Chinese Bulb-blower

[Martay]

Hi,
Im sick to death of replacing bulbs on my Vixen125. Is there an electrical fault that would cause it to blow bulbs?
At last count, ive gone through 4 headlights, 7 side lights (dash, side, and highbeam indicator) 2 tail lights and 1 indicator! (in 10/11 months)
As it stands now, ive got 4 bulbs out.
Any advice greatly recieved, its doing my head in!

____________________
Eat well, poo hard
Drives: Cavalier 2.0 16v
Rides: Slightly ratted Honda City Express

[taz4626]

just to check you are using the right voltage bulbs. On my first bike someone had put 6v bulbs in rather than 12 volt so i replaced them with 6v until it blew again so i checked the voltage at the bulb connector and it was 12volts

It could be your votage regulator as normally an alternator will produce more than 12v to allow the battery to charge if your regualtor is not working the higher may be reaching your bulbs and blowing them?

or is the bike vibrating unusually as bulbs dont like vibration?

[Martay]

Thanks for the advice.
The bulbs are 12V and so is the wiring. The lights are run directly off the battery, without the engine running. It does vibrate like a big vibraty thing, but not more than ive noticed before.
If i can put it down to vibration thats fine, i was just concerned something else may have gone wrong. Is there a simple method to check the regulator?
Thanks
____________________
Eat well, poo hard
Drives: Cavalier 2.0 16v
Rides: Slightly ratted Honda City Express

[taz4626]

if you have a voltmeter start your bike and check the voltage at the bulb connections and see what the voltage is. It should be a steady 12 volts maybe a little less just on idle but give it a rev and see what it peaks at, if it stays around 12 volts then your regualtor is working if it spikes up and the comes down ie is unsteady your regualtor would need changing. if you havent got a voltmeter they are cheap enough a few quid will pick you up a cheapy one

[Martay]

Thats great.
Ive got a multimeter kicking round here somewhere
Il check it in the morning, not sure the neighbour would like me running it now!
Thanks for your help
____________________
Eat well, poo hard
Drives: Cavalier 2.0 16v
Rides: Slightly ratted Honda City Express

[taz4626]

no problem at all let me know how it goes also just to check your using motorbike specific bulbs as they are a little more resistant to vibration

[Martay]

Hi,
Yes, they are motorbike specific, ive been getting them from Halfords. Might get them elsewhere in future...
Il check the voltage and let you know how it goes
Thanks
____________________
Eat well, poo hard
Drives: Cavalier 2.0 16v
Rides: Slightly ratted Honda City Express

[stirlinggaz]

Hi,
every chinese bike i have owned, ( & i have had a few,lol) has had some sort of electrical issues.
most of it has been down to the wiring or excess vibration.
they use the cheapest thinnest guage wire available, use dodgy connectors & they cant solder.lol
on the multi-meter it should sit at just over 12v on idle & go up to around 15v @ 5000rpm.
the regulator rectifier might be faulty but most likely it is just down to buld quality & will probaby be one of those things you have to live with, im afraid.
though its definately worth replacing ALL external fixings with stainless steel ones, fitting nylon/rubber washers & using threadlock. (helps with vibration) & anything that looks like it might let water in-seal it up with silicone sealant.
also worth putting silicone anywhere you can see headlamps etc move around at high revs. (like light mounts/brackets)
next time your replacing a bulb, have a look at the bulb socket.
does it sit tight or does it wobble about? (silicone again,lol)
its also worth wrapping any wires you can see, with tape.
i have even went as far as replacing loads of wires & block connectors, on looms, with some success.
i dont think the chinese are quite up to western standards when it comes to electrics. (or welding, or tyre making, or brakes ... or most things come to think of it, lol)
cheers,
GAZ

[Martay]

Hi,
Thanks for the advice Gaz + Taz...
Ive had the headlight to bits this morning, and checked the voltage.
The voltage it 11.8V at idle, then lifts to 12.4V at anything above idle. (2000 - 10 000 rpm)
The bulbs are tight in the holder. Ive put a bit of electrical contact cleaner in the holder to try help things out.
Il put the blowing of bulbs down to vibration.
Thanks guys for the help

____________________
Eat well, poo hard
Drives: Cavalier 2.0 16v
Rides: Slightly ratted Honda City Express

[taz4626]

anytime mate