Calif Sidecar Trike Reverse Lamp

[macmike100]

I have a 2008 Honda 1800 CSC trike. Has anyone ever replaced one of the reverse bulbs on a California Sidecar trike? Is there a trick to it? I see two screws to the left and right of the lamp assembly under the fender. I peeled back the boot and can see the wires going in. But am unsure how to proceed. I need to test the bulb or at least clean the contacts. It's the one on my back left but surely they're both the same. Would appreciate any advice . Thanks.

[macmike100]

I found it odd that there were almost 200 views and not one reply. So after getting the advice I needed on another forum, I'll post the results here and answer my own post.

To replace the CSC reverse lamp: Pull back the rubber boot that keeps road dirt out. There's a little phillips screw that holds the ground wire lug on the rear of this assy at the bottom. Remove this little screw with a 'short' screwdriver and the old bulb will pull out (pulling towards the tire). The new bulb can be purchased at AutoZone or O'Reilly's for 5 bucks each. I bought two for the next time. It takes the 55 watt size which is quite bright. The new bulb assy comes with a male tab connector. Since my old bulb was crimp wired on, I just snipped the plus lead and then later crimped on a female insulated tab connector on the hot side for future replacement ease.
Put in the new bulb (try to keep your hands off the the glass so oil from skin does not contaminate the bulb) and then tighten the screw with the ground wire lug...replace the rubber boot, connect the plus lead and and you're done. Cheers
PS if the old bulb is black in color inside...consider it hosed. No need to even test.

[Nana]

Apparently no one here has had to try doing that yet, macmike! Thanks for posting what you did, it will help the next ones

[macmike100]

I guess not. One thing I'd like to add though. Having pretty short tires and being low to the ground, I had a ton of trouble seeing what I was doing. It was done with the help of a mirror. I can see why CSC cut off the tab connector and just crimped all the wiring. Kinda hard to put the tab though the rubber boot for one. If I ever do this again (and probably will), I'm gonna get some of those wedge blocks and back up onto them raising the back end up so I could see better by getting my head under better. Yep, that would have speeded things up considerably :-)

[katfish16]

Look at Wal=mart or a camping store,, they have those squares that the campers use to level their Rv.. U can stack them to ride the trike up on.. would be much safer than the wedges..?? I think they are about $29 for a box of 10.

[BlueTrinity]

Sorry Mike, your post said "reverse light" and that threw me a curve. I thought you had something that was unique to the Honda conversion.

I've replaced the bulbs in the cornering lights and they are in a really tight space. What I did is raise the trike with my Craftsman Motorcycle jack, but I had to slide it under from the opposite side. That gets the trike up nice and high and I can slide under far enough to see what I'm doing.

:Flag:

[Scalp Hunter]

I know it's too late, but a couple of days ago someone posted CSC's owners manual. I just got around to printing it last night, and lo and behold on the next to last page was the instructions for replacing the backup light bulbs. You did it right by the way. Sorry I couldn't respond to you earlier.

John

[macmike100]

CSC Owners manual...hmmm that's something I didn't get when I bought mine. I'd sure like to know how to download a copy. Could you give me that info?

On another subject that had my head scratching. The license plate lighting. Today I finally figured out why it didn't light. The wires were reversed! This had to be a factory boo boo. I reversed them to the way they should be and it worked fine then. I'm going to look very carefully from now on to anything non-Honda for any more goofs.
Oh yeah, another one...I installed a Kuryakian rack in the back. They supplied the wrong screws in the extension kit. I had to take it apart again to change the screws (I hated that!). I had to use 2 of the screws from the original kit.

For what I paid for these items...you'd think they'd throw in an allen tool or two...nahhhh. Motorcycle mechanics must be very smart and tenacious me-thinks.
Yeah, I sure could use a manual!!!

[Blondie Gal]

MacMike, here's a link to the CSC manual: http://www.californiasidecar.com/dow...ers_Manual.pdf

If you can't get it, look on the Honda thread, CSC Owners Manual posting - should be there.

Good luck!

[macmike100]

Thanks BlondieGal! Got it.