Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => Tech => Topic started by: NAKID on November 17, 2014, 10:09:12 PM

Title: Constantly Replacing Taillights
Post by: NAKID on November 17, 2014, 10:09:12 PM
I don't know why, but over the last year I have gone through about 4-5 taillight bulbs. All of this over about 20k miles. Stock taillight, lens cover and everything.

Any ideas?
Title: Re: Constantly Replacing Taillights
Post by: Howie on November 17, 2014, 10:28:27 PM
Chopped tail?  If so, go LED.
Title: Re: Constantly Replacing Taillights
Post by: seevtsaab on November 18, 2014, 07:54:13 AM
Dude, sorry I'm no help - but you're doing 20K miles a year an a Monster!
How hard do you have to try to find something to complain about?  ;D
Title: Re: Constantly Replacing Taillights
Post by: ducpainter on November 18, 2014, 07:59:28 AM
If you don't want to go led you could try the 1157LL bulbs. Not sure what you expect for life, but they do last longer.

http://www.autozone.com/electrical-and-lighting/side-marker-light-mini-bulb/sylvania-parking-light-mini-bulb/59020/ (http://www.autozone.com/electrical-and-lighting/side-marker-light-mini-bulb/sylvania-parking-light-mini-bulb/59020/)
Title: Re: Constantly Replacing Taillights
Post by: pchoiboi on November 18, 2014, 09:36:37 AM
phew~ i thought i was the only one that was going through this
11k and already on my 4th bulb this year

maybe the vibrations is breaking the bulb?
guessing that the double filament makes the bulb extra sensitive?
Title: Re: Constantly Replacing Taillights
Post by: Speeddog on November 18, 2014, 10:03:05 AM
Nearly every tailchop I've seen eliminates the rubber biscuit mounts.

Between my two Monsters, covering ~80k miles total, I've done 2 bulbs.
They've both got the rubber biscuit mounts.
Title: Re: Constantly Replacing Taillights
Post by: NAKID on November 18, 2014, 12:26:45 PM
Nick is correct, no vibration dampers. The odd thing is that the brake filament is almost always the one to go out, not the running light.
Title: Re: Constantly Replacing Taillights
Post by: ducpainter on November 18, 2014, 12:34:37 PM
I think the physical properties of the filaments makes it logical as opposed to odd.

A thinner filament makes more light.
Title: Re: Constantly Replacing Taillights
Post by: Howie on November 18, 2014, 01:18:17 PM
The vibration also comes from the chop itself. 
Title: Re: Constantly Replacing Taillights
Post by: Duck-Stew on November 18, 2014, 02:07:38 PM
Quote from: ducpainter on November 18, 2014, 07:59:28 AM
If you don't want to go led you could try the 1157LL bulbs. Not sure what you expect for life, but they do last longer.

http://www.autozone.com/electrical-and-lighting/side-marker-light-mini-bulb/sylvania-parking-light-mini-bulb/59020/ (http://www.autozone.com/electrical-and-lighting/side-marker-light-mini-bulb/sylvania-parking-light-mini-bulb/59020/)

1157 is a car-duty bulb.
1157LL is a Long-Life car-duty bulb.
2357 is a truck-duty bulb.
2357LL is a Long-Life truck-duty bulb.

The truck bulbs have an extra filament support in the middle of the run.  That helps with vibration and outside of that, it's the same wattage and fitment as the 1157.

Or go LED.
Title: Re: Constantly Replacing Taillights
Post by: caboteria on November 22, 2014, 05:57:27 AM
When I first did the chop I went through a few bulbs but then I noticed that there was a gap between the lens and the bottom of the seat which let the whole taillight assembly vibrate.  I bent the supporting brackets up a little so the seat presses down on the tail light lens a little and that solved the problem.  Same bulb for years now.