HD 7' Headlamp Trim Ring
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,779
Likes: 223
From: Northern California
I didn't like the fit of this trim ring at all. So I reinstalled my stock one. Not to high jack this thread but does anyone know of a better quality trim ring, regardless of price?
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,779
Likes: 223
From: Northern California
I should have looked before opening my mouth. I just took a look in the Drag Book and HeadWinds makes a couple real nice replacement bazels between three and four hundred bucks, yippiees
No, you should be able to completely close the gap but it might take more than one attempt before you succeed. It's a PITA.
Loosen the stock trim almost completely and position the trim ring over it. Then tighten the 2 rings alternatively, until there's not enough room between the 2 ends of the trim ring to tighten the stock trim. You can then completely close the gap by finishing to tighten the trim ring. Here is the result on my bike.
Loosen the stock trim almost completely and position the trim ring over it. Then tighten the 2 rings alternatively, until there's not enough room between the 2 ends of the trim ring to tighten the stock trim. You can then completely close the gap by finishing to tighten the trim ring. Here is the result on my bike.
Jim
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,948
Likes: 54
From: The Burgh
Cool. We go to Car Hops on West Liberty Ave. (Rte 19) once in a while. "Souled Out" plays there every Friday night. Great band, if you like Steely Dan and this kind of music.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 569
Likes: 7
From: Massachusetts
Pain in the A$$. I screwed with mine to get the gap closed. stripped the cheap bolt that came with it. Got a better chrome bolt and used a bar clamp. Got it closed but shame on HD for putting out P.O.S. accessories like that.
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 594
Likes: 1
From: Florida
Haven't really seen anyone here explain how this thing is really suppose to fit. And since I just spent about half an hour figuring out the install on my bike... I figured I'd "chime in".
What you have to realize is... the factory trim ring has to be loose enough for the "aftermarket trim ring/bezel" to slide in behind it. The "aftermarket ring" has a 1/8th inch lip around the inside perimeter. That lip has to fit in behind the original chrome ring "all the way around the perimeter of the light". So... you have to loosen the original trim ring pretty loose. Once you get the new trim ring over the orginal and trace around the back perimeter to confirm the lip is seated (almost like seating the bead of a tire on the rim, or a "C-clip" on the end of the camshaft). At this point, there should be no gap at all in the new trim ring, even without the screw tightened. You should be able to clamp it shut by hand. The problem comes in when you have to open that gap to get to the factory trim-screw with a screwdriver to tighten it. When you spread it open, that means that lip is not seated all the way in behind the original trim ring. Once you've tightened the original trim ring and then try to tighten the "aftermarket" trim ring, it wont close the gap beacause it can't "seat" behind the original trim ring (cause its too tight now). So, you essentially have to leave the original trim ring just loose enough that when you tighten the "aftermarket" trim ring it can "seat the lip" behind the original trim ring and close that gap! Yeah, its a PITA, and you may have to loosen it a time or two to get the "tension" right on the inner ring.
What you have to realize is... the factory trim ring has to be loose enough for the "aftermarket trim ring/bezel" to slide in behind it. The "aftermarket ring" has a 1/8th inch lip around the inside perimeter. That lip has to fit in behind the original chrome ring "all the way around the perimeter of the light". So... you have to loosen the original trim ring pretty loose. Once you get the new trim ring over the orginal and trace around the back perimeter to confirm the lip is seated (almost like seating the bead of a tire on the rim, or a "C-clip" on the end of the camshaft). At this point, there should be no gap at all in the new trim ring, even without the screw tightened. You should be able to clamp it shut by hand. The problem comes in when you have to open that gap to get to the factory trim-screw with a screwdriver to tighten it. When you spread it open, that means that lip is not seated all the way in behind the original trim ring. Once you've tightened the original trim ring and then try to tighten the "aftermarket" trim ring, it wont close the gap beacause it can't "seat" behind the original trim ring (cause its too tight now). So, you essentially have to leave the original trim ring just loose enough that when you tighten the "aftermarket" trim ring it can "seat the lip" behind the original trim ring and close that gap! Yeah, its a PITA, and you may have to loosen it a time or two to get the "tension" right on the inner ring.
Thanks for all your input. I almost have it all the way closed but screw it. I'm close to stripping out the screw and don't want to deal with that. I called the dealer about it and he said "let me guess, it's a Road King". I guess there is something different but I can't imagine what.