imported post

Tail lights are easy. There is a panel under the trunk, held on with 3 screws. Remove it and you'll see more screws. There are 2 more screws in the trunk.

Saddle bag lights are obvious. I don't think the process is outlined in the manual anyway.

The instrument lights are another story. The process requires pulling the windshield, radio & speakers, even the headlight and mirrors. It is not a job to take lightly. If you want I can post the entire proceedure.

 

imported post

No, there is nothing about how to replace the tail lights in my owner's manual unless I overlooked it somehow. Seems like there should have been, but they didn't ask me when they wrote the manual.



Unfortunately I need to address the instrument panel lights before too long. The neutral indicator light is out, as well as the high beam indicator and oil pressure warning light, so yes, I would greatly appreciate you posting that info or sending it to me by email, whichever would be easiest for you.

 

imported post

OK, first thing to do is remove the fairing pockets so you can remove the little filler pieces.

Then remove the speakers, radio and clock.

Next, remove the mirrors and the windshield trim.

Then, remove the windshield.

At this point, theinstrument panelcover can be slid forward, off the instruments.

 

imported post

I'm sorry, clock stays on that piece, but...

The instrument pod is going to have to be freed up to access the bulbs. To do that, first remove the little "chin" piece under the headlight, then, remove the headlight and let it hang.

Behind the headlight, there arefour NUTS. Remove them and push the pod away from the fairing just far enough to get to the bulbs.

Before you do anything, be advised; the bulbs are a Honda only item. Get yourself a bunch of them before you startbecause, if three bulbs are blown, I suspect you will find others that need replacing.

Let me edit this. Two nuts are behind the light and the two upper nutsare accessed through holes in the fairing.

 

imported post

I have the digital panel, which I believe is standard on all LTDs, and while all my actual indicator lights work, the backlighting for the LCD display does not. I decided not to tear all that stuff apart again to fix it, if it is even fixable (my LTD came with butchered wiring and rotted out rubber hoses) I rarely ever ride it at night anyway. Even my speedometer/odometer does not work, and it was not the sending unit or wiring, so it has to be in the panel itself. I just installed a cheap GPS unit I already had to function as a speedometer, and didn't worry about fixing it.

 

imported post

Wow! You weren't kidding when you said it was "not a job to take lightly". THANK YOU soooo very much for this info. While I enjoy working on my bike I'm dreading this part of it, but... it needs to be done. One thing I have to question however is that the bulbs are a Honda only part. While my local shop wouldn't tell me how to do this, since they wanted the job, they did say thatat least the Neutral Indicator Light bulb was a standard #57 bulb. I hope they're right because I bought 6 of them from "Wally World". Of course, I can always return them if I find the shop was wrong.



Fortunately all of my LCD backlighting seems to work wellexceptforthe screen for the radio/cassette which is very dim. Makes it difficult to see what mode it's in. The frequency display is bright. Guess while I have things apart I'll find out why I'm getting only static out of the radio. I'm assuming/hoping it's just a connection that's come apart. I'll have to dig through my storage building to find a cassette to check out the deck. lol

 

imported post

I'd be willing to bet they couldn't even do the job. They don't know what lights go in there. Although the fiche calls it a 57 that isn't an SAE designation.

Radio backlight is probably a T4, same as the clock.

This is the bulb used in the other spots.

 

imported post

My stereo was dead when I got the bike. Applying 12V to it did nothing. No display,no sound, no nothing. Not surprising since it sat out in the AZ sun for 25 years. I removed it and gave it to another LTD owner. The backlighting on my LCD panel never worked, but all the colored indicator lights still do. Shortly after buying the bike, the speedometer, and mechanical odometer quit working.

None of this had anything to do with the bike ran, and after I got the fuel injection and a few other things fixed, the engine ran fine.

To those who got upset that I "chopped up" an LTD, understand that this bike was junk when I got it, and if it had not been for all the work and money I put into it, it would now be in a scrapyard instead of on the road. I spent between $1500 and $2000, plus at least 200 hours of labor just fixing the important stuff, to make the bike roadworthy. I could have easily bought a decent running 1500 for what it would have cost to completely restore this one, and without all the work.

My stator recently died, but I still ride the bike. I have been riding it too work lately. I keep it on a battery tender at home and at work. I disconnected the headlight to prevent draining the battery.

 

imported post

Don't forget the radio illumination bulbs in the handlebar cover. They may be specific to the LTD and SEI. Neoracer found the correct replacement bulbs. To be fair however he said they don't do much. Haven't changed mine yet.

 

imported post

wingsam41 wrote:

Don't forget the radio illumination bulbs in the handlebar cover. They may be specific to the LTD and SEI. Neoracer found the correct replacement bulbs. To be fair however he said they don't do much. Haven't changed mine yet.

