where are the diodes

Where are the diodes located on the 82 XJ550? Specifically, the diode connected to the white wire that is connected to the headlight relay?

 

the diode block is that 2" square hunk of rubber about 3/8" thick with like 6 or 8 wires growing out of it, inside the headlight shell.

In this pic, it's laying in the bottom of the shell; the wires go to the left into the black connector that ISN'T marked in the pic.



(The connectors that are marked are the ones you unplug to remove the instrument cluster.)

 

Wow, I would have never figured that out, thanks!

 

fitz I wish the inside of my headlight looked that good - Mine looks like some one took all the spare wire they could find wound it up with tape and smushed it in there!

 

I had everything apart. (Shell got black chromed.) Before I put it back together I cleaned every wire, individually, with mineral spirits (which is why the big red one looks a little faded.) Then I "trained" each subassembly's bundle and arranged them around the edge so there would be more clearance in the middle for the longer butt on the H4. Tedious work but worth it.

Last tip is to throw one of those "do not eat" dessicant packets that come in electronics and shoes, etc; in the bottom of the shell before you close it up. It will help keep it bone dry and fight corrosion.

 

"Last tip is to throw one of those "do not eat" dessicant packets"

AWESOME tip!

 

Which only work in enclosed spaces. The access holes in the back of the bucket leave the air inside open to ambient air, meaning the packet will work for a very short period of time (count it in days, not weeks). Desiccant is great in sealed environments but cannot keep up with anything but the driest of environments. If you can seal the headlight bucket, it would be a great long term idea, but kinda like whizzing on a forest fire outside of that.
Best bet for long term corrosion protection is to smear dielectric grease on every connection. A little messy but the long term protection is priceless.

 

True, but they do keep any actual moisture that gets in there dried up rather than form a puddle; they do tend to get real funky after a month or two if they get wet but are easily replaced. I used to have "intermittency" problems with the Norton's headlight that seemed to clear up after I started using them.

Dielectric grease is a good idea too.