Modifying Trunk tail light to also be a brake light

[wingwing]

Update Feb 2, 2010:
I've been stuffing pins in envelops
for the PMs I've received
and will be sending them out this week ...

So, if you want some pins
to mod your trunk lights send me a PM
'cause once the weather gets nice
I'll turn back into a lazy biker-bum and it
will be awhile before I send more out again

========================
Summary:
There are four lights in the trunk.
All of them are wired for running lights (tail lights)
but only the two outer ones are wired for brake lights.
The outer ones are dual mode..
... that is, they are both brake and running lights.

The inner ones are ONLY wired running lights
but the bulb and socket are identical to the outer lights.
So, just add a short 3 inch jumper wire to the inner lights
and you'll have FOUR brake lights for the rear of your bike
... simple, cheap and very BRIGHT !!
================
This is not quite free but it's darn cheap...
.. it will cost you:
1) two pieces of wire
2) two OEM pins
and
3) some solder .. or 2 crimp connectors
(total for all: probably less than $6.00)


This modification pertains to 2006 through 2010 model year GL1800's
because the 2001-2005 models came with all 4 brake lights already wired
(so, that makes me pretty sure the OEM wiring is OK for this ....)

History:
During the summer of 2009, one of my
"inboard" running lights burned out
(2007 wing).

Easy enough to take out and replace
what I thought was just going to be
a single filament bulb running light.

When I got the fixture out and apart,
I saw the inner light
(the burned out running light)
was a dual filament bulb in a dual filament holder..
... in other words, it was just like the outer
brake/running light, but, for some reason,
they just didn't wire the inner brake light.

My first thought was
"what a waste, but at least you could
swap bulbs in an emergency if one of your brake lights burned out"
... but my second thought was
"holy cow, there is almost a free brake light here"...



So, they give you everything for double brake lights,
but they don't wire it.

I'm sure there is a reason for that, but people spend
lots of money to get extra brake lighting in the back.

I'm sure someone will tell me the wiring harness is
going to burn up..
.. but I think there might be enough capacity for
two more bulbs
(I think the after market trunk spoiler adds lights?).

You can make your own jumper but
I used an OEM pin so it will just plug
into the unused hole in the bulb base.

Here are some pics of the mod:


I didn't cut the factory brake wire,
.. only skinned back the insulation
so I could solder the jumper
... that way there is less chance, I think,
of the OEM wire ever going "open"

First a good "mechanical" connection...



Then some solder ...


seal it up with some dielectric
... wrap and bind it for strain relief and
to keep the moisture out...




and now

... TWICE as many brake lights
... for cheap ...




imitate at your own risk ...
don't drip solder on the bike ...
... looks better if you do both sides... haha
(I'm sure someone will wise crack,
"he's still only got the paper tag
and already is cutting it up")

If you can think of why this is a REALLY bad idea,
please let me know..

Dennis
update: 10/16/2009:

Two Suggestions:
1)Before you order any pins,
go in your trunk and make sure you can
loosen and remove the three acorn nuts
on each light.
From reading other posts it seems like some
people have had a heck of a time getting them off
(stuck, rusted, loctite... who knows)
Bottom line, if you can't get the acorn nuts off
to remove the light bulb housing,
you won't be able to modify the taillight.

2) DO NOT put the new OEM pin in the bulb socket
(playing around/testing it?)
until you've soldered or crimped the wire on.
Once those female pins go in the socket,
they are almost impossible to get back out.
The male pins come out easy...
but those female pins are different..
.. they stay STUCK.
(as if ya'll didn't know that already)

[Motorcycle Jack]

Been in there a dozen or more times and never noticed that. Thanks, I'll covert my trike trunk - it will add more brake lights!

[ae5dw]

I used the EC harness to bring turn signals up to the trunk. I feel it's a better use of those extra filaments. I have the spoiler wired as a brake/running light. Next I'll probably add a modulator to the spoiler.

