The Hodaka Club Forum

Guys. I bought a set of 12, 6 volt instrument lamps from H-P.com (before Terry). Bulbs came in & when installed and lit, they were getting so hot that I was getting smoke from the neutral indicator/turn signal/high beam cluster. It was burning for up inside the rubber seals. Seems they were too hot to even touch, and after a short while they would also burn out.

Does anyone else think this is a sign of voltage regulator failure? I’m beginning to think this is why I started having head light issues and also my left turn signal stopped working (have to check that lamp to see if one burnt out as well).

Let me know what you think. I went ahead & bought a replacement Voltage Regulator, because I couldn’t find the like new spare one I had. (It should show up now that the additional purchase arrived.)

Victor

I would say they are getting too much voltage. What bike is this? Is there a battery in the system? I think that the Toad regulator only regulates the headlight/tail light voltage and the rest of the electrics are "sort of regulated" by the battery.

Brian

Check your ground wires. Joe Ormonde.

Joe. As far as I can tell, all my ground wires are good. I even replaced every single bullet terminator on the harness, male & female. Initially, everything was working fine & then just went haywire.

I’m awaiting the arrival of new bullet terminators. All my last kit is gone. So I’ll replace the voltage regulator as soon as I receive them and see what happens. Victor

In answer to Brian’s question, the bike is a Model 99 Road Toad. And it has a brand new battery in it, 6v = to specs. Victor

Right now, I’m very suspicious that the voltage regulator is cooked. Terminators arrived today. So I’ll get them on the wires & swap the regulators out & see if this makes a difference. Now that I bought another regulator, I’m sure the extra one I had will show up! Victor

Well swapping out the voltage regulator made no difference. Inspection showed the main 5 amp fuse blew, and so did the filements on both left turn signal lamps! Fuse replaced, new lamps tomorrow. New headlamp is in the bucket but neither filement is lighting up. Back to testing..... Victor

What voltages are you getting at the output of the regulator? That is the simple and definitive test that should be tried before throwing parts at the system. Voltage shouldn't exceed 9v.
Be cautious, the next thing you can fry will be the battery.

Bill. I’ll have to meter it tomorrow. It’s dark & cold in the garage now. How do you want me to meter it? Victor