COBRA LIGHTBAR PROBLEM

[Scoot]

[quote=billmac ]

Originally Posted by "Doc (Lonewolf)":v323sj30

25 watt filament, not selaed but alot brighter than sealed, very good setup IMO and cheap.

Hey Doc, where you buy those Cobra light replacement bulbs? Mine are probably going to go out now that I have read this thread. [/quote:v323sj30]

Hey Doc are these the bulbs you talking about? here they are alittle cheaper.

http://store.valueaccessories.net/replac....ndblights. aspx

[VulcanE]

I solder like CJ, except that if I'm doing 3 or more wires, I do them to where when done it looks like a flat "Y" on 3 wires, or a flat "X" on 4 wires. This is to where I can put the shrink wrap on, and it not polk a hole in the wrap when heated. JUST don't forget to slide the shrink wrap on before you connect the wires to solder. Guess how I know. ???

[Top Cat]

Thanks CJ and VE, I will try that next time.


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I don't think so Scoot. The ones that were in mine had a wire coming off them to plug into the connector in the caseing

[VulcanE]

Originally Posted by VulcanE

The Cobra spots use a H-3 bulb, I've had to replace 1 in 3 1/2 years.

Guess I jinxed myself on this one. Sunday, while going to the Barber Motor sports Museum over in Birmingham AL., I pulled up behind a car and noticed that my right spot was out. When I got back home, both were out . Got to checking, the right one, if you wiggle the wire going into the bulb (H3) it will go on and off, and the left one was just blown, So today I reckon I'll stop and get 2 new bulbs ::)

[VulcanE]

Originally Posted by Scoot

Hey Doc are these the bulbs you talking about? here they are alittle cheaper.

http://store.valueaccessories.net/replac....ndblights. aspx

Here's what a H3 bulb looks like, and price is reasonable too. Guess I'll be going to the local Advance auto parts store.

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...goryCode=4018B

[scion0]

Originally Posted by VulcanE

I solder like CJ, except that if I'm doing 3 or more wires, I do them to where when done it looks like a flat "Y" on 3 wires, or a flat "X" on 4 wires. This is to where I can put the shrink wrap on, and it not polk a hole in the wrap when heated. JUST don't forget to slide the shrink wrap on before you connect the wires to solder. Guess how I know. ???

You read it in a book? ??? ::) Or read it on Gadgets page? ;)

[scion0]

Just put the Cobra lightbar on and looks great EXCEPT for the yellow lights due to my very WHITE and bright headlight. Is there a Whiter/brighter alternative out there for the Cobra H3 replacements?

[natwilli]

Thanks for all the input and ideas. Got my bike out and checked the fuse. Sure enough it was blown. Since the left light burned out I replaced both of them also. Put a new fuse in and all was good. Rode around the block and found out the fuse had blown again. The bulbs that I put back in were 55 watt instead of the 25 watt that came in it. Could this be my problem now?

[VulcanE]

I don't know if the pair of 55 watt bulbs are blowing your fuse or not,but the other day when I went to get my new bulbs, all I could find was either 55 or 100 watt bulbs. I have mine wired to the low beam and use a headlight modulator on all 3 lights (it will only handle 130 watts total and the low beam is 55 watts. That means I could only have a max wattage per bulb of 37.5 watts. So..... I was looking for 25 or 35 watt bulbs)I checked about 6 parts stores and ended up at NAPA. He only had 55 and 100 watt, but he said he could have me 2-35 watt bulbs the next morning. I told him to order them, and at 7:30 the next morning I picked them up and they were $6.59 each. They work great and are a LOT brighter, and hasn't blown a fuse yet.

[natwilli]

I'll have to check with the local Napa dealer. I'm pretty sure it's the 55 watt bulbs causing it. Last night coming home from work I left the lightbar turned off until I turned onto my road. While applying the brakes to turn into the driveway the fuse blew. Otherwise I had no problem. Sad thing is that when the fuse blew the other day, I didn't realize that I had no brake light. I thought the only thing it affected was the running lights and lightbar lights. Glad i realized it before riding too far.

[VulcanE]

I got my receipt out and looked at it. The bulbs are ,Wagner BP1235/H3, And they were $6.99 each. I do have my lights wired on there own circuit with a relay. Power for the lights comes from the accessory wire in the headlight bucket (it is fused), and power to open and close the relay comes from the dim wire to the headlight, and is routed thru a rocker switch(and has an in-line fuse) mounted in the fairing. If I do blow a fuse, all I would loose would be the spots.

[ringadingh]

Originally Posted by Top Cat (TC)

Soldering, there's a story in itself. I tried soldering my connections when I installed my Cobra lightbar :-/ WOW I cannot get anything to stick. I just twisted the wires together and electrical taped them. that was a year ago and all is well as we speak.
I did have a bulb burn out due to condensation getting in the housing. Burned out three in about 2 months.
Installed sealed beams and no more problem.
I think CJ,s theroy ( Is it possible the left light simply burned out and you blew a fuse while troubleshooting the wiring? ) is where I would start looking.

Also besides what CJ said, use the correct solder for electrical use, Ive had problems in the past with it not sticking. Electrical solder with a flux in it makes it easy.