2006+ Clear Tail Light Install Questions

[MackerVFRR]

Hey Guys,

Trolling around on the forum for a while learning the ins and outs of my '03 and finally have a question to ask:

Anyone who's payed the egregious price for a 2006+ Clear tail light figure a cost effective way to wire it in?

The rear blinker bulb sockets on the combination light are a different design on the 06+ and while I have the 06+ sockets I have no connectors to attach to them that I can splice into my existing harness unless I pony up for a complete 06+ wiring harness. They are not available as seperate parts and seem to be proprietary to Honda.

VFRiderGal's thread should bring you up to speed. She had the same problem but did not arrive at a conclusion.

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/31125-need-electrical-connector-help/

My options as I see them are to:

1. Construct/fabricate a connector from scratch to attach to the socket and splice into my 03 harness (of which I have little skill/experience)

2. Modify the bulb housing hole to try to accept the different tabs of the old (and larger diameter) turn signal socket

3. Swap the 06 clear lens onto my 03 housing (they're sealed by a glue, and will be time consuming/tedious/risking damage and water leakage)

Anybody who tried one of these options I'd love to pick your brain!

[2FAST4U]

I did that mod. I removed the plastic pieces off the harness and simply plugged the connecting tips onto each pin. Before doing so, I wrapped some electric tape around each of the tips. Sometimes they work themselves loose (because of the vibrations) but I simply fasten them back on.

Another person on this forum (whose name escapes me and who seldom comes on here anymore) put heat shrink tubing around each of the four wires (starting at the connector and going back 3-4 inches) and then soldered the tips from each wire onto the pins. He used some sort of low heat soldering iron because the pins are delicate.

Edit:

You're going to have a similar problem up front but the solution is easy because the lenses aren't glued to the bases. Simply snap the existing lenses off and snap the new ones on. You can't use the new bases because the socket design was changed up there, too.

[MackerVFRR]

Thanks for your input 2fast. I have the fronts done already - that was the quick lens swap I was hoping for all around...

I considered the direct solder as well, but it's not my forte, and the space is tight - I can easily see myself melting it all into a molten ball.

So just to clarify: You took the "old" factory white connectors and modded those to fit onto the two prongs of the '06 socket?

[dutchinterceptor]

After buying the 2006 connectors I picked up some micro stake-on connectors that fit the tiny prongs in the connector. Soldered everything together, filled the socket with silicon and then spliced them into the wiring harness.

[2FAST4U]

^^ This is the guy I was telling you about earlier.

If you're uncomfortable doing the soldering, have a computer repair specialist do it for you. They're accustomed working in tight spaces and working with delicate electrical parts. For somebody that knows what he's doing, it's an easy job.

In a worse case scenario, if a pin breaks, a new socket is inexpensive.

[Switchblade]

And change over to LED's while doing the install.

[2FAST4U]

I went outside and snapped these pics a few minutes ago.

Pic 1: The pins.

Pic 2: What you're left with after removing the plastic connector off the end of the harness.

Pic 3: I initially said I wrapped electrical tape around both wires but I actually only wrapped it around one (to insulate one wire from the other). If I put tape on both, it'll be too tight a fit to get them on the pins.

Pic 4: Done. About once a year, one of the wires will work its way loose off a pin. I simply take the seat off, push it back in, check the other three, and then I'm good for another year.

I hope this helps.

[MackerVFRR]

This is great stuff gentleman. Thank-You both for the pictures and the descriptions!

I was leaning towards a wiring option, so I'm glad that's the way others have gone as well. I might even swing a combination of those two above methods. Although if I solder directly I'll probably consider splicing in connectors so that it can still be disassembled quickly/easily if needed - although upon further reflection you could easily just pop the bulb/socket I guess :p

Great suggestion on the fine soldering at a computer shop should I need it. I think I'll give it a go myself and if it goes wrong it's like someone said - it's only a $15 lesson.

Still open to other solutions if anybody here has done anything differently - Post up for the benefit of The Forum!

[MackerVFRR]

Any suggestions on stores where I could find those specific electrical components?

[2FAST4U]

Lowe's or Home Depot. None of these electrical components are motorcycle-specific.

[dutchinterceptor]

Any decent electronic supply should have the micro stake-on connectors.

You might check with Tightwad(member) at wiremybike.com to see if he has any or can source them.

Eastern Beaver is another electronic component source.