Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[bandit]

Put on a Custom Dynamics LED tail light
Genesis II Laydown Smoked No Window
SKU GEN-2-LD-S

Surprise: there are 2 holes in the rear fender,
to led water and mud into the tail light. Congrats
to the designer, I would like to know, what he was
smoking 

The LED itself, bright and perfect 

[bandit]

the 2 holes

[bandit]

standard light

[bandit]

brake light

[GregKhougaz]

This is a great warning for those with the international model. Before the installation, were you getting dirt in the tail light?
I can attest the domestic model does not have this issue.

[OldSkull]

Isn't there a foam like gasket that goes there?

[bandit]

Maybe there was and I have lost it, but the
first time I opened it, there were the 2 holes
and a lot of mud and sand inside. So they have
to been open for a longer period. Will check the
next time, I meet with my buddies.

[CVO2FIXUP]

 Have the same holes, and I taped them up with tuck tape ( neat and tidy job ) and now no more dust or grime in my Panacia light.

[grc]

The domestic standard style tail lamps have the same two holes in the base - that is where the wires enter the tail light.  Yes, other less cheap companies would have used molded rubber grommets on the wires to seal those holes.  My 2005 has those same open holes in the base btw, and the part traces it's lineage to 1999.  What keeps the dirt and water out of the actual lens is the reflector portion of the lens assembly and the bulb socket. 

Jerry

[CVO2FIXUP]

 Stock brake light seems to be pretty impermeable to dust and water. Aftermarket tail lights are not that good and let in all kind of sheezat.  I used some Tuck tape, neatly applied to seal off the holes and bingo, nice dry and dust free aftermarket brake light.   

[100HP]

   Kind of like to see what this tuct tape looks like. Is that the Canadian version?   Just saying..

[CVO2FIXUP]

 Tuck tape is like packing tape ( stuff you put in to a tape gun ) but it's red, thicker and the glue is f_ _ _ _ ing insane, and lasts for a long time in all kinds of weather ones applied. Home Depot has it. Just ask for Tuck Tape.

[bandit]

But questions still remains:

do we have to use tuck tape, to avoid water, mud,... on a higher quality bike?

The tail light has one cable, why then 2 holes and not covered?

[CVO2FIXUP]

I think these holes are there because there are a ton of accessory's that plug in to the tail light housing and these extra wires get routed through the holes for convenience.  Now, Harley could of made the junction for accessory plugs under the seat or something. Would of bin neater for sure. 

[grc]

But questions still remains:

do we have to use tuck tape, to avoid water, mud,... on a higher quality bike?

The tail light has one cable, why then 2 holes and not covered?

Your particular light may only have one harness entering the back, but others that use the same part have two.  Manufacturer's use one part to cover many different applications, which is much less costly than designing and making unique parts for every possible model or variation.  If companies didn't do it this way, most products would cost much more than they do now.

I fully agree that the holes should not have been left open to all the dirt and water that gets thrown up inside that fender.  Other companies faced with routing wiring outside of fully enclosed bodies use molded rubber grommets on their wiring harnesses to seal the openings, and I can't imagine why Harley couldn't do the same.  However, since they've been doing it this cheaper way for a very long time and getting away with it, I don't imagine they are going to spend the extra money now to redesign the base to accept such grommets, and add those grommets to the wiring harness. 

Jerry