Headlight when engine not running

[LouisL]

Hi,

I removed  a Vetter fairing and installed an OEM headlight.

My 1980 R65 is winterized and I probably won't be gassing it up this year due to the Covid thing.

In my tests, the headlight only comes on when I flash the high beams. The headlight low beam and high beam does not come on.

Does the engine need to be running for the headlight to come on?

Thanks a lot!

Louis

[Bob_Roller]

No, the head light should come on as soon as the key is in the 'ON' position .
Sounds like a headlight switch issue, the momentary position or dip position uses a different contact in the switch .

[georgesgiralt]

Ha !
What version your bike is ? US or Europe ?
Does it have a 3 position ignition switch or a 5 position ignition switch ?
If it has the 5 position switch it's behavior is normal, for the headlight to show you must be in the 5th position....of the ignition switch.

[Matt Chapter]

I have the euro spec headlight switch on my '86 (US spec otherwise), when I turn the ignition on, the head light is on, if I have the headlight switch to on.

[Luca]

Is the engine killswitch in the "on" position?  Can't recall if it shuts off the headlight, but it certainly kills the indicator lights

[LouisL]

Thanks for the replies.

It is a US model.

In the middle position there are no lights. The parking lights do come on in the running position.

I just checked the kill switch. The indicator lights go out.

Everything was apart. The ignition switch is wired the way I found it. Maybe a fuse or the headlight relay or I made a mistake.

At least I know now that the lights should be on! I only road the bike a few times last year and in daylight.

[mrclubike]

Double check the wiring on the back of the ignition switch

The wiring as it come from the factory has no fuse for the head light

[Barry]

Diagram of ignition switch connections and legend for the wire colours.

[Barry]

Legend

[LouisL]

Thanks for posting the switch circuit. I have 2 circuit diagrams that I got off the net. The 1980 US version is not as common as other R65 variants.

The ignition switch is wired the same as the photo I took when I took things apart.

The grip headlight switch was not touched except to remove the unit when the handlebars came off.

I have to get in there with a volt meter and see what is being powered.

[LouisL]

I found the problem. I had missed the fact that the back of the main switch had an extra lug. I shifted everything down one and the headlights work proper.

The problem I have now and maybe not a new problem is that the park position does nothing. There is no voltage coming out of contact 58 in park position - hopefully the attached diagram shows this numbering. Everything is okay in the On position.

Is this a big deal?

Thanks a lot.

[skippyc]

It was a big deal for me. I failed to turn the ignition all the way off and flattened the battery

[mrclubike]

The problem I have now and maybe not a new problem is that the park position does nothing. There is no voltage coming out of contact 58 in park position - hopefully the attached diagram shows this numbering. Everything is okay in the On position.

Is this a big deal?

Thanks a lot.

Do the tail and instrument lights work if so i guess its not a big deal

If they do work then
More than likely  you still do not have the grey wire on the back of the ignition switch on the correct terminal 

Get your volt meter out and find what terminal comes on in both positions and plug into that