Headlight Dims When Braking

GoCastleman · 04-27-2009, 02:15 PM

I have a LF200GY-2 manufactured in March 2006. Curious that my headlight dims when I brake and stays dim when the brakes are released. I have read the post where the headlight brightens when brakes are applied but mine does the opposite. It does not seem to be a pure load issue since the headlight stays dim when I release the brake. Is this a common problem?

FastDoc · 04-27-2009, 02:30 PM

Does one of the brake light switches maybe stick when applied? That plus a weak battery would explain the symptom.

SpudRider · 04-27-2009, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoCastleman

I have a LF200GY-2 manufactured in March 2006. Curious that my headlight dims when I brake and stays dim when the brakes are released. I have read the post where the headlight brightens when brakes are applied but mine does the opposite. It does not seem to be a pure load issue since the headlight stays dim when I release the brake. Is this a common problem?

Welcome to the forums.

No, I do not believe this is a common problem. Other than a stuck switch, I can't think of another cause. However, I am sure others will soon offer some good ideas.

Spud

AZ200cc · 04-27-2009, 10:54 PM

Bad battery is my guess, Or bad connections at the battery or behind the light.

Weldangrind · 04-28-2009, 01:23 AM

Bad battery or maybe a bad regulator. The alternator should be able to provide enough voltage to maintain the headlight when the throttle is released (and the brake is applied), but perhaps the regulator isn't conditioning the power like it should.

Since you said that the headlight fails to return to a bright state upon releasing the brake, I'd start with the battery. What is the battery voltage at rest and when running?

forchetto · 04-28-2009, 04:31 AM

Measure the battery voltage after a good run when it should be fully charged. It should read 12.5 or 12.6 volts with everything switched off. Turn on a heavy-ish consumer like a brake light (21w), and the voltage shouldn't drop below 12 volts. If it does the battery is sulphated and has a high internal resistance and can not hold a charge.

GoCastleman · 04-28-2009, 11:22 AM

Thanks all for the replies. Good community here for these bikes considering the parts availability, product standards, etc. I just bought the bike used ($900 with 285 miles or maybe kilometers?) and it might have a weak battery. I hooked it up to a battery charger last night and the symptom went away. I will let it charge fully and report back. I bought a battery maintainer and wired a permanent connector to the battey so I could keep the battery in better shape. I do this on my other bike as well.

By the way I read somewhere that that some of these bikes have a KM odometer and a speedometer in MPH. I will compare a known distance for mine and verify.

I do not really care for the bright blue color of this bike so I was considering camo paint or a wrap like Camoclad. I am not very artistic so the Camoclad my be better for me. Does anyone have a link to pictures of a bike using the Camoclad product? I can get a 4ft by 5ft sheet for under $80. Might make a Ducks Unlimited Special Edition!

FastDoc · 04-28-2009, 11:49 AM

Here you go:
http://www.chinariders.net/modules.p...ighlight=honda

katoranger · 04-29-2009, 04:25 PM

My GY2 reads in MPH speed and Kilometers on the odo.

Allen

04-27-2009, 02:15 PM	#1
GoCastleman Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2	Headlight Dims When Braking I have a LF200GY-2 manufactured in March 2006. Curious that my headlight dims when I brake and stays dim when the brakes are released. I have read the post where the headlight brightens when brakes are applied but mine does the opposite. It does not seem to be a pure load issue since the headlight stays dim when I release the brake. Is this a common problem?
	0

04-27-2009, 02:30 PM	#2
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Does one of the brake light switches maybe stick when applied? That plus a weak battery would explain the symptom. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

04-27-2009, 10:54 PM	#4
AZ200cc Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Show Low Arizona Posts: 2,889	Bad battery is my guess, Or bad connections at the battery or behind the light. __________________ <br />2001 Suzuki DR200SE<br />1997 Suzuki RM250 YIKES<br />1995 Yamaha Breeze 125 daughters<br />1991 Honda XR80r Restored<br />maybe a 2003 Yamaha TTR90
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04-28-2009, 01:23 AM	#5
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Bad battery or maybe a bad regulator. The alternator should be able to provide enough voltage to maintain the headlight when the throttle is released (and the brake is applied), but perhaps the regulator isn't conditioning the power like it should. Since you said that the headlight fails to return to a bright state upon releasing the brake, I'd start with the battery. What is the battery voltage at rest and when running? __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

04-28-2009, 04:31 AM	#6
forchetto Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Gijon, Asturias,Northern Spain Posts: 396	Measure the battery voltage after a good run when it should be fully charged. It should read 12.5 or 12.6 volts with everything switched off. Turn on a heavy-ish consumer like a brake light (21w), and the voltage shouldn't drop below 12 volts. If it does the battery is sulphated and has a high internal resistance and can not hold a charge. __________________ Jincheng Monkey JC50Q-7 (two of them) Skyteam Dax replica ST110-6 (two of them) Zongshen ZS125-43 Qingqi QM200GY-BA Super Motard Yamaha Virago XV1100 Triumph Bonneville SE Qingqi QM110GY PGO Bug rider 250 Buggy
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04-28-2009, 11:22 AM	#7
GoCastleman Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2	Might be the battery Thanks all for the replies. Good community here for these bikes considering the parts availability, product standards, etc. I just bought the bike used ($900 with 285 miles or maybe kilometers?) and it might have a weak battery. I hooked it up to a battery charger last night and the symptom went away. I will let it charge fully and report back. I bought a battery maintainer and wired a permanent connector to the battey so I could keep the battery in better shape. I do this on my other bike as well. By the way I read somewhere that that some of these bikes have a KM odometer and a speedometer in MPH. I will compare a known distance for mine and verify. I do not really care for the bright blue color of this bike so I was considering camo paint or a wrap like Camoclad. I am not very artistic so the Camoclad my be better for me. Does anyone have a link to pictures of a bike using the Camoclad product? I can get a 4ft by 5ft sheet for under $80. Might make a Ducks Unlimited Special Edition!
	0

04-28-2009, 11:49 AM	#8
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Here you go: http://www.chinariders.net/modules.p...ighlight=honda __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

04-29-2009, 04:25 PM	#9
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	My GY2 reads in MPH speed and Kilometers on the odo. Allen __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
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