Tail light trouble: 1157 bulb doesn't fit, and is wrong polarity.

[Lyonardo]

I assume the previous owner must have modified the socket to use a fancy aftermarket brake/tail bulb that came with the bike.
When I insert a standard 1157 or 3496 they fit very loosely, but if I wedge it in just right I get a constant bright light, as if the brake is on. No change when I push the pedal.
If I put it in backwards, it functions normally. But only as long as I hold it by hand. It won't turn in the socket of course.
Does anyone have an idea I haven't thought of?

Current workaround:
   Filed off the lowest nib so that I can push the bulb in backwards, and deeper in the socket.
   Temporary. The uneven pressure breaks the base eventually.

Thanks,
Leo

Next idea:
   find a bulb with reversed polarity and a longer base beneath the nibs.
   (so far, no luck on this one)

Hopefully avoidable:
   1. take off the whole assembly, rewire it, and mcgyver it back to fit normal bulbs.
   2. buy a new assembly for about $150

[Steel cowboy]

All standard 1157 bulbs have the same offset pins and 2 contact joints at the base. Did you check to make sure the insert inside the socket is not jammed or broken. It is spring loaded to allow you to push in the bulb and turn it. Use a pecil or wooden dowel to check if the inserts moves in and out. 

[RonW]

Do you still have the old bulb?

[h13man]

Maybe they forced a 1156 into the socket by mistake before realizing their error. I believe I have spare socket setup from a rear end incident last season. I don't throw anything away. BTW you can buy each piece separately I believe.

[sandy]

It sounds like the wiring is backwards. The only place this could happen is under the right side cover where the rear fender harness plugs into the main frame harness. Each wire is separate and can be mixed up.

[longrider]

If the socket was altered you will most likely need a new one. One thing I checked on a few years ago.  I believe the Valkyrie and the honda shadow 750 take the same taillight.  On the procaliber website the light is about 150 for the valk but only 80 for the shadow

[indybobm]

Just curious, is this the same bike you had a similar problem with in June of 2016?

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,88212.0.html

[Leathel]

It sounds like the wiring is backwards. The only place this could happen is under the right side cover where the rear fender harness plugs into the main frame harness. Each wire is separate and can be mixed up.

they also have bullet connectors under the tail light don't they? Had mine of last year and seam to remember another lot of plugs at the tail light end, as well as the big guard plug

[Lyonardo]

Yeah, same bike. Last time I masked the problem by changing the bulb so it would fit in the jury rigged socket. This time I want to fix the problem for good.

Just removed the rear fender, and took it all apart. Then compared it to the parts microfiche. It turns out the entire license, tail light, and rear blinker setup is custom. Looks like the license plate bracket was handmade from sheet metal. Even the wiring isn't stock.
I actually like with the PO did with all of that. So I'll just focus on the bulb socket.
Hopefully I can find a used part on Ebay, just for the socket piece.

Just curious, is this the same bike you had a similar problem with in June of 2016?

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,88212.0.html

[Valker]

Yeah, same bike. Last time I masked the problem by changing the bulb so it would fit in the jury rigged socket. This time I want to fix the problem for good.

Just removed the rear fender, and took it all apart. Then compared it to the parts microfiche. It turns out the entire license, tail light, and rear blinker setup is custom. Looks like the license plate bracket was handmade from sheet metal. Even the wiring isn't stock.
I actually like with the PO did with all of that. So I'll just focus on the bulb socket.
Hopefully I can find a used part on Ebay, just for the socket piece.

Just curious, is this the same bike you had a similar problem with in June of 2016?

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,88212.0.html

Sockets are available at almost any auto parts store.

[RonW]

It's difficult to install a generic socket securely onto the parabolic reflector. Oem taillight sockets I've had experience with have round flanges similar to a rivet that keep them in place. This is against the back side of the parabolic reflector. You have to pry up the flange to remove the socket but it's almost impossible to pry it back the other way properly. After prying up the flange, the socket is removed by pushing it through the front of the parabolic reflector. Can't pull it through the back side since there's a front flange that's a tulip or peened over. The back side flange and the front side flange (oem socket) sandwich the socket to the thickness of the reflector. Can't pry up the front flange since that'll scratch up the parabolic reflector's chrome surface. Anyways, the replacement socket has to have a similar flange or facsimile. I used JB weld.

[Lyonardo]

Yeah, came to the same conclusion after looking at all the tail light pieces separately.
Prying that socket out of there without scratching the silvery surface looks hard.
And finding a generic socket to fit that specific hole might get tricky.

I'll spring for the $95 Base Taillight section (33704-MZ0-671). That will let me keep all the  custom stuff but able to use normal bulbs again.

I suspect that "back off" style bulbs that blink when braking were pretty rare  back in the good ol days.
They had to mod the socket to fit what was available.
They're everywhere now, so I can go back to stock.

Thanks everybody!

It's difficult to install a generic socket securely onto the parabolic reflector. Oem taillight sockets I've had experience with have round flanges similar to a rivet that keep them in place. This is against the back side of the parabolic reflector. You have to pry up the flange to remove the socket but it's almost impossible to pry it back the other way properly. After prying up the flange, the socket is removed by pushing it through the front of the parabolic reflector. Can't pull it through the back side since there's a front flange that's a tulip or peened over. The back side flange and the front side flange (oem socket) sandwich the socket to the thickness of the reflector. Can't pry up the front flange since that'll scratch up the parabolic reflector's chrome surface. Anyways, the replacement socket has to have a similar flange or facsimile. I used JB weld.

[Lyonardo]

Cowboy,
Yep. One of the first things I checked, since I could do it on the bike.
The spring load is strong, and it travels freely from top to bottom.
I guess they put a different socket in there somehow. But I've tried 5 different bulb numbers and either they don't fit, or don't light correctly.
Grinding off the bottom nib lets me put it in backwards, and it works fine.
But after a while, that extra spring pressure bends the bulb base.
I have to replace them about every 6 months now.

All standard 1157 bulbs have the same offset pins and 2 contact joints at the base. Did you check to make sure the insert inside the socket is not jammed or broken. It is spring loaded to allow you to push in the bulb and turn it. Use a pecil or wooden dowel to check if the inserts moves in and out.