For this how-to I'll be using a 2005 Arctic Cat 650, your wiring colors may differ but the general concept is the same for most four wheelers.
Step 1:
Figure out where you're going to mount your light. I'm using a Whoolie Shop 12 LED Flexible strip in Pure White, The best way to pick a location for the light is to wire 12 volts to it and hold it in a few spots to see where puts out the best. Mine happened to be actually on the bumper. Under the tail light would have worked had I not had the large bumper blocking part of the light.
I used blue masking tape folded back over itself to stick the led in the approximate spot on the bumper just so i could stand back and make sure it was aimed properly.
Once satisfied on the mounting location, you should clean the mounting area with an alcohol pad. 3m Adhesive is good stuff but it does not stick well to dirt.
Once mounted, power it back up to verify that it's aimed properly then begin routing your wires up toward the CVT side of the bike. The main wiring harness is here and you can follow it easily.
Next pull the side plastic cover off held on by three push rivets, then remove the rubber boot going from the CVT up beside the airbox. You should now be able to access the wiring between the carb and CVT. You're looking for a harness coming out of the engine running up to the main harness: It has the following wire colors in it (Red, Black, Gray, Green, White)
The red wire is the one we want as according to the 650 wiring diagram it reads a ground whenever the bike is shifted into reverse. To make sure we have the right wire test it with a meter set to the OHMS position. Shift the bike into any gear EXCEPT reverse and skin back the insulation on the red wire. Connect one lead of the meter to ground and the other to the red wire. The meter should read OL or open circuit aka infinity with the transmission in any gear except reverse.
Next shift into reverse, the meters reading should change to 0.00 or 0.01 nearly zero.. This shows that the red wire is grounded when in reverse.
We also need a +12 volt SWITCHED power source, if you hook it directly to the battery the light will come on any time the bike is in reverse regardless of key switch position.
There just so happens to be a +12 volt source nearby, the brake switch. Unplug the 2 pin connector and the orange wire will have 12 volts on it whenever the ignition switch is on.
Chase your wires down to this point and connect the colored wire of the reverse light to the ORANGE wire and wire the black wire of the reverse light to the RED wire coming from the harness. You can do this any number of ways, I soldered and taped them.
Tidy all your wires up then turn on your key switch, shift into reverse and tada! Automatic Reverse Light.
Step 1:
Figure out where you're going to mount your light. I'm using a Whoolie Shop 12 LED Flexible strip in Pure White, The best way to pick a location for the light is to wire 12 volts to it and hold it in a few spots to see where puts out the best. Mine happened to be actually on the bumper. Under the tail light would have worked had I not had the large bumper blocking part of the light.
I used blue masking tape folded back over itself to stick the led in the approximate spot on the bumper just so i could stand back and make sure it was aimed properly.
Once satisfied on the mounting location, you should clean the mounting area with an alcohol pad. 3m Adhesive is good stuff but it does not stick well to dirt.
Once mounted, power it back up to verify that it's aimed properly then begin routing your wires up toward the CVT side of the bike. The main wiring harness is here and you can follow it easily.
Next pull the side plastic cover off held on by three push rivets, then remove the rubber boot going from the CVT up beside the airbox. You should now be able to access the wiring between the carb and CVT. You're looking for a harness coming out of the engine running up to the main harness: It has the following wire colors in it (Red, Black, Gray, Green, White)
The red wire is the one we want as according to the 650 wiring diagram it reads a ground whenever the bike is shifted into reverse. To make sure we have the right wire test it with a meter set to the OHMS position. Shift the bike into any gear EXCEPT reverse and skin back the insulation on the red wire. Connect one lead of the meter to ground and the other to the red wire. The meter should read OL or open circuit aka infinity with the transmission in any gear except reverse.
Next shift into reverse, the meters reading should change to 0.00 or 0.01 nearly zero.. This shows that the red wire is grounded when in reverse.
We also need a +12 volt SWITCHED power source, if you hook it directly to the battery the light will come on any time the bike is in reverse regardless of key switch position.
There just so happens to be a +12 volt source nearby, the brake switch. Unplug the 2 pin connector and the orange wire will have 12 volts on it whenever the ignition switch is on.
Chase your wires down to this point and connect the colored wire of the reverse light to the ORANGE wire and wire the black wire of the reverse light to the RED wire coming from the harness. You can do this any number of ways, I soldered and taped them.
Tidy all your wires up then turn on your key switch, shift into reverse and tada! Automatic Reverse Light.