So that's what those were. I thought it was something a PO had done. If I remember correctly, the bulbs were just pushed into holes in the handlebar center cover. I never did figure out what their purpose was. Mine now has a couple of chrome acorn nuts where the bulbs were.

 

imported post

Thanks for all the info, and the pic of the bulb(s). You wouldn't know what number they are would you? About the shop... I have decided you're more right than you know. Unless I want to travel in the opposite direction for another 25 or so miles they are the only Honda shop near me, but every single time I go in for some odd part they can't find it to order it, so I ask them "if I give you a part number can you get it?" They're reply... "Oh! With a part number I'm sure we can." !!!!!!!! IMO THEY should be the one with the part numbers. Geez



About the bulbs in the handlebar cover... I assume you mean spare bulbs, mounted something like the spare fuses in the fuse box cover, right?? Yep, you guessed it. I haven't taken that apart.... yet. By the time I'm finished working on this I doubt there will be much that hasn't been taken apart. Told a friend this was a labor of love. lol

 

imported post

Thanks for all the info, and the pic of the bulb(s). You wouldn't know what number they are would you? About the shop... I have decided you're more right than you know. Unless I want to travel in the opposite direction for another 25 or so miles they are the only Honda shop near me, but every single time I go in for some odd part they can't find it to order it, so I ask them "if I give you a part number can you get it?" They're reply... "Oh! With a part number I'm sure we can." !!!!!!!! IMO THEY should be the one with the part numbers. Geez



About the bulbs in the handlebar cover... I assume you mean spare bulbs, mounted something like the spare fuses in the fuse box cover, right?? Yep, you guessed it. I haven't taken that apart.... yet. By the time I'm finished working on this I doubt there will be much that hasn't been taken apart. Told a friend this was a labor of love. lol

 

imported post

I didn't post this last reply twice. The computer fairy did it.

 

imported post

BikerNewsman wrote:

...About the bulbs in the handlebar cover... I assume you mean spare bulbs, mounted something like the spare fuses in the fuse box cover, right?? ...

No they are mounted under the handlebar cover and shine through slots in it to illuminate the radio (that's the idea anyway).

See attached fiche'

Item#10 is the harness

Items#1 are the bulbs

Items #2 are the bulb covers



http://www.dgy.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=146849&category=MOTORCYCLES&make=HONDA&year=1986&fveh=3451

 

imported post

poloaa009 wrote:

Radio backlight is probably a T4, same as the clock.

Keep in mind this is not radio backlighting. Its 2 bulbs that shine out of the handlebar cover onto the buttons of the radio-that's the idea anyway. I believe they may be T-4's as u said though...

 

imported post

I had no idea what those bulbs were for either. Mine has a green bulb and a red bulb, Why the different colors?

Needless to say, they don't work. Last time I had it apart I got one of them working but when I put it back together it stopped working.....

I also purchased 2 new bulbs for that spot....... But lost the 2 bulbs.... their so darn small.......

 

imported post

Hey I had to replace the bulbs in the dash of my 87 aspy and I was having trouble getting them and I searched around and believe it or not I actually found them at the local Checker/Oriely autoparts store. You will have to take one with you to match up but I replaced all of them and they have been working great for almost a year. They were cheaper too!! I tried to find the part # but I can't locate the card with my spare bulbs, but they were a regular stocked bulb at the store. Good luck on your endeavors!!

 

imported post

Thanks to everyone for the information. This has now been resolved... successfully! lol Not an easy job, but well worth the effort.

 

imported post

Did you take the dash out?

 

imported post

I haven't checked out the lights in the handlebar cover yet. Ifthe bulbs aretheretheyaren't working.Plan that for later this week, but am wondering... since the handlebars turn from side to side, and the radio doesn't, how would the bulbs/slotsconsistently light the knobs???? :?



Bike... and Dennis - I was hoping to not have to address this. lol I found the lighting problem was inthe ignitionswitch, probably from the bike sitting for so long. I got about half way through the disassembly and realized that just before I took delivery, and started checking everything out after I got it home, that the lights had been working. Having already checked all the fuses when I first saw the lights were out, my mind went back to an old car I had that seemed posessed when it came to lighting. It ended up being the ignition switch, so I got some electronics cleaner and sprayed it down several times. Nowall of the lights work properly. I DOappreciate your instructions however because I *know* that with the age of the bike it's only a matter of time before I will have to complete this job. Guess I'm overly picky but I can't stand for any lights to be out, period. - - - btw, I replaced the tail/stop light bulbs with brighter ones (only brighter for the brakes) by using 2357LL bulbs. Is there a brighter replacement bulb for the marker lights and turn signals??? Already have a brighter bulb for the headlight... H4 Silverstar Ultra.