Requesting Advice: Minor Electrical Problem

[Billy Sastard]

Evening all,

Gonna be taking my GS for its roadworthy test soon, those who have read my recent post will have seen that I rectified all the defects from the original test except for one:

My high beam indicator light on the dash doesn't illuminate when I flick my high beams on or when I pull the PASS trigger switch to flash the high beam (correct me if I'm wrong, I don't think US models have this switch).

I've had a little play with the wires that run into the back of the dash and nine times out of ten the light will start working, however, when I go back to it the next day or so, the light stops working until I poke around again.

Can anyone tell me what exactly is the problem here or is it just a loose wire? And can someone please tell me how to fix it?
Preferably without having to take the whole dash apart!

Thanks

BS

[Sporty]

Either a partial break in the wire or a loose bulb. The bulbs sit in molded rubber sockets. Which in turn, are pressed into the plastic housing.  You pop the rubber out to change the bulb. The neutral bulb was loose on my bike. You might need to unbolt the dash from the bike.  Here is how it looks

[Billy Sastard]

Thanks Sporty, looks like my weekend's a write off!

I like what you've done with the dash by the way. Mine's looking a bit tired so was thinking of doing something similar.

[Sporty]

You may be able to remove the rubber bulb socket on the bike without loosening anything, I just haven't tried it.
The back cover doesn't have to come off, so at most, remove the two nuts holding the dash to the top tree to gain more access.

I painted the dash with aluminum/silver wheel paint. Then applied labels made with a label maker.  (I'd have preferred clear labels with black writing, but was out of that at the time). After the labels, a couple coats of clear. That made the indicator lenses look good. Time will tell how it holds up.

[Billy Sastard]

It only took me a lunch break but I took the dash apart and had a good look around.
It appears that the rubber fitting had come loose of the plastic housing. It was at an angle which may have been affecting the connection to the bulb.

I pushed the fitting further in and it's been fine ever since.

Thank you Sporty, you were bang on the money and gave me the confidence to have a go at sorting it out.
On the plus side, I also know what to do when I want to repaint my dash and switch to LED dash lights.