Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Need advise-Fender Chop & Tail Light Removal

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 04-18-2012, 02:41 PM
DallasSportster's Avatar
DallasSportster
DallasSportster is offline
Road Captain
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Need advice-Fender Chop & Tail Light Removal

I am about to chop the rear fender on my 08 1200C and want to remove the center mounted tail light. I just purchased the run/brake/turn module in order to covert my turn signals to brake lights. I understand that I will have to do some rewiring as I will be deleting the circuit board on the center tail light which feeds the turn signals now. Will using my turn signals as stop lights be bright enough as my only brake lights? My understanding is that I will retain single filament bulbs, while the iron/nightsters use dual filament which are brighter.

I want to do it right the first time and want to avoid tearing apart my turn signals and rewiring to accept dual filament bulbs.

Any advise is appreciated. Thanks!
 
  #2  
Old 04-18-2012, 03:28 PM
mreed's Avatar
mreed
mreed is offline
Outstanding HDF Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Indiana
Posts: 3,261
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

That's how I did my wife's XLC. Well, I shaved the tail light instead of chopping the fender but the lighting is stock turn signals converted with the module and they're plenty bright.

Name:  1216100341.jpg
Views: 9677
Size:  100.8 KB

You don't need to do a big re wire. All I did was find the turn signal wires coming straight from the module and unpinned the unnecessary ones to make the wiring much more slim.
 
  #3  
Old 04-18-2012, 08:25 PM
DallasSportster's Avatar
DallasSportster
DallasSportster is offline
Road Captain
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Thanks mreed! I put the module on today and the lights look plenty bright. This is my first time to do any real work on my bike. I got the service manual tonight and got her torn down. Rear fender is completely off and ready to chop this weekend.

I will take your advice on the wiring for the turn signals/brake lights. I also have a side mount licence plate bracket that I need to wire the plate light up as well.

Now for the fun part.....chop chop. I will update you guys on the progress. I've been wanting to do this for quite some time but haven't had the ***** the chop up my shiny baby. No turning back now.....
 
  #4  
Old 04-18-2012, 08:36 PM
streetfighter06's Avatar
streetfighter06
streetfighter06 is offline
Outstanding HDF Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,790
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

I did the same thing a few years back. Keep us updated!
 
  #5  
Old 04-18-2012, 09:07 PM
run1fsr's Avatar
run1fsr
run1fsr is offline
Outstanding HDF Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 2,114
Received 66 Likes on 44 Posts
Default

Do you not want the lamps to operate as running lights also? If so you will need to use dual filament bulbs and fixtures. That is what I did. No module on my '96 (hard wired) but same idea.
 
  #6  
Old 04-18-2012, 09:21 PM
DallasSportster's Avatar
DallasSportster
DallasSportster is offline
Road Captain
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by run1fsr
Do you not want the lamps to operate as running lights also? If so you will need to use dual filament bulbs and fixtures. That is what I did. No module on my '96 (hard wired) but same idea.
They are working as running lights too. The module takes care of this.
 
  #7  
Old 04-18-2012, 11:02 PM
Stevieskull's Avatar
Stevieskull
Stevieskull is offline
Advanced
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I installed a badlands load equalizer on my 2008 1200c. I didnt get rid of the circuit board. I ran the board, extended the turn signal wiring, shortened the rear fender harness and hooked everything up.
 
  #8  
Old 04-18-2012, 11:13 PM
mreed's Avatar
mreed
mreed is offline
Outstanding HDF Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Indiana
Posts: 3,261
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

It's as simple as using just the turn signal wires from the module, red lenses and stock rear turn signals. The Badlands load equalizer only provides resistance for L.E.D. turn signals to flash...and you cannot simply install dual fillament bulbs UNLESS you have 3 wire lights BUT you still need some sort of module or relay bank or applying the brakes will override the flash signal. Wire 1 is ground, Wire 2 is basic light and Wire 3 is brighter light. Turn signals are dumb units, meaning, they only do what they're told. If you are trying to run a turn signal and then hit the brakes Wire 3 will stay on negating the flash.

Actually, I just found this pic. I didn't remove any wires from the module. I removed the unnecessary wires from the stock tail light harness that plugs in to the module. This is the harness that runs down the fender.

Name:  0917100321.jpg
Views: 5885
Size:  74.6 KB

The brown wire will now run straight to the violet wire on the RIGHT side turn signal. The violet wire will now run straight to the viloet wire on the LEFT side turn signal. The black wire is a ground so that wire will need to be split and run to both turn signals.

Leave the BLUE wire if you want to leave yourself a constant power for the license plate light. I removed it because I drilled a hole in the bottom side of the red lense and light shines down onto the plate for plenty of night time plate lighting.

This is for a 2004. I'm pretty sure yours should be the same...or similar enough.
 

Last edited by mreed; 04-18-2012 at 11:54 PM.
  #9  
Old 04-22-2012, 08:11 PM
DallasSportster's Avatar
DallasSportster
DallasSportster is offline
Road Captain
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Thanks for the advice guys. Check out this link for pics of the completed project!

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/sport...nder-chop.html
 
  #10  
Old 04-22-2012, 08:34 PM
laffin gas's Avatar
laffin gas
laffin gas is offline
Tourer
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: r.i.
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

you can remove the black plastic plug housing from inside your factory housing and relocate it forward of the tire and take out the light and chop the fender. i just did mine and i am very happy with how it turned out.
 
Attached Thumbnails Need advise-Fender Chop & Tail Light Removal-img_4324.jpg  


Quick Reply: Need advise-Fender Chop & Tail Light Removal



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:35 AM.