The BSA A7-A10 Forum

Technical (Descriptive Topic Titles - Stay on Topic) => Lucas, Ignition, Charging, Electrical => Topic started by: Worty on 21.04. 2016 17:32

Title: Lighting problem
Post by: Worty on 21.04. 2016 17:32

Evening all

The head and tail lamp of my '62 A10 are very temperamental - they often stop working after a run or even if I turn it from lock to lock.  On one occasion, I fiddled with the wires in the headlamp shell and they came back on.  Similarly, I tapped the ammeter on a couple of occasions and they decided to work again.

Do you reckon a fault with the ammeter or, possibly, the headlamp connector?  Does the ammeter need to earth through the headlamp shell?

Finally, does anyone know of a better headlamp connector than the original which seems to be a very Heath Robinson affair!!

Cheers!

Title: Re: Lighting problem
Post by: bsa-bill on 21.04. 2016 21:38

Many of us run a separate earths from the rear light and one from the headlight to where the battery earths on the frame, the headlight in particular has to earth through the steering bearings, this works but think about the very fine points of contact through the bearing balls.

Title: Re: Lighting problem
Post by: duTch on 21.04. 2016 22:18

 I do as Bill says with dedicated earth wire to battery only connected to engine casing for dynamo, but had a problem a couple of months ago after I 'fixed' the light switch, so went and bought a new one- the old one was very sloppy.

 The ammeter doesn't (shouldn't) earth, it tells how much current is flowing. You could take the ammeter out and connect the wires together and everything will still work (except the ammeter *eek*).

 Sounds like you (obviously) have a loose connection.

Title: Re: Lighting problem
Post by: KiwiGF on 22.04. 2016 06:45

Might be worth checking the screws clamping the wires to the switch are tight, one recently came loose on my bike, and the headlight randomly flashed on and off.....a simple fix but not one to do on the roadside in the dark  *problem*

Title: Re: Lighting problem
Post by: morris on 22.04. 2016 21:22

Quote from: KiwiGF on 22.04. 2016 06:45

Might be worth checking the screws clamping the wires to the switch are tight, one recently came loose on my bike,

I use these on the screw connectors;
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-200pcs-Wire-Copper-Crimp-Connector-Insulated-Cord-Pin-End-Terminal-AWG-10-22-/291032609846
Never had one coming loose after that

Title: Re: Lighting problem
Post by: Worty on 23.05. 2016 21:08

Thanks everyone, very helpful!!

Title: Re: Lighting problem
Post by: rocker21 on 26.05. 2016 16:36

slightly off topic, get a Cibie Z beam headlight unit, this takes an H4 bulb and then get the LED conversion, result is a brilliant white light that goes a long way and will work on 6v and only uses a fraction of the power a normal bulb uses and it is better focused as well, the amp meter hardly moves when on main beam, cost a little bit but if you live where street lights are rare it is a must, a few guys in the bike club have them and will not go back to the old system