spotlights on my 1947 Chief

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  • micmac
    Senior Member
    • Feb 2009
    • 466

    #1

    spotlights on my 1947 Chief

    Ok so I am not an electrical expert by any means. Since I moved up here from North Carolina I cannot find my copy of "Modern Motorcycle Mechanics" but my spotlights have given out. Perhaps you kind folks could assist me in tracing it down? Ive looked through the archives and don't seem to be able to find anything on this. I really enjoy having them at night, especially with all the "Swamp Donkey's" roaming around at night (Moose). Tank you in advance.
    Pete
    Pete Cole AMCA #14441
    1947 Indian Chief
  • DEEBS47Chief1991
    Living The Dream
    • Jan 2023
    • 1256

    #2
    Pete, do those units have two individual switches one on each light? If they both went out it's either two open bulbs or the connection at the ignition switch came loose. You can remove the two screws that hold the dash cover to remove it and take a look at the terminals.

    DSCN2832.JPG


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    • DEEBS47Chief1991
      Living The Dream
      • Jan 2023
      • 1256

      #3
      Switch like this on both? Opera Snapshot_2024-08-05_125044_www.jerrygreersengineering.com.png

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      • pisten-bully
        '46 Chief rider
        • Jul 2010
        • 1662

        #4
        Pete, when something like that pops up on mine I'll check grounds after verifying with a test light that there's power going in. Spots are grounded through the mounting stem usually and it's often as simple as loosening the mount and retightening to establish a good ground again.
        Pisten Bully is Harry Roberts in Vermont.

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        • DEEBS47Chief1991
          Living The Dream
          • Jan 2023
          • 1256

          #5
          Terminals on ignition switch. Just follow the wire(s) up.

          ezgif-2-d568c57f7e.jpg

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          • DEEBS47Chief1991
            Living The Dream
            • Jan 2023
            • 1256

            #6
            Originally posted by pisten-bully View Post
            Pete, when something like that pops up on mine I'll check grounds after verifying with a test light that there's power going in. Spots are grounded through the mounting stem usually and it's often as simple as loosening the mount and retightening to establish a good ground again.
            Hi Harry, I had a lot of issues with blown headlights and Pathfinder bulbs until I ran a ground wire to the front end. Grounding through the grease in the stem bearings can sometimes cause the front end to float electronically and cause bulbs to blow. Ever since I ran the ground wire I never had another problem.

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            • DEEBS47Chief1991
              Living The Dream
              • Jan 2023
              • 1256

              #7
              If you think maybe your bulbs are burnt out you can use a mutimeter set to ohms to see if there is any continuity on the filament. This bulb shows "open" and is no good.


              meter.jpg

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