CL77 Tail light won't work

[FreeRadical]

Can someone please tell me how the ground on the rear tail light is supposed to work? The only way I can get it to illuminate is if I attach the ground wire that is soldered to the tail light body to some ground point on the bike, such as the grab bar. Obviously, this is not the way it's supposed to work.

Thanks for your help!

[rrietman]

actually that is the way it works. the ground point is the frame and everything that is bolted to it.
Good luck
Randy

[FreeRadical]

Yep, I understand that; however, I must have painted something or put a rubber grommet somewhere that is preventing the ground. I won't light up unless I take an alligator clip to the light and ground it to the grab bar, which obviously would look ridiculous. LOL.

[Merz64cb77]

I learnt this lesson the hard way after painting my rear fender on my cb77. I added a ground wire from the tail light to the frame. You could remove the paint or try using an external tooth washer to bite into the metal.

[DJM]

In my experience running an extra 'ground' wire from the tail light unit is a sound strategy.

Saves scratching off your new paint and more reliable than relying on getting good contact between the light unit and the bracket, the bracket and the rear fender and then from the fender to the actual frame itself.

If you run the extra wire alongside the two existing wires it will be hardly noticeable, once clear of the fender you can make a connection to the frame or even better un it back to the battery itself.

Later wiring harnesses incorporate a bunch of ground wires that run right through the harness with a load of tappings off for indicators, tail light, and, I think, running right through to the headlight bucket. Good idea I think to copy it on your bike.

[FreeRadical]

Thanks for all the help everyone. I'll run a separate ground wire.