Self healing Valk Parts

[Willow]

Last week the light went out on my tach.  I wasn't really surprised.  I replaced the lamp in the speedometer fifty thousand miles ago and it was way overdue.  To make things worse, when I replaced the light source for the speedo I went to a Harley shop and bought a brighter bulb.  Yep, the Harley part was more powerful.  Being a bit cheap, though, I was waiting for the tach lamp to burn out before upgrading it as well.

When the tach light went out I was not really prepared for how much I would miss it.  I ride out of work at 18:30 normally this time of the year.  It's dark.  I don't really need the tach that much most of the time.  It doesn't tell me anything that I desperately need to know, but just looking down there and seeing a dark spot where it should be just disturbed me more than I thought it would.

Apparently it didn't disturb me enough to incite me to action.  I didn't replace it over the weekend.  I didn't ride Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, and I didn't get around to visiting the auto parts store.

Thursday evening I was coming through Lawrence, about halfway home, and bounced the bike pretty well on a rough stretch of street.  It didn't catch me unaware.  I know that stretch is there and I normally just let it bounce a bit rather than trying to wriggle around all the rough spots.  I looked down and noticed a glow from the tach.  Wow, I thought, the reflection from these street lights is almost as bright as the lighted dial.

I came out of the city and onto the darkened road and glanced down to see that the tach face was still illuminated.  The tach light was working again!

I puzzled a bit and decided I had it figured out.  I had hit a bump that jarred the broken filament enough to cause the two ends to touch and the electrical current was holding them together.  It was sort of an electrical connection (no charge for the ad).  When I shut off the power, the pieces would fall apart and the lamp would be once more non-functional.  I forgot to check when I arrived at home.

Friday evening, on the way home from work, I looked down and noticed the tach was still lit.  I guess that blew my electrical connection theory.

So, anyone else have Valk parts that are self healing? 

[Jack B]

It's a Honda!

[junior]

you never slapped your headlight when it was burned out have you? i know what has happened, the josseling og the rough road had made the filement wiggle and made contact with the other half and had fused itself back together. JSYK it could last a day or another 50,000  

[fstsix]

Yep right spotlight 2 years did the same thing just had to hit it little harder each time. Finally spent the 18.00 bucks after i almost slapped it of the bike. 

[Mike in AR]

My speedo light does that. A gentle tap will usually get the light to working again. How hard is it to replace these lights, and where can I get it?

[Willow]

How hard is it to replace these lights, and where can I get it?

For the speedo (Standard, Tourer) just a couple of minutes.  Disengage the cable; remove one screw and pull the case; replace the bulb; and put it back together.

According to Jeff K.'s generic parts, Wagner Lighting part # 193 (4.6W, 14V)

[Michael K (Az.)]

Carl, My speedo bulb's been doing that for a while now. You'll see.

[f-Stop]

My speedo light blinked a few times after I left the Gatherin'-o-the Fools BBQ last April.  Been fine ever since! ???  I didn't even have to hit a pot hole or nothin'!

[sugerbear]

as my first boss outa high school taught me "never force it just get a bigger hammer"

[fstsix]

You mean Speed wrench?