Lights are very Dim, but only Head Lights? By mapbike (Read 9,863 times)

[mapbike]

Hello, been a while since I been here I have a MC-74 150cc Scoot and after I stared it to go to work this morning I suddenly noticed that my light started dimmimg and finally got to the point to where it looks like they are running on maybe half the voltage they need....... I have not had a chance to put a meter on the battery while it's running to see if battery is being charged but since the lights run off the stator I'm thinking that is the problem, scooter has almost 1,800 miles on it but it seems I remember reading that the stators are a known weak spot on these china scoots.

Anyone with experience please give me your thoughts on this please.

Thank you, Shan

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[robb]

It could be the stator, but I'd check grounds first. Have you had to kick start it or charge it since you noticed the lights dim ?

[mapbike]

No I havent done anything to it yet, found the problem at 5:00AM this morning before leaving for work, put in my 12hrs and wont be messing with it again until Thursday.........

when I hit the electric starter it just kicks right off just like it should, battery seems to be charging just fine, but I cant be sure of that yet.

That is a good idea about checking all the grounds though and this I will do Thursday robb, Thank you very much for the advice.

If I put a meeter on the battery and it is showing 13-14 volts while engine is running this should be a good charge rate correct?

I know it is on most 12v systems but I haven't messed with these scooters that much yet other than replacing stock parts with up grades.

Thanks, Shan

[Cruiser]

Most 150cc scoots use a separate winding off the stator for lights. This is an AC output. The battery charging function is independent of the lighting circuit. Checking all the grounds is a good idea and also check the wiring coming out of the stator along with the connectors. Sometimes the connectors get loose or corroded and sometimes the wires at the stator will appear to be overheated.

[sprocket]

If you have a yellow and a white wire coming from the stator and going to the rectifier/regulator then one is for battery charging and one is for DC lights.

You need to check your voltages if your grounds are good...

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[mapbike]

Thanks fella's I'll be checking all these wires and grounds as soon as I can, I took a 50+ mile round trip today and by the time I got back home my lights are just barely burning a very dim Orange, but what is weird is that my turn signals and brake lights are still very bright just like they should be, it's only the head light and the other 2 #194 bulbs that are on each side of the head lights that are very DIM..!

This makes me think I must just have a real bad connection some where going to the head lights.

What do you fella's think?

Peace, Shan

[grima]

I've seen this on cars. Usually indicates a weak connector to the light. I'd check voltage output at the bulbs, then work backwards to the stator coil (doubt you'll get that far, but work it slow.)

[mapbike]

Yeah thats what I'll do, battery is staying charged good, brake lights and turn signals are working good and very bright so it must be a bad connection to the headlights that shouldn't be that hard to find I would think, I did some ad on LED running lights and added a toggle switch last year into the wiring that runs the head lights so I'm starting to think that my trouble could be in that area possible.

Thanks for the great advise.....

Peace

[sprocket]

Some headlights are AC direct from the stator, some are DC from the regulator/rectifier and a weird few are both... AC and DC.

[renegadestang]

Jul 11, 2011 13:49:03 GMT -6 sprocket said:

Some headlights are AC direct from the stator, some are DC from the regulator/rectifier and a weird few are both... AC and DC.

Bringing this thread back from the dead!

How do you determine what type of voltage is powering the headlights?

[Alleyoop]

some are straight from the battery, like mine are. I can turn on the key to on and put every light on. I have a light switch on the right handlegrip all the way to the right everything is off with the key on except the fuel gauge and volt meter. If i move the switch in the middle my instrument lights and running lights come on. If I move it all the way to the left then my headlights come on. I think this is nice that way not much is drawing juice from the battery to start.
Alleyoop

If the lights do not come on until the motor is running and there is no control over the headlights then they are fed through the stator.

[Alleyoop]

But getting back to the DIMMING, if they brighten up when squeezing the brake then its usually the R/R that is going south.
Alleyoop

[Deleted]

I have the same scooter, all the lights run A/C from the yellow wire EXCEPT THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHT. The auto enricher runs off the yellow A/C wire too. I have a wiring schematic for ya.

[Alleyoop]

If it doesn't say it is copy writed then grab it.
Alleyoop

[Deleted]

I found this one hiding on my hard drive