Noticed yesterday morning that when I switched from low to high beam the Hi beam indicator didn't come on. Further checking revealed that the high beam was not coming on. I tried to read the voltage on the headlight connector but had some problems because I didn't have time to remove enough plastic. I did remove the bulb and applied power to both filaments and it lite. I noticed in the diagram the wiring goes through a few connectors and switches before it gets to the bulb. Before I start pulling plastic and reading out wires/power, is this a problem anyone else has seen and is there a 'common' place this breaks down? I'm thinking Hi/Lo beam switch or ignition switch?

 

Check the fuses before ripping it apart
It may be a minor wiring issue in the headlight area.
Pulling the plastics around the gauges off is quick - take you about 10 minutes
It'll give you access to most of the places you could have a problem.
I think my how to is in the tech- if not I'll find a link.
http://cbrjunkie.com/tutorials-how-t...1000f-(89-91)/

 

Thanks Shadow, I've got a service manual just seeing if this was a commi=on issue with the Cains. I took off both plastics below the gauges yesterday...the previous owner had super glues the bolt attach points on so they broke off when I tried to loosen them. Took a quick look around for obvious loose wires etc then attempted an epoxy fix for the fastener points so I could use it today. Should have spent more time on the original problem because it rained all day today. At least the epoxy set good.

 

I don't have the wiring diagram for the earlier models, but if it's like most of the other headlight setups, then the culpret is most likely the dimmer switch. Since you didn't indicate that the low beam didn't work too, I'm going to assume that it does. If that's the case then the fuse for the headlight is good because they don't separate the high and low on different fuses (at least not that I know of). That would also indicate that your starter switch is good to. That's what supplies power the the dimmer switch (that's why your headlight goes out when you hit the starter button). The same contact that feeds the high beam feeds the high beam indicator bulb. I'm thinking that your problem is going to be dirty contacts on the dimmer switch. An easy thing to take apart and clean.

 

idodirt, that's the direction I was going also. You're right, the wiring is almost the same as newer models. I'll pull the dimmer switch apart next week and see if I can make it work. Thanks for the response.

 

I agree..... My guess is that it's in the switch.
If my bike sits for a bit (like in the winter), the first time I try to use the hi-beam, it does the same thing. If I flick it back and forth real quick a couple times, it works fine. Yours may be a little more dirty.
Let us know how it turns out sage....

 

Finally had the time to tear open the switch. All appeared OK but I sprayed some contact cleaner in it and I now have a high beam again. With that fixed, I noticed the forks are leaking....never ends, huh? Anyone removed the forks by lifting the front end with a cable around the triple tree? Was thinking I could avoid taking some of the plastic off. Believe the windshield would have to come off.

 

If you have a trolley jack you can slip a block of wood under the sump between the plastics and raise the front with the jack . Two minute job and maybe a bit more stable .

 

Sage, glad to hear your switch is working.
Scariest part about it not working is that it's lights out on mine when the switch acts up. Gotta quickly switch back to lows to turn 'em back on. Wakes you up in the pitch dark, that's for sure. The contact cleaner should help a lot.

Bummer about the forks, though, but not a huge deal. I would jack it up like Hawk suggested. You could always cable the triple tree anyway for some extra support, maybe... In case you get drunk and fall into her like I could do..

Here is a pic of my old girl all jacked up. I did it the same way Hawk describes.