license Plate Light issue

14kmtnman

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For some reason I seem to go thru 1 or 2 license plate light bulbs per year on my Gen 1. Anybody else having the same issue? I don't ride at night, but just happened to look at it when I was going over the bike last night prepping for a trip. Is there an easy LED replacement? Or some super duper long life bulb to use?
 

SeaBass

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Arlington, VA
You seem to either:
  • Be having a spike on voltage on the license plate socket, blowing the bulbs
  • be touching the glass on the bulb thus leaving your finger grease on it, shortening the lifespan of the bulb.
I'm more inclined to think is the first reason. put a multimeter on it and see if the voltage spikes too much when revving the engine.

I put a Sylvania led bulb just cause I love the white light over the license plate.
 

Dwido

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Israel
For some reason I seem to go thru 1 or 2 license plate light bulbs per year on my Gen 1. Anybody else having the same issue? I don't ride at night, but just happened to look at it when I was going over the bike last night prepping for a trip. Is there an easy LED replacement? Or some super duper long life bulb to use?
May be the number plate number plate bracket is loose and vibrating?
 

Squibb

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You don't say whether the dead bulbs just have a fractured filament, or whether there is black residue witness within the glass.

The former suggests a low quality auto bulb that can't take the vibes, maybe a bulb that's a slightly loose in the bulb-holder; the latter a voltage spike scenario which needs further investigation as it will impact across the whole electrical system. Others mention the potential for water ingress & the possibility of a poor wiring connection which need checking out too.
 

14kmtnman

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Thanks for the tips to the LED's. I think the issues with the last bulb, maybe several are the fact I put in by hand (no gloves) and used cheap old bulbs I had around the garage. I have converted the headlights to LED which made a huge difference. Never thought about changing the lp bulb to LED. That should make a another big difference.
 

Sierra1

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Halogen bulbs are the only ones that don't like being touched. Ordinary bulbs don't care. I haven't looked at the Tenere's, but I remember when the LP was lit by the tail light shining through clear plastic on the bottom.
 

Xclimation

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Check the socket where the bulb goes in they become kind of bent or worn if you will it happens with my front marker light by the headlights and I just get a small pair of needle-nose and press them together better that seems to do the trick
 

14kmtnman

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Update - Just got around to taking the lp assembly apart. Part of the cause, besides the bulb being burned out is the wires going into the rubber light socket housing from the tire side were both cleanly broken off where they connect to the rubber housing. The wires are really small. Where the wires go into the rubber piece, is about 1/2" thick diameter with the + and - separated. Both broken wires are flush with the rubber piece. There does not appear to be any way to splice them back together. Seems like a very poor design. So it appears the only resolution is a new assembly. That is the only way Yamaha sells it. Can't just buy the wire part. Now I am trying to figure out how to stop it from happening again. I did get a bunch of replacement led bulbs, so that might help. I was also thinking of covering the area where the wires go into the rubber socket piece with silicon to help ease the stress at that point. Any other thoughts?
 

Checkswrecks

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A quick check shows a bunch of them on eBay.
I've used silicone sealer to stress relieve wires and it works well.
 

cycledelic relic

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The automotive sockets for T10 bulbs might fit too. Take the socket to a local parts store to compare shapes.

Sent from my LML212VL using Tapatalk
 

14kmtnman

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Yakima, WA
I just ordered a new LP assembly for just a few dollars more than the useds ones I saw on Ebay. Why take a chance on the used unit breaking in the same spot sooner? I'll use a dab of silicon for a stress reliever and see how that works. One would think it would not be a problem with how everything is attached and planted in place from the factory.
 

14kmtnman

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Update - it was a real pita to replace. Had to take the rear tail rack (Alt Rider), luggage rack (Happy Trails), under rear seat cover, and tail light assembly apart. I also had to take the gas tank rear mounting bracket off to get to the plastic cover over the ABS system for access to the wiring harness. I did not pull the plastic wiring cover off of the new rubber plug to load it up with silicone to stress relieve the wires. Instead, I put 2 layers of shrink wrap on the plug assembly. I think that made it much stiffer, which should help. I replaced the stock bulb with an LED unit. So maybe I won't have to take it apart again. After 40000 miles, it was sure dusty and dirty under all of the miscellaneous piece parts....
 
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