confused on why my right tail light isn't on

[brandiwine]

first thing to add is that i have a signal ellimator installed that, of course, has been working up until i figured out tonight the right tail light wasn't illumated.  even with the ellimator, both lights are supposed to be on for visability.  basically, just with the bike on, only the left tail light stays on.  when i brake, both come on, and when i put my right turn signal on then it will flash like it's supposed to.  i changed the bulb as well.  the thing that confuses me is that i can see the bulb is getting signal since it does come when requested to by the turn signal or the brake.  there are only 3 wires coming into it and the wiring diagram in the haynes manual didn't tell me which one, if there is just one, that's supposed to illumiate it for regular riding.  i guess i don't know how those 3 wires work and if it's possible for only one to be at fault since it does light up for some things.  i guess the other option is that the signal elliminator is failing.   :dunno:   any explinations or suggestions?  i'm going to see if i can find an ohm meter in the garage.

[Rema1000]

I never had my taillight open, but it looked to me like: left bulb is dim (running light), right bulb is bright (brake/turn).  I figured that there were just two single-filament bulbs.

[brandiwine]

i think i figured out that the brown connection wire (which is supposed to be the just the on light) on that lamp is faulty or the white wire it's supposed to connect to that runs to the elliminator is faulty.  i thought it was going to be harder than it was but my meter had this buzzer setting to tell me if the circuit completed.  pretty cool.  anyway, i ran out of time tonight so i'll have to check the white wire theory tomorrow.

[dgyver]

They are dual filament bulbs. It is likely that the running light filament has burned out. Switch bulbs and see if the problem stays or moves to the other side. If the problem moves then it is the bulb. If it stays then it is either the eliminator box or a short in the wiring. Also, look for corrosion. It does not take much to screw things up.