Headlight Switch

[Bob_Roller]

I just checked the price on a regular headlight switch, and it's showing $126US .

Let us know what they say about the euro switch, as it's $13 cheaper, than the original OEM part .

[Lucky_Lou]

I always ride with lights on and have been known to forget to turn them off when stopping briefly.I dont know if they cut out when starting ill check tomorrow but ive never had a problem starting since i fitted a gel battery 6 months ago.
Lou
ps I dare say theres a difference between the US spec and EU judging by the wiring diagrams.

Checked it today....the high beam does NOT cut out when starting!!!
Lou

[Yikes]

FWIW, my '82 came with a headlight switch that a PO installed with a $2 toggle switch mounted on one of the blanks on the instrument console.  I have not checked in detail how it is wired, but it goes off when the inignition is off.  When the bike is running and  the headlight is switched off, the blue high beam indicator comes on.  It works fine and like Lou I drive with my headlight on all the time.

[drewboid]

If you have the typical three position US ignitiion switch (off - parking light only on - headlight and ignition on) you can jumper the igintion wire over to the parking light wire and have the bike run with only the parking light on. I did this when I was doing a lot of slow speed practice in a parking lot and the battery would die due to the low RPMs.

As to taking the switches apart for cleaning - put everything inside a large clear plastic bag (dry cleaning bags work) that way when the spring and BB fly out you do not have to crawl all over the garage looking for them DAMHIK!

[jgray]

I would still be interested in any clues for the original question. I've managed somehow to break the turn indicator switch on My 81 r65. It is now stuck indicating a right turn anytime the bike is on. Luckily this happened near the house but I haven't been for a ride since. The turn indicator switch flaps back and forth freely. I removed the screw to separate the switch assembly from the handlebar, and the little set screw to remove the orange knob for the turn switch, but still cannot see how to separate the rest of the assembly in order to see the inner side. The yellow high/low beam switch seems to make it impossible to pull the outer shell apart and I don't want to break it. If I could just get it separated I might be able to see what is going on with the turn signal switch. Anyone done anything like this before? It would be a shame to do a full replace, the switch is fairly new and in very clean condition.

[Bill Conquest]

I went through the same situation with my '79 r65 -it was the relay, I bought a new one & all was well... for awhile ,then the next relay did the same thing. Because of the corrosion here in hawaii, i think,  relays tend to go south quickly. Anyway, I just jumpered two of the sockets on the relay plug & have been o.k. since then.. the light is on when I start the bike. I keep a new relay in a plastic bag under the seat, don't know why...
Bill Conquest

[Bob_Roller]

I would still be interested in any clues for the original question. I've managed somehow to break the turn indicator switch on My 81 r65. It is now stuck indicating a right turn anytime the bike is on. Luckily this happened near the house but I haven't been for a ride since. The turn indicator switch flaps back and forth freely. I removed the screw to separate the switch assembly from the handlebar, and the little set screw to remove the orange knob for the turn switch, but still cannot see how to separate the rest of the assembly in order to see the inner side. The yellow high/low beam switch seems to make it impossible to pull the outer shell apart and I don't want to break it. If I could just get it separated I might be able to see what is going on with the turn signal switch. Anyone done anything like this before? It would be a shame to do a full replace, the switch is fairly new and in very clean condition.

If you take the switch apart, you'll probably find a broken plastic part in there, no replacement parts are available, if something is broken, you need to replace the entire switch .

I would be hesitant about buying a used switch, as the switch you get, may not be in much better shape than your broken one .

Personally, I'm on my second replacement switch .