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[1coolrk]

A friend of mine is trying to wire his driving lights so they will work on low or high beam. can someone tell me the best way to do this conversion? Which wires need to be jumped? color of wires? A diagram would be nice.I'VE DONE THIS ON MY RKC but the fatboy seems to be so different inside the headlight.    thank's for any help  Lee [smiley=confused5.gif]

[Twolanerider]

Check out this thread.  Best solution we came up with is discussed there.  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

http://flhrsei.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=eg_gen;action=display;num=1100666666


The solution covered in the thread is safer than the way the harness is wired to begin with.  One thing ot keep in mind with keeping the spotlights on in either a high beam or low beam situation is that for many states that'll be illegal.  It's required in most states that auxiliary running lights  must go out when the high beams come on.

[grc]

Check out this thread.  Best solution we came up with is discussed there.  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

http://flhrsei.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=eg_gen;action=display;num=1100666666


The solution covered in the thread is safer than the way the harness is wired to begin with.  One thing ot keep in mind with keeping the spotlights on in either a high beam or low beam situation is that for many states that'll be illegal.  It's required in most states that auxiliary running lights  must go out when the high beams come on.

I believe it may be possible to wire the spot lamps to a separate circuit and still remain legal.  It would require adding a relay to the circuit that would be triggered by the high beam switch (relay off on high, on on low beams.)  I'll have to look at the wiring diagram to see exactly how it would have to be wired in and still work if the headlamp circuit fails - that is the most important feature anyway. Having the spots on with the high beams will never fly in a state with a state safety inspection; you might get away with it elsewhere if you have the lights aligned properly (slightly down and to the right).

[Twolanerider]

I believe it may be possible to wire the spot lamps to a separate circuit and still remain legal.  It would require adding a relay to the circuit that would be triggered by the high beam switch (relay off on high, on on low beams.)  I'll have to look at the wiring diagram to see exactly how it would have to be wired in and still work if the headlamp circuit fails - that is the most important feature anyway. Having the spots on with the high beams will never fly in a state with a state safety inspection; you might get away with it elsewhere if you have the lights aligned properly (slightly down and to the right).

That was part of the question we wandered around before.  Doing it (having the lights on whenever you want them) is easy.  Being able to keep them that way when you have to get a state inspection would be problematic (in most states).

[hd-dude]

That was part of the question we wandered around before.  Doing it (having the lights on whenever you want them) is easy.  Being able to keep them that way when you have to get a state inspection would be problematic (in most states).

Out of curiosity what is the State inspection? What do they inspect? We don't have them here on motorcycles, just cars and that's for smog check only [smiley=nixweiss.gif]

[grc]

Out of curiosity what is the State inspection? What do they inspect? We don't have them here on motorcycles, just cars and that's for smog check only [smiley=nixweiss.gif]

Many states have an annual or semi-annual safety inspection program, and it includes all vehicles (even trailers in some states).  They check things like brakes, lights, exhaust leaks, presence of emissions equipment, presence of restrictor in fuel filler neck for unleaded fuel, cracked or broken windshields, etc.  One of the lighting checks is that all lights mounted on the vehicle must work, and fog/driving/aux lights cannot be on with the high beams.

Jerry

[Twolanerider]

There is the occasional weirdness among the state checks too.  Several states, for example, require unobstructed vision through the driver's line of sight.  So, obviously, no busted windshields.  No windshield at all, however, then becomes perfectly ok  [smiley=nixweiss.gif]

[TB]

For once, I'm glad I live in Michigan.  No pesky inspections here.  

I run my aux. fogs on a seperate switch so they can be turned on with both high and low beams.  Find them particularly useful when aimed at the ditches to illuminate our fury friends.

[GoFastGirl]

I watched Twolanerider do what I think you guys are talking about her to his bike not too long after he had it.  A movie ended about 11:00 oneevening and he asked if I wanted to hand him tools for a bit and he'd carry the beers.  The whole job only took a little over an hour because we were on the bike at Steak and Shake at 12:45.  So if anyon is thinking about doing this it'snot a hard job.

[Geezer 1941]

I think this is for a Road King, so I am not exactly sure if it holds true on the FatBoy.