If my headlight shot?

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Apr 29, 2015 | 10:54 AM

scooper321

Thread Starter

Road Warrior

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 1,388

Likes: 132

From: Baltimore, MD

Is my headlight shot?

I was attempting to adjust the headlight yesterday on my 2007 RK. Most of the guidance on headlight alignment talk about locating the center of the beam at a specific spot on the wall. What I noticed was that I don't really have a center spot to my beam. I have some splotches of focused light, at random locations out in front. Some to the sides, some high. But all over. For the most part, the road IS illuminated at night, but this doesn't seem optimal. Or correct. And that's just the low beam. When I flip to high beams, I get a fair amount of broad illumination ahead of me. But I get a bright spot almost directly BELOW the light, next to the wheel. And I also get what appears to be a dark hole (no light) right in the center of where I would want light to be. Needless to say, I rarely use the high beam.

I've had 2 different H4 bulbs in the headlamp. One stock and one high bright Sylvania. Both behave the same, so I'm thinking my lens cover might have that corrosion/cloudiness that we see on cars. Looking at the light, it's not terribly cloudy, but it could be cleaner, to be sure.

Has anyone else seen this sort of behavior from a stock headlight? Is the headlamp and lens itself just dirty/cloudy? Is there something wrong in the reflectors inside the assembly? Is it me?

Note that I do plan on switching to an LED headlight at some point. But not now. So I'm asking for comments on my EXISTING headlamp, not recommendations telling me to switch to the Daymaker or Phase 7 or something else.

Thanks in advance!

Steve

Last edited by scooper321; Apr 29, 2015 at 10:57 AM. Reason: typos

Apr 29, 2015 | 11:10 AM

Mobeus102

Club Member

Joined: Mar 2014

Posts: 701

Likes: 13

From: Maine

Headlight

Yes your headlight may be worn out and needs to be replaced the sun and riding will take its toll I had a 2000 road glide upgraded to 2012 headlight silver star bulbs and a headlight harness improver kit on flea bay and difference was night and day also go to Daniel stern lighting get his 7 inch headlight you will learn a lot there .

Apr 29, 2015 | 02:36 PM

Joe12RK

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2012

Posts: 6,161

Likes: 2,568

From: CT/FL

is the bulb holder fully into the back of the reflector? if it's cocked it'll mess up the pattern...

Apr 29, 2015 | 02:43 PM

bikerlaw

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 9,193

Likes: 494

From: Richmond, VA

Quote:

Originally Posted by scooper321

I've had 2 different H4 bulbs in the headlamp. One stock and one high bright Sylvania. Both behave the same, so I'm thinking my lens cover might have that corrosion/cloudiness that we see on cars. Looking at the light, it's not terribly cloudy, but it could be cleaner, to be sure.

Clean it! Pull off the headlight, remove the bulb and clean both the inside and outside of the lens, and the reflector. Typically there is grease on the socket to protect from corrosion. As the grease degrades its fumes can work there way into the inside of the housing and cause fogginess. Not to mention a million other contaminants that can get inside a housing and fog it up. Cut up a small cotton rag, get some solvent that will break down grease, and whatever you need to wipe down both the inside of the lens and the reflector. I'm cheap so I use paint thinner and a coat hanger, but obviously there are much better choices. But yes, the inside can be cleaned, and should work as good as new.

Last edited by bikerlaw; Apr 29, 2015 at 02:47 PM.

Apr 29, 2015 | 06:03 PM

bigdumbnoitall00

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 8,341

Likes: 714

i replaced with a hella e code housing, about 35$ and gives a nice tight pattern, puts the light were its needed.

Apr 29, 2015 | 06:29 PM

scooper321

Thread Starter

Road Warrior

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 1,388

Likes: 132

From: Baltimore, MD

Is my headlight shot?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe12RK

is the bulb holder fully into the back of the reflector? if it's cocked it'll mess up the pattern...

We may have a winner here. I don't know how this happened, but I did have the whole headlight assembly out recently when I replaced the duckbill nacelle with a standard Road King nacelle. I don't recall bumping the back of the headlight to any degree - certainly not enough to skew the bulb like this. But take a look:

So yeah, the bulb was definitely askew. That's been fixed. I also deoxidized the lens (no picture of that) and it looks good. The reflector on the inside looks good, too. So I'm thinking the whole problem probably was the bulb being cocked in there. Once it gets darker here, I'll go outside and try to align it again. I'll know more then.