[MG_Wings]

Thanks for the thread.... I will be converting mine over the winter break. Do you have an OEM part number for the pin?
Thanks

[wingwing]

Originally Posted by MG_Wings

...Do you have an OEM part number for the pin?

Sorry no. I had a bag of parts and connectors laying around.
I'm sure you can get them from EC ..

Dennis

[saddlesoar]

Nice mod, you cant have to much light on the rear! I seen this posted on the general forum and some of the comments about heat buildup distorting the lenses and made me wonder if you could wire those inboard bulbs to a no-load flasher made to operate LED bulbs. That way the 4 original brake lights would be lit like normal but the two new lights would flash like a brake light modulator, the only thing is they would flash all the time when the brakes are applied, kind of a poormans brake light modulator. I wonder what LEOs would say about two of the six brake lights flashing when applied. Anyway, nice mod and thanks for posting it. Mark

[RogerC]

wingwing, what is EC. Thanks

[Hobbit]

I'm gonna have to do that! great tip. I was researching different ways to add more brake light, this is the easiest!!

[wingwing]

Originally Posted by RogerC

wingwing, what is EC. Thanks

http://www.electricalconnection.com/

Dennis

[wingwing]

Originally Posted by saddlesoar

... I seen this posted on the general forum
and some of the comments about heat buildup distorting the lenses...

I've been thinking about that and considering also
that someone told me
ALL pre 06's had all four brake lights "wired"...

I'm thinking... a little over 40 watts??
... intermittently on..??
... to try melt or distort plastic ??
.... in an open air environment... ??
.. that, just seems like it's not going to happen.

Heck, 40 watts continuous will hardly incubate chickens.

Just got back from a 90+ degree
ride in the Florida sun...
I thought I was going to melt...

I think the hot Florida sun has more potential to
melt or distort plastic than 40 watts does.

I could be wrong,
wouldn't be the first time.

Dennis

[daveo]

Thanks for the tip, I never noticed that I didn't have brake lights on all 4 of the trunk lights. Maybe because of the spoiler...

[dfjbear]

Thanks for the info I just got done doing mine and you're right !!! Looks 100% better. My only problem is that my FAT FINGERS had a heck of a time releasing the bulb sockets due to the fact that there was NO slack in the wires!!! GREAT IDEA!!!

[wingwing]

Originally Posted by dfjbear

Thanks for the info I just got done doing mine and you're right !!! Looks 100% better. My only problem is that my FAT FINGERS had a heck of a time releasing the bulb sockets due to the fact that there was NO slack in the wires!!! GREAT IDEA!!!

Thanks... wait until you get to see them at night!

R&R suggestion:
Remove the wire clips from the bulb sockets first

On reinstall, first connect the wire clips to the sockets,
then insert and 1/4 turn the sockets into the "housing"
... worked better for me that way ...

Dennis

[dfjbear]

Wingwing...where in central fl.? I live in Lake co.

[wingwing]

Originally Posted by dfjbear

Wingwing...where in central fl.? I live in Lake co.

Marion County
PM Sent ...

[W7AX]

You can get about any of the Japanese connectors as used in the Goldwing from http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/body_main.html They will come from Japan but believe it or not, it's as quick and cheaper by air from Japan than surface is here. I order from Jim all the time.

[SC Popatop]

Originally Posted by wingwing

thanks for the link ...
from his website it MIGHT be these but I'm going to
email him and ask if he knows for sure...
It is just the female terminal that is needed.

If he can, I'll order a hundred or so if there is a need ...

The part that looks a bit different is
the back of his female terminal is cut at a 90
.. the one for the 'wing is cut more at an angle
... something like 45... (see my picture at post # 12)


Dennis

If you order that many, I'll take a half dozen off your hands.

[W7AX]

While you are ordering you may wish to order 10 of the 3.5 mm bullet connectors. They come in sets of one female and one male. These are used extensibly on all Honda bikes where they use a single connector.

