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Iron Butt
Posts: 721
| I have a small problem, yesterday when I turned the key to the on position but before pressing the starter button, BOTH headlight bulbs blew out their hight beams. I usually leave the headlight switch on high beam for daytime riding so I do not know if it was a surge or something else that possibly would have taken out the low beams if they had been on instead of the high beams. While looking at how difficult it would be to change out the bulbs, which is a royal pain but made easier if you remove the air filter, I noticed a plug hanging from behind the headlight assembly so the question also is since I have a Tour Premium with the HID center driving light is the plug possibly for the halogen bulb that normally occupies the space the HID takes up? Has anyone else here ever blown out two bulbs at the same time? BTW, I am running the PIAA Intense White 55w/60w bulbs, but will probably switch back to stock because the mechanic that works on my bike at Randy's informed me that many people who have run the PIAA bulbs have experienced failures too, is this true? |
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Tourer
Posts: 354
20 miles west of Chicago. | Yes. No, but in close proximity. Yes. I've had two of the PIAA, $50 + dollar, power sport anti-vibration bulbs burn out with very short service lives. I'm one of the guys Steve was talking about. With the last replacement, I kept the paper work and intend to submit a warranty claim. They are warranted for a year. They throw a lot of white light, but I wouldn't buy them again. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 721
| Thanks, that answers one of my questions, but how did you know I was talking to Steve, it could have been Chris......... Steve has done most of the work on my Vision, but when I had the headlight assembly replaced under warranty this spring Chris did the work and also installed the PIAAs since everything was apart. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | The bulbs are a pain to replace. Unless someone else knows of a better way, I had remove the entire headlight assembly. It took some time. Lots of fasteners that are hard to get to. Lots of body parts to loosen or remove. Once I got the assembly out, the bulbs were easy to replace. It just took a while to get the headlight assembly out then back in.
I have not had any issues with the bulbs. I had the front end apart during a stereo install and wondered how hard it would be to replace a bulb. So I did just to see how long it would take when time comes. Common tools will do the job, but it's not easy.
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Tourer
Posts: 432
Gettysburg, 2008 Tour Premium | Too bad about the PIAA's. When I order bulbs I use Susquehanna Motorsports. They can be found at ralleylