The Hodaka Club Forum

Regarding the AC/DC switch on the headlamp... when not running, but with the ignition ON, the tail light is on in both AC and DC mode. My expectation was for the tail light to only be ON if the switch was in DC mode. Since it's on in both modes this leads me to believe something may be wired wrong. Is this mode of operation correct?... tail light should only be on in DC mode?

Thanks,
Kurt

That sounds correct. The AC mode should power the electrical system off the magneto. The DC mode should power certain items through the battery power.
From the 02 Road Toad owners manual:
"A/C - D/C EMERGENCY SWITCH
The emergency switch is located on the bottom left side of the headlight body. To turn on taillight for emergency parking, move switch from A/C to D/C position. Return switch to A/C position for normal running conditions."

Here’s the Toad wiring diagram! Maybe it will help you check your wires.

The AC/DC switch should have the red, green & brown wires all on the same side of the switch. I believe if you have the AC side of the switch facing forward, all 3 wires go on the side closest to the left sitting on the bike.

The red connects is a 3 way red wire connector which connects to 3 red wires on the main harness. One for the neural indicator lamp power, one for the horn power & one for the speedo light power. The green is a a 2 way connector and connects to the green wires from the main harness in the bucket and the green wire from the light switch. And the brown is a 3 way with only one wire connected to it from the main harness in the bucket which connects to the brown power for the rear tail light.

Maybe you have the brown wire from the tail light on the main harness connected to the red wire by mistake? Color fade can cause this kind of mistake. So double check! Victor