Lighting Problems No Front Or Rear Lights,

[wink]

Hi all i'm new to the forum, but I was hoping someone could help with the following lambretta lighting problem.

I am restoring a 1965 LI150Special, I've fitted a new GP 200 12v engine, CDI & REG, new Casa wiring loom, new SR ignition and Light switches, New rear brake stop switch (rear brake light works ok), 6v horn (this works ok), but infortunately neither the front or rear lights will work (Front light worked when I first started engine after rebuild but has not worked since). The Speedo buld is not fitted would this make a difference.

The engine starts 2nd kick and would appear to run well.

Can anyone advise what the problem could be and can they suggest a way on how to check each component. I Probably need to invest in a multimeter, but I've never used one so any advice would be well received.

Many thanks in advance,

Chris

[storkfoot]

You've answered your own question, mate. Yes, you need a 12v Speedo bulb

[firekdp]

If it was working at first I would recheck the connections in the headset to see if any have come loose. The speedo light missing will have no affect on the other lights, unless it's wire was shorting to earth.

[byron]

possibly the ignition switch wiring ?
if your brake light works then power is coming out of your regulator, so check you're getting some power on the [brown?] wire in the headset. if you haven't got a multimeter [get one], connect a bulb to that brown wire and the other side to earth, it should light up. then you need to check what wires are switched with the different ignition positions and connect appropriately in the bulb holder so that the brown wire connects to the black ones that feed the rear light and speedo bulb, and then you get power to the switch for the main/dip
if you've wired it as per the MB simplified loom in Sticky's book, you shouldn't need a speedo bulb for the other lights to work.
and check all your earth's are good, shoddy earth connections account for many wiring faults. I run an earth from the headset down to the horn fixing bolt.
hth
oh typed too much, too slowly and firekdp said more with less

[ArmandTanzarian]

Its a lot easier to check the lights all work if you pull out the main 12V output from the regulator and use a 12V power supply or a battery rather than having to keep the engine running. You can sort everything out in peace and quiet and not have to worry about the other electrical components.

Most problems are either caused by old, corroded connectors and switches or new, poor quality ones.

Oh - and buy a meter. You can get a cheapo one for around a tenner.

[joespeed]

rather than buy a meter,choose a 12v test screw driver with a lead and crocodile clip,this way you are putting the system under load not much but but sufficent so as to not 'lead you up the garden path, 12v electrics can drive you mad!
regards
joe

[wink]

Hi All,
As an update I've connected the speedo bulb holder, changed the headlight earth but still no lights. However, I have bought a Multimeter,so any guidance as to what and how to test the connections will be greatly received.
Cheers, Wink.

[firekdp]

Firstly check for power on the loom brown in the headset. From here power should enter the ignition switch, and when the key is in the 3rd position, come out on the orange wire. Next it goes into the main/dip switch and, depending on its position, exit on the red or blue to the headlight.
If you have an electronic loom then the purple/blue wire from the ignition switch needs to be connected to the browns to power the pilot lights. This is even more important if you have an Indian ignition switch because without it you wont have a tail light.

[fullmetaldany]

Hi Wink

good luck with the electrics from your lammy but a good advice buy the book from sticky it's a good investment

[wink]

Just a quick thanks for all the advice regarding the Lighting problem. I checked it all once again and as "firekdp" mentioned, the Purple/Blue was not connected to the Brown. So I swapped it around, kicked it over and all lights are now working fine. Marvellous Stuff.

So once again thanks for all the help.

Cheers, Chris