Change the Headlight on your Harley Davidson Dyna

Although the headlight bulbs on a Harley Davidson Dyna
are designed to last for a very long time and to avoid burnouts, they
will, like all other light bulbs, eventually stop working. When this
does happen, it’s crucial that you take responsibility to replace the
bulb as quickly as possible. Driving your Dyna without a headlight is
dangerous, even if you avoid driving at night or in dark places, and in
most locations it’s illegal as well. Fortunately, the process of
replacing the headlight is an easy one that can be done at home in a
short period of time.

Step 1 — Gather the Materials

You’ll need the following materials in order to replace the headlight on your Harley Davidson Dyna:

• New headlight bulb
• Gloves
• Soft cloth or towel
• Needle-nose pliers
• Screwdriver

Step 2 — Prepare to Remove the Headlight

Begin by removing the fairing protector from the outside of the
headlight frame, if your Dyna has one. Next, remove the chrome ring from
around the outside rim of the headlight bulb. In both cases, you can
remove these items by hand. They should both be pulled directly outward
and away from the headlight component. If you pull them either upward or
downward, you may cause inadvertent damage to the system.

Next, unscrew the three screws that hold the headlight bulb in place
using your screwdriver. These screws are typically arranged in a
triangular pattern around the outside of the bulb. When you’ve finished,
place the screws into a small container and set them aside in a safe
place so that you can use them again later to reattach the new bulb.

Step 3 — Remove the Bulb

Carefully pull the old headlight bulb directly out from the bulb
frame by hand. Do not pull it too far, as you’ll stand to damage the
three pronged plug that holds the bulb into place. The headlight should
rest a few inches outside of the headlight frame.

Step 4 — Remove the Plug

Remove the three pronged plug from the back of the headlight by
pulling it directly out. If you’re unable to do so by hand, do not pull
the headlight further out. Rather, use the needle-nosed pliers to
completely remove the headlight plug from the back of the bulb instead.
Next, remove the headlight bulb completely and set it aside to be
discarded later on.

Step 5 — Set Up the New Bulb

Put the gloves on so that you can avoid getting any oils or residues
on the new headlight bulb as you handle it. Clean off the bulb with the
soft cloth, and clean off the ends of the plug as well. Attach the plug
to the back of the headlight bulb, then carefully place the bulb into
the setup for the headlight frame. Screw in the three screws once again
to hold the bulb in place.

Step 6 — Adjust the Bulb and Secure It

Turn on the headlight bulb and examine where the light shines. You’ll
want to adjust the light angle by loosening or tightening the screws
according to how the light should be directed. The light should point
outward in front of the motorcycle and slightly down toward the ground
in front of you as well. When you’re satisfied, place the chrome ring
back on top of the light and then reattach the fairing protector as
well.

Test drive the motorcycle to make sure that the headlight is properly
in place and that you don’t need to adjust it any further by changing
the screws. If you’ve done everything right, you should now have a nice, bright headlight on your Harley Davidson Dyna.