modifying a motorcycle tail light...

RedBaronX

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Modifying a motorcycle tail light... This light is designed to run at one brightness as a running light and then at a brighter brightness as a brake light... if I were using a motorcycle wiring harness, I am sure it would be wired up to work like that, but I am building my own system. That means I am adding LEDs to be the running lights while the bright center light will be the brake light (I might even adde a relay to make it flash, but I haven't decided). The yellow piece of plastic is actually a cut-up DVD case painted yellow and will fit inside beneath the bulb. (if I had been thinking, I would have used a white DVD case, but I JUST thought of that... I guess I still have time to change that...)

picture.php


I am going to mount this to the rear fender with a bent corner brace, and there will also be turn signals-- I just finished painting the chunk of PVC pipe that they will be sprouting out from.

The brake light switch is built in to the brake lever I am using-- I think it is off of a 1970's Yamaha (eBay). Using a generic motorcycle switch unit that controls headlight, turn signals, and horn.

more pictures to come as things get assembled (I can't find the rest of the LED lamps, so I have to order more before I can complete the LED panel that gets fitted into the tail light... I am sure I will find the missing ones an hour after I place the order for the new ones...)
 
they do sell 1157 led bulbs are some on ebay

I got the bulbs I have from eBay in the first place, and they came in a pack of twenty... I just can't physically find more than those six in my house right now, and I don't know where the rest went... :-/

I've ordered more... but I am still hoping to find the rest of the ones that I do actually have... somewhere around here...
 
1157=standard 2 element taillight bulb
them make a led version of them

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-...ge2Disp=/specs/1157-R19W6_motorcycle_bulb.htm

that is the very bulb that I am using in the existing tail light socket, but I don't have the wiring to brighten it and dim it as I apply and release the brakes. So, the LEDs I am adding will be wired to be the running tail lights and the existing bulb will be wired to the brake light lever switch (still thinking about adding a flashing relay)
 
Lights

I used a motorcycle control unit on the last trike I built. It worked out great. I also hooked up the choke cable lever to the carb so no more choke vibrating into the CHOKE position.
Big Red.
 
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I used a motorcycle control unit on the last trike I built. It worked out great. I also hooked up the choke cable lever to the carb so no more choke vibrating into the CHOKE position.
Big Red.

I'm just going with what I know... I'm also thinking of adding another light fixture, something that will ride higher on the fender (there is a spot and hardware for a reflector). If I add in another fixture, I can decide to make that an additional brake light or make that a flashing running light... without having to "redesign" what the wiring is going to be... it's more wires, but it's not more designing...
 
redbaronx


the dim is running/headlight circuit
the bright is brake light circuit
nothing is being dimmed
 
that is the very bulb that I am using in the existing tail light socket, but I don't have the wiring to brighten it and dim it as I apply and release the brakes. So, the LEDs I am adding will be wired to be the running tail lights and the existing bulb will be wired to the brake light lever switch (still thinking about adding a flashing relay)

led bulbs do not work with a standard flasher ....
not enough draw to heat the element inside the flasher to make them flash


to make brake light circuit work use a Ebike brake lever with the switch in the lever
much cheaper then using honda moped levers

http://www.electricscooterparts.com/levers.html

if you need it i can hunt down a wiring diagram for you to make it easy
 
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