84 VF1000 Headlight insanity!

Should be a simple thing but.....I can't figure it out. Headlight stopped working. No power to light, power to fuse, everything else works. I came on for no reason I can find but then went out again, no flicker or nothing. I have wiggled all the wires and the couplers, looked through the wiring diagram extensively but I am lost. HELP!!!

 

Very likely the starter button, check to be sure it has returned to its normal position completely, it is very common for the button's hinge/pivot to break causing the light to remain off until it is pulled back oot.

 

+1

That would be my guess too, at least it's a good place to start.

 

Before you rip the complete electrical system out of the bike.....

Remove the light bulb and use a volt/ohms meter to check if the bulb is bad.
If you do not know how to do that hold the base of the bulb with a tool and hook it to a 12 volt battery.
If the bulb will not work. THEN think about the starter switch.

The start switch is a scource of trouble.
Honda did not want to trust us to turn on our headlights ourselves.
Can you blame them? I see people all the time driving in the dark with no lights and driving with no lights on in the rain.

That is the law now. Wipers on - Lights must be on. California.

 

Headlight issue.

I never thought the starter would affect the headlight but...the starter switch has been acting strange, can't push it in too far or it won't work...thanks.

 

Thanks for the reply, headlight is OK, I'll try the starter switch.

 

Speaking of headlights...I just got a new headlight UPS today and it looks really cool.
IT is 4.5 inches and my present one is 5.5 inches but the new one is black with chrome and will look good on my all black bike.



Glad YOUR headlight was OK too.

 

So what happened? Did you investigate that starter switch?

It is VERY likely that it was the problem.

 

Headlight issue.

All you smart guys were right, it is the starter switch, slightly melted plastic putting the metal tab contact out of alignment. Can't repair it so I need a new switch but no longer available OEM. Any ideas there? I will look on e-bay and Ronnie's.
Again, thanks for the help.

 

If you can't find one and you're handy with wiring diagrams and wiring, you can fit in most year Honda switch gears. I'll probably end up putting a modern switch on my F at some point.