Headlight question

[Archie Sturmer]

If the long white wire with the red terminal connector will reach the back-center of the three bulbs, then one might test that way.
The test might require a helper or second set of hands, or use of a test battery, (so pedaling would not be necessary).

If it works, then the electrical connection in between the bulbs and the screw terminal on the back of (and electrically insulated from) the light housing may be suspect.

If it doesn’t work, then the problem might be one of three things: 1) no voltage at the end of the wire; 2) no return path (or ground) connection; or 3) three bad bulbs.

 

[GTs58]

Well I clipped the red lead on the spring steel flange by the yellow Dot and held the black lead to the fork stem by the other yellow Dot and spun the generator over with my cordless drill and cannot get any voltage reading if that was what I should be getting. I removed the screw from the generator clamp bracket that contacts the frame and took a small drill bit and drilled in there to make sure there was a bare spot there for the screw to contact.

Was the drill running in reverse or counter clockwise? When driven by the tire the genny rotates counter clockwise.

Looks like the power feed is soldered to the metal tab for the center bulb, so that has a direct power supply that is not switched. If you did not get a reading the way you set up your tester then you are not getting power or you're doing something wrong. Rotation direction of generator? Was the taillight on when you were running that test? You said in an earlier post that you had power to the headlight and now you don't?

 

[Old is Gold]

I have never had power to the headlight to my knowledge. Only the tail light. I had continuity on the length of the wire from the generator to the headlight but no power

 

[Old is Gold]

I did make sure the generator was turning the right direction and the tail light was lighting up as I was testing for the headlight

 

[Archie Sturmer]

Gordy why would the tail light work if the generator isn't grounded correctly?

It depends.
Some generator sets have the rear tail lights mechanically and/or electrically connected directly to the generator and mounting assembly;
on others, the parts may be separate.
We can guess which setup that you have.

 

[Old is Gold]

I guess I don't really think we have clarified where is that kind of paper clip looking spring on the left side of the main housing supposed to contact. The one end is just stuck in the hinge area between the front of the light housing and the rear of the light housing but the other end is just in no man's land and I am wondering what that is supposed to be contacting when the front lens is closed

 

[Old is Gold]

And is the upper light in the housing supposed to be lit when the Black switch is to the right or to the left of dead center and obviously the lower light that is in the center of the housing would be the opposite switch position

 

[Archie Sturmer]

I tried the red lead on both of the different spring steel tabs and moved the headlight high low beam switch to both positions but no luck

Might try connecting the voltmeter to the end of the long white wire with the red terminal connector; (either loose or connected).

If there is power at the Phillips screw on the inside of the housing, then the switch (with the broken handle) may be suspect.

 

[GTs58]

Might try connecting the voltmeter to the end of the long white wire with the red terminal connector; (either loose or connected).

If there is power at the Phillips screw on the inside of the housing, then the switch (with the broken handle) may be suspect.

Only the top hi Beam bulb is switched. The center bulb takes direct current from the generator since the power source is soldered onto it.

That copper wire should be in contact with the metal reflector.

 

[Old is Gold]

Well making a little progress. I alligator clipped a wire lead to the lip of the bottom bulb holder and wedged it underneath that little bent tab that holds the front lens closed to the rear housing and then I clipped another lead to the top flat spring in the main housing and spun over the generator while holding the lead from the flat spring to the top bulb center Post and the bottom bulb center Post and it would light both bulbs when I did that one at a time of course, and it would do that no matter what position I had the switch in which seemed kind of odd.