Help starter headlight

[DougC]

Gentlemen  I have a 97 and today  when I wet out  it started  just fine   but when I stopped  the starter button  would   not work  and my head light is out  checked all the fuses  and charging system  all is good   is ther  a simple thing  I  have over looked  or does  this  have something to do with  the   two connected   pisss me off   kinda ruined  my  long  weekend ride  grrr

[The emperor has no clothes]

Probably a simple cleaning of the starter switch will do it. I think it's in Shoptalk or do a search here in the tech section.

[Bighead]

Doug don't let it piss you off as meathead said clean the switch. I have had it happen to me in BFE and if you flip it and let it snap out when it happens it will sometimes work again til you can get home to take it apart.

[CASABROKER]

Yep, clean the starter switch, that's what's wrong..  Ask how i know this>

[MarkT]

Temp fix might be to use contact cleaner if you can spritz it in there.  Radio Shack has it.  When you get more time you can prevent future trouble by adding relays to power your headlight.  That's where the load is going through the switch.

[DougC]

Thanks guys  I made it  home   and will take  the   assembly apart tomorrow  I read  some tings  about  lots of small parts inside the switch    but should be able to handle it ..  like on said some simple contact cleaner on it should do  just glad  I don't have to get into the headlight pod  and everything else ...  I will let  you know   how I made out with it ..... this is a great  place  always  lots  of help  from  buys that  ride the best bikes.. thanks  again

[DougC]

Ok  gents  I have   sprayed the crap our of the  switch  clean as a whistle   looking into the  head light pod.  chasing wires    any other good advice  for me 
not much of an electrician   but  can    follow   wires   allover    gona  clean all connectors  and see what happens

[MarkT]

To protect the switch by reducing the load on it - which will also preserve the hi-lo headlight switch - add relays, one for the hi beam and one for the lo beam.  You can put them in the headlight bucket.  Use a standard automotive relay from any auto parts store - 4 or 5 pin doesn't matter.  Also buy an inline fuse holder and fuse, and 14ga wire or bigger.  Bonus, with this mod you can install a much higher watt bulb and light up the road WAY better.  I run a 130/90 H4 bulb for 17 years now.  Might want to also get a higher power plug for the back of the bulb, I got a ceramic one from NAPA. Get the bulbs at http://www.compacc.com/p/kuryakyn-replacement-headlight-bulbs

You don't need to be an electrical guru to do this.  However I recommend you do solder the fittings; don't use Scotch blocks.  Use shrink tubing over the soldered wires.  You need soldering equip and a heat gun, wire, spade fittings.  All available at Harbor Freight (cheap) or automotive store for better quality.

Here's my tech article on the relay install :  http://www.horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Tech_Tips/Headlight_Upgrade/headlight_upgrade.html

[Moonshot_1]

Ok  gents  I have   sprayed the crap our of the  switch  clean as a whistle   looking into the  head light pod.  chasing wires    any other good advice  for me 
not much of an electrician   but  can    follow   wires   allover    gona  clean all connectors  and see what happens

Before you get too deep go here-- http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/VSGPages/starterbutton.htm

Read it well, follow the directions and it is easy peasy. Take your time and take it easy. May take a couple of tries to get it back on track but it is a pretty straight forward procedure. Not sure from your posts if you actually took it all apart.
A no start/no headlights is the switch screamin to be cleaned.
My tourer has 100k and I've had to clean the switch up probably 3-4 times. Couple of those times were multiple attempts to get it just right.

[Bighead]

+1

[DougC]

Gentlemen   I must  say thank for all yor help  I did go to the   shop talk  page and found the article on the starter switch   I did as it  said  and was successful  the  small contacts  on the slide bar  were melted into the  plastic I was able to dislodge them  bring them up a bit  sand everything shiney  and  after a couple of attemps  I have everything running smoothly   lights and all ...  once again  thank you  to all you great guys  out there always  ready to help  when ever a  fellow  Valk  owner is in  need...    lots  of good riding left  in this summer  everyone ride  safe  andhopefully the cagers will always look  twice...

Again Thankyou  all

[Bighead]

If the contacts were melted I would do as Mark suggested and put a relay on and replace the switch itself .

[DougC]

Big head  I am plannimg  on gong to the led set  up for lights   and the melting  was  very miner have 92000 on it  and this is the first problem 
  thanks for all the help