Headlight aiming suggestions.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
Headlight aiming suggestions.
I need some ideas and input on my headlight. The problem... The headlight is pointing too dang high. This was never a problem with my standard bulb, but with my new 80/100 bulb, its a problem. Heres why:
The bike is a 2013 Road King. Its lowered 1 inch in the rear and the front is probably 1-1.5 inches raised because of the taller 21 inch tire. I MAXED OUT THE ADJUSTER to the point the headlight is starting to pull the headlight ring away from the housing. There is simply no more adjustment. Other than raising the rear back up to the stock height, or dropping the front end an inch or two.....what are my options. This HAS to be a pretty common problem, and its really bad with the wife on the back. With a passenger all I get is oncoming traffic flashing their brights at me. And I damn near blind oncoming traffic if I flash back.
Suggestions please.
The bike is a 2013 Road King. Its lowered 1 inch in the rear and the front is probably 1-1.5 inches raised because of the taller 21 inch tire. I MAXED OUT THE ADJUSTER to the point the headlight is starting to pull the headlight ring away from the housing. There is simply no more adjustment. Other than raising the rear back up to the stock height, or dropping the front end an inch or two.....what are my options. This HAS to be a pretty common problem, and its really bad with the wife on the back. With a passenger all I get is oncoming traffic flashing their brights at me. And I damn near blind oncoming traffic if I flash back.
Suggestions please.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 609
Likes: 14
From: Mount Airy, MD
I have a 2014 Ultra and the first time I rode it at night was insane. The headlight was pointing almost directly in from to the bike. There couldn't have been any more than 20' from the front tire to the edge of the beam of light. I took the headlight trim ring off and found that the top adjust had no more adjustment in it. I also found that there were a left and right adjuster and they were turned in pretty far as well. So I loosened the left and right adjuster and the bottom of the headlight began to come out thus raising the beam of light.
I don't know how many adjusters you headlight has but if it has three try out what I did above.
I don't know how many adjusters you headlight has but if it has three try out what I did above.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
First thing I'd do is check to make sure the bulb is seated properly. I've ran into this before on my cages and it's almost always the bulb isn't seated right. Felt like it was when installed, but going back in and double checking usually found that it wasn't. Once seated correctly, it was fine.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 127
You lowered the back of the bike and you raised the front of the bike. I think you know what your up against. There simply isn't anymore room for adjustment. I don't know of a magic wand that will magically solve your problem short of doing some major engineering to repoint your headlight.
I got nothing.
I got nothing.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,976
Likes: 49
From: Northern California
I would think you could get some longer screws for the retaining ring that holds the light in place, make up a shim of something like strips of a inner tube glued to the top of the light and get back some of the adjustment.
In pics in magazines of custom baggers look closely and the headlights point upwards at a totally useless angle, another indicator that they are almost worthless to use as a actual touring bike.
After taking a look at mine and how you describe that it is pushing the trim ring out you may need to look at removing some materiel from the trim ring too. I would just raise the rear back up.
In pics in magazines of custom baggers look closely and the headlights point upwards at a totally useless angle, another indicator that they are almost worthless to use as a actual touring bike.
After taking a look at mine and how you describe that it is pushing the trim ring out you may need to look at removing some materiel from the trim ring too. I would just raise the rear back up.
Last edited by bigheadted; Dec 21, 2013 at 10:13 AM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,537
Likes: 6,412
From: Honah Lee
Meant to say..Slot the screw holes with a rat tail file and move the whole headlight bucket..Ha till you look at it.. Then you wonder what else you would be lining up to compensate for moving the bucket shells..
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Dec 21, 2013 at 09:50 AM.
