Anyone have any ideas?

Brand new Z400 (less than 2hrs run time) Headlights go dim sometimes - like the alternator stops charging. Headlights are nice and bright, then they get dim for a while (both factory lights) Changing RPM has no effect on brightness. Fan being on or off also has no effect. These are the factory headlights and bulbs. Battery connections look OK - don't see any bad wires anywhere - was on my first night ride so I don't know if this is normal. They do get dim enough to concern me though.


Also, is it just me or is the "hi-beam" setting worthless? Any way to adust the the high setting without changing the low pattern? I think this thing needs more light in a big way.

 

you post is not very legible. Is it related to rpm and fan or not? If the low rpm makes the lights dim then the lamps they use are too big for the stator output. switching to smaller, better quality lamps will actually increase you lighting output. good lighting on a night ride makes the difference between having fun and having one of the best rides ever.

 

Thanks Thor2 - not related to RPM of Fan. Just go dim for about 5-15 seconds, then go back to bright. I'll hook a voltmeter up to it and see what the charging voltage is. Should be about 14volts or so right?

 

does it go dim when your ridin' or when it's just sittin'? if it's when your ridin' it might be a bad ground somewhere.

 

I doubt it's the stator unless it's malfunctioning as I read somewhere that it's a 150 watt stator and I'm pretty sure the lights are 35 a piece, maybe fifty, not sure without looking in my book. Hmmm, interesting, I haven't had my lights on enough yet to know if they do the same or not personally. I am getting the set up from trail tech with bar lights anyhow cause I like turning lights personally when trailing it in the dark. Hope it turns out to be fine.

 

Yeah it does sound like a bad ground somewhere. Let us know how you make out.

 

Thanks guys...will do some tracing of wires. No service manual yet so I'll do my best.

 

so did you find/fix the problem?

 

vooduuchild,

the trail tech lights are more than 2x brighter than the stock lights. you will have brighter turning lights.

 

no luck so far tracking down the ground wires..I'll have to take the plastic off. Only ground i see to the frame is under the front of the tank..not sure where the lights ground yet.

did notice that the swingarm "skid" is injured already (luckily, i replaced the main skid with rpm before my first ride) will get the swingarm skid friday. Also waiting for my pipe but will wait for filter kit before i add that.