlier on so the flash was working at an earlier point in the day.
Can anyone please shed some light on the problem as i am new to riding and don't want to go digging about in the bikes workings in case i damage something by accident!

[This Topic has been modified by the Author]

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  • Posted 2 years ago (28 March 2012 18:26)

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AdieR

Joined:

Apr 08

Posts: 2976

AdieR says:

Your high beam works

but not from the flash / pass switch?
Check your flash switch, and check for any damaged / broken wires.

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BRIDON123

Joined:

Feb 08

Posts: 7

BRIDON123 says:

headlight failure

I have checked for any loose wiring etc and the switch looks pretty much like a sealed unit so i do believe i will have to take to a dealer to find out more. thank you!!

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ally600

Joined:

May 09

Posts: 2287

ally600 says:

clean

the contacts in the switch.................how often are they used but we still expect them to work, or learn basic electrics for bikes ....V.I.R..... VOLTS AMPS AND OHMS :wink:

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AdieR

Joined:

Apr 08

Posts: 2976

AdieR says:

Nip down to Halfords

get yourself armed with a Haynes manual, some spanners, and some screwdrivers. Most electrical faults aren't as complicated as people think / fear. Or look up vehicle repair / maintenance courses at your local college.

Bear in mind that wiring gets a hammering from temperature changes (heat / cold), vibration and chemical attack (salt etc from the roads). Not familiar with your bike, but if there's a plug near / into that switch, have a look for corrosion, and clean it if necessary.

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jaffa90

Joined:

Mar 09

Posts: 8090

jaffa90 says:

flash

Never used any flash/pass switch in 40 years,it would be safer to pass your dad and signal him,also even better buy him an audible signal flasher like i have.

Switch,with the bike key in your pocket spray some wd40 inside and work it until it drains out.

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BRIDON123

Joined:

Feb 08

Posts: 7

BRIDON123 says:

Headlight failure

Audible flashers are no good when you have a loud exhaust so cant go there. I have tried taking the switch apart but cannot see anything wrong in there and the wd40 hasn't worked so i will be off to a mechanic as soon as possible!!!!

[This Reply has been modified by the Author]

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James600zx

Joined:

Sep 07

Posts: 2189

James600zx says:

Contact.

I had a similar problem with my kill switch. Sprays of WD40 and electrical contact cleaner didn't do the trick so I resorted to dismantling it. (Tricky, there are small, fiddly parts and a spring inside.)  The metal contact looked like copper until I rubbed it with Emery paper. It had been rusty and the cleaned surface was the silver-grey colour of steel. That did the trick. I'd almost re-assembled it without shining the contact up, so give it a polish.

PS: "with the bike key in your pocket spray some wd40 inside and work it until it drains out." Then send Jaffa your dry cleaning bill.
:winkie::biggrin:

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