'94 Headlight Issue

I recently purchased a lightly used 1994 VFR750F. Everything runs great, but recently I've had problems with my headlights. They don't run. Initially I thought maybe I had blown a fuse somehow, but all my fuses were good. So I took the front Cowl off and the headlight relays seemed bad.

I replaced those, and afterward the headlights only work occasionally, and even then only the High Beams. Is there another fix somewhere that I need to perform or is there a short somewhere in my wiring harness?

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

Edit: I've had the headlights tested, they're still good, and if I hotwire them it works ok, but I'd rather not resort to that.

 

I'm going to take a flyer here on the basis of a common wiring weakness on other bikes I've owned, in particular a yamaha FJ1200. The wiring from the battery to the relay was under-spec'd (which is a known problem on VFR's as well w.r.t. the charging system) and was badly damaged/oxidized/brittled from the heat. I replaced the wiring from the battery to the relays with new 10 gauge which was overkill but what I had on hand (amp wiring kit with maxi-fuse holder etc), new ring connector directly to the hot of the battery bypassing the fuse block, new direct frame ground and in my case also replacing the headlight sockets and wiring from the relay to the headlight. Provided your handlebar switch is switching the low power of the relay correctly this should both remedy the problem and give you brighter lights to boot; still it wouldn't hurt to disassemble the headlight switch, clean it out with contact cleaner and a toothbrush and then lube it up well with dielectric grease.

Hope this helps.....

 

Thanksa lot, that does help. I've been reading/hearing that it may also be an issue with the wiring in my starter switch?

 

The headlight switch would be a good start, as stated above. Don't forget to check the resistance on the wiring from the battery, to the fuse, to the relays, to the lights. Separately, to eliminate any questionable sections of wire. Grounds, too.

 

I have not personally noted this to be a weakness of the VFR; while it is also a high load relay with wiring that may be undersized, it is only used intermittently whereas the wiring to the headlight and the regulator/rectifier tends to burn up due to the fact that it is undersized, carries high power, AND is constantly in use while the bike is in operation. If you are having a problem with the starter on a bike this age, I would be more likely to clean (contact cleaner and a small brush) and lube the switch (dielectric grease aka spark plug boot protector) and check the resistance of the wiring first before adding a new wire.

 

This is my first post, as a new owner of a 87 VFR700. I just bought the bike a day or two ago, charged up the dead battery, and it runs great. Except the headlight. I checked the fuse and the bulb, both seem good. Can anyone direct me to where I could find a wiring schematic for the headlights so I can check the wires? Also, where is the headlight switch located? Is it the high/low beam switch?

Thanks guys,
Mike

 

the "START" pushbutton has contacts that interrupt power to headlight, and if the return spring inside weakens the button may not fully pop out and keep headlight contacts open.......

 

where can i find an manual for a 87 vfr 700? it would be pretty helpful to be able to follow all the wiring with the headlights to figure out the problem.

thanks

 

........ and that is why we have forums and chaps like Squirrelman are worth their weight in gold.

I'll stash that piece of information away for later when mine goes tits up :biggrin: