Charge light in the head tube

[Dustybin]

I am sure I saw this recently, I need to do a similar job, what bulb did you use and what resistance is required for the exciter circuit to work properly?

[Luca]

Monte had moved his oil pressure light there: http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1264955502/4#4

He's also got an article in the faq section for a gen lamp auxiliary circuit  (adding a resistor so the bike will charge if the gen lamp burns out).


Then there was Semper Gumby's thread a few pages back, which I think boiled down to a bulb issue: http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1386625502/0

Monte's headstock oil lamp was an LED bulb, which won't work for the alternator.  Maybe you can wire a resistor in line with the bulb?  I'm sure somebody who actually knows electricity (not me) will chime in, but maybe those old threads can get you started.

[Bob_Roller]

Here's a link to an airhead BMW technical site about the charge light and modifications to the lamp circuit .

http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/genlampresistor.htm


Probably a lot more information than you'll know what to do with !!!!!!  

[marcmax]

I used Monte's guide in the FAQ to install a resistor in the circuit when I replaced my gauges. I have a small panel mounted where the handlebars used to be that hold small LED indicators for all of the indicator lights that used to be in the tach. No issues at all with the charge circuit having the resistor inline.

I used lights from Radio Shack (they come in red, green or blue)

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062367&znt_campaign=Category_CMS&znt_source=CAT&znt_medium=RSCOM&znt_content=CT2032232

[montmil]

The red lamp in the steering neck IS my GEN lamp. I don't run an OP warning light. After extending the wires through the steering head, I secured the bulb and thin washer assembly with a dab of silicone adhesive. Butt joint connectors at the bottom of the chassis neck permit disconnects for any needed service.



Bought the lamp at RadioShack for pocket change. Note that it is an LED and has functioned flawlessly for years. I also have a resistor GEN circuit wired in. Belt and braces kinda deal.

[Luca]

The red lamp in the steering neck IS my GEN lamp. I don't run an OP warning light.

Well, my apologies Monte.  But hey, I got my information from a reliable source!  From the first thread I linked:

"I added a Radio Shack LED to the oil pressure circuit. Fitted the lamp into the Steering head top nut, ran the wires out the bottom and added quick disconnect plugs for service access."

[Dustybin]

Gents thanks foe the quick responses, all good gen ta very much

[montmil]

The red lamp in the steering neck IS my GEN lamp. I don't run an OP warning light.

Well, my apologies Monte.  But hey, I got my information from a reliable source!  From the first thread I linked

Must be that 17-year old Russian hacker that hit Target.

[montmil]

The red lamp in the steering neck IS my GEN lamp. I don't run an OP warning light.

Well, my apologies Monte.  But hey, I got my information from a reliable source!  From the first thread I linked

Must be that 17-year old Russian hacker that hit Target.

Well, slap me! One of the problems with owning several Airheads -if you can really call that a problem- is remembering what you've done to whom and how and when. Such is the case with the warning lamp in the steering stem of my '81 R65...

It really is the OP light! D'oh. Was in the shop over the weekend and peeked under the bike's cover for confirmation. It is a RadioShack LED for the OP, not the GEN.

I do not run a GEN lamp on the '81 R65 as it has the resistor circuit hard wired. As such, On the GEN circuit, I'm unsure if an LED would work or not. But the Shack has small conventional bulbs much like the LED-sized that most definitely would function properly.

Sorry for my addled confusion...