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Tourer
Posts: 320
Savannah, GA -Year round riding!! Yay! | Ok, let me start this out by saying that I am not whining or complaining. I am looking to see if it's just my electromagnetic field or is anyone else having this.... My left headlight bulb blew last month (not covered under warranty). I had the dealer replace it while doing warranty work on my clutch. No biggie, i thought. A $6 bulb, but $130 labor to replace it at shop labor rates, since you have to remove the whole front fairing. Still.... no biggie. These things happen. Well, on the ride home the other night, I thought that the right side was hard to see. I check when I get into the garage, and now the right side is blown.... Agghhhh.
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Trix, you've got bigger problems. My first guess is that there is something contaminating them, or they were contaminated. You cannot touch halegen which I'm sure you are aware of that. I make sure they do not get touched and get wiped to make sure nothing gets on that can cause hot spots and early failure. Hopefully this is the end. The only other possible reason could be too much juice to the electrical system which can cause other problems. You might want to have that checked as well. I believe you mentioned sometime before about an electric problem. I hope it doesn't lead to the Human Torch on the rocketship. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | I believe that someone here said that they could change a bulb per the manual without removing the fairing. It does take small hands. Maybe some who has done it will explain the procedure. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | This is interesting. I've gone through the service manual three times this evening and have not found and procedure for changing the headlight bulbs. If those that have the manual could check and see if I'm missing something. Thanks. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Headlight Bulb Replacement To replace a headlamp bulb: - Remove air filter (page 143). Pull sealing boot away from the back of the bulb(s) and housing.
- Press the looped end of the wire clip bulb retainer and swing the end toward the center of the bulb to release it from the latch tab.
- Pull bulb out with wire connector atttached.
- Disconnect wire harness. Install new bulb. DO NOT TOUCH glass portion of the headlamp bulb. Oil on the glass surfase could cause bulb failure. Clean with denatured alchohol if touched.
- Install bulb by reversing steps. Be sure boot is sealed tightly around bulb base and lens to prevent moisture from forming inside the lamp.
Verbatim from page 195 of the Rider's Manual. |
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Tourer
Posts: 320
Savannah, GA -Year round riding!! Yay! | I haven't changed the bulbs on this bike myself yet (mostly after reading the directions in the book. I realized it was way over my head. I can do it on my other bike no problems...) I would think that the tech at my dealer ship understands the "no touch" rule on halogens (I have them all in my kitchen. Learned the hard way....) Yikes, at this rate, $130 a few times a year, not covered by warranty.... sheesh. I'm praying for the aforementioned electrical surge, as that would be covered by warranty!
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Tourer
Posts: 320
Savannah, GA -Year round riding!! Yay! | I wish I had small hands....
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | GAgirlTrixie - 2008-11-25 11:33 PM
I wish I had small hands....
I'd give it a shot anyways as the book says nothing of hand size |
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Tourer
Posts: 311
Atlanta Area | KevinX was at Vision school and the instructor said the "book" pays 15 minutes to change a light bulb. He set a 100 dollar bill on the seat of the Vision and challenged anyone to do it in 15 mins. No takers, not even the instructors. He extended the time to 30 mins and a young student stepped forward and accepted the challenge. 45 minutes later the kid pulled a bloody stump out from underneath the headlight. His hand was all cut up. BTW, he did not get the bulb out.
Tigger has posted some instructions, either here or on the VMC site, can't remember. It's takes just over an hour and involves removing the front grill halves, a few fasteners on the inside of the body work, snapping the bodywork away from the headlight and working the whole headlight assy out the front of the bike. This is far and away the simplest and least physically damaging way to change a lamp... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 51
| GOOD LUCK!! I had to change one and first I tried what the book stated, remove air filter etc and could not do it that way because there is no room to move your hand around plus you are doing it blind.
I took the front fairing off(2 1/2 hrs)taking my time and then removing the headlight housing and then taking my time putting it all back together. 4 hrs total.
There is instructions on this site but I cant find it right now |
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Cruiser
Posts: 83
Lexington, North Carolina | I've had to change them both. I did manage to do it by the instructions in the book, but it does take a bit of perseverance.
It helps to have a small mirror to see what you're doing. One thing that really makes a difference is to be sure the rubber boot is completely off the bezel that the bulb goes into making it possible to pull the bulb out. I pulled it off with hands of average size, but they we're certainly sore because the space is tight.
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | Carolina Tom,
It is nice to know that it can be done. |
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Blown headlights bulbs