Burning out headlights?

[Frankencelery]

My 200s seems to have burned out the headlight and taillight at the same time. I had replaced the taillight just a couple weeks ago. Today I installed a new headlight, and it lasted 5 minutes before burning out again. It was then that I noticed the taillight was out too. Did they both go at once? I'm confused. The 200s doesn't have a regulator, so what could cause this?

[Erics350x]

maybe the lighting coil is shorting out?

[DILLIGAF]

Take a look at your wiring diagram. The dark green wire goes from both headlight to tail light. You might have a short somewhere.

[Frankencelery]

I know that flipping a light switch on and off multiple times can burn out the bulb, so yes, a shorting coil could cause that effect, but I'd see the headlight flickering, and it was completely solid and then just went out.

[Erics350x]

use a volt meter and see what kinda volts and amps you are getting at the headlight

[rdlsz24]

On my 185s both head and tail need to be working or all the juice goes to the one that isn't burned out, causing that bulb to cook as well. I read this in my service manual after I used my headlight without having a tail light even installed lol. The bulb filled up with smoke and that was the end of it. It's all good now that I reinstalled the tail light.

Rob

[Frankencelery]

That's gotta be it. I had replaced the taillight bulb with an automotive 93 or something similar, and it probably burned out right away and I never noticed. Then the headlight was getting too much juice. When I replaced the headlight again yesterday, I never thought to check the taillight.

I've got both on order. I'll replace them at the same time and we'll see what happens.

[Howdy]

If it was me, I would add a after market "Volt Pack" ( 12 regulator ) to the machine and then you won't blow the bulbs. I have done this to a couple 185/200 machines and never had a problem afterwards.

Volt Packs run $15 or so plus shipping from Dennis Kirk.
Howdy

[cybrman]

I have no rear light on my 200s and the front light works great.
I don't think that the rear being out is gonna fry the front. The green wire is ground. The fact that both went out close to the same time may indicate a short somewhere.
Before replacing the bulbs I would get out the multimeter and make sure I don't have something grounded causing both to blow. Start with the switch and work from there....

[Erics350x]

i've ran several different machines without one light or the other and never had that problem

[rdlsz24]

I had never heard of it either, but here is what my Haynes manual says, word for word:

The headlamp and tail lamp obtain their power in the form of alternating current, directly from the generator. This does away with the need for a battery, a rectifier and fuses, but does create one problem not normally encountered. If one of the bulbs in the system fails or has a bad or loose connection, it either goes out completely or only operates intermittently, and the remaining bulb(s) in the circuit will also be adversely affected. This problem is caused by the other still functioning bulb(s) receiving all the available current from the generator. This is obviously an excessive amount of current and will lead to rapid failure of the remaining bulb(s).

Rob

[cybrman]

Nice find there Rob, learn something new everyday.

[Frankencelery]

So Howdy, you're saying you've had this with a number of ATC's? I've never heard of a volt-pack. I'm gonna have to look that up.

[Frankencelery]

Well, I'll be....here it is!

http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/Product.jsp;jsessionid=0RKKVOMJZADYRLA0WTVSM4VMDK0 NCIV0?store=Main&skuId=21700

I'm not so sure about that link, so here's where I found it:

http://www.denniskirk.com

I searched on volt-pack and found it. Here's the description:

Moose Universal AC Regulator

* Extends the life span of headlights and taillights of off-road vehicles that have no battery
* 12-volt regulator eliminates power surges
* Sealed, weatherproof construction
* Easy to install

[Frankencelery]

Update- I got the replacement headlight and taillight bulbs. Installed both and I've done about 20 minutes of night riding without incident. Seems to have fixed my problem. If it burns out again, I'll buy the volt-pack.