[Timmer]

The pins and connectors are readily available from EC. I have a supply on hand as I build my own wiring harnesses.

BTW, great tip. I hadn't seen this one before.

[jellyspapa]

Originally Posted by wingwing

thanks for the link ...
from his website it MIGHT be these but I'm going to
email him and ask if he knows for sure...
It is just the female terminal that is needed.

If he can, I'll order a hundred or so if there is a need ...

The part that looks a bit different is
the back of his female terminal is cut at a 90
.. the one for the 'wing is cut more at an angle
... something like 45... (see my picture at post # 12)


Dennis

I wonder if Radio Shack has these...they have just about everthing else like this.

[Timmer]

If one goes to this link, the connectors are there along with the pins (at EC one has to purchase both the plastic and the pins (M & F)).

http://electricalconnection.com/elec...ts/hitachi.htm

If the other site quoted above will sell just the pins, that might be a better way to go.

If I do this mod, I'll build a subharness (not difficult with the Hitachi connectors sold above) that will eliminate the need to cut into the factory harness (I'll do a lot to avoid cutting into the harness).

Tim

Originally Posted by wingwing

Do you have a part number?

Thanks,
Dennis

[MG_Wings]

Originally Posted by wingwing

I've been looking but still no part number for the pin

I'll keep looking for a source...

Dennis

Thanks Dennis!

[Timmer]

If you are buying just the pins, it should be WAY less than $5 per pair. Over at EC, one can purchase the entire connector for less than that and throw away the plastic.

Tim

Originally Posted by wingwing

OK... I think I found a Taiwan source for the pins

... Now, in order to determine how many to get
I'm trying to get a head count as to who might want some
.... at least two each?

don't know for sure, but should be about 5 bucks a pair
(maybe a bit less) including shipping if I order a bunch...

Thanks,
Dennis

[Timmer]

At the link posted above, here's the connector pins and they are like $0.20 - $0.35 each:

http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/El...l/special.html

Connector Terminals
This connector uses two 312 male terminals and two 312 female terminals. It also uses three male 250 terminals and three female 250 terminals for a total of 5 male and 5 female terminals.
.250 Female Receptacles
$0.20 Each
On the right all three sizes are shown plus the bottom side. Choose your size according to the wire size to be used. Terminal size is the maximum size wire.

.4 mm2 (20 AWG) Quantity:

2 mm2 (14 AWG) Quantity:

3 mm2 (12 AWG) Quantity:

.250 Male Tabs
$0.20 Each
On the right all three sizes are shown plus the bottom side. Choose your size according to the wire size to be used. Terminal size is the maximum size wire.

.4 mm2 (20 AWG) Quantity:

2 mm2 (14 AWG) Quantity:

3 mm2 (12 AWG) Quantity:

.312 Female Receptacles
$0.35 Each
On the right two sizes are shown plus the bottom side. Choose your size according to the wire size to be used. Terminal size is the maximum size wire.



2 mm2 (14 AWG) Quantity:

3 mm2 (12 AWG) Quantity:

.312 Male Tabs
$0.35 Each
On the right two sizes are shown plus the bottom side. Choose your size according to the wire size to be used. Terminal size is the maximum size wire.



2 mm2 (14 AWG) Quantity:

3 mm2 (12 AWG) Quantity:


I don't know which size is involved, but that can be ascertained.

Timmer

[saddlesoar]

PM sent

[ziggy-08]

pm sent

[Buddy M]

PM Sent

[Megladonn]

Dennis, I'll take 6 pins.
Let me know, i'll send you payment

Thank You

[Timmer]

Dennis,

Sorry, I wasn't my intent to criticize you and I appreciate your work in helping others with this nifty tip. I do know it does take time to source things and you are to be commended for doing that.

Tim

[davenc]

I'll take some pins as well. Extra brake lights is always a good thing especially when it can be done as easy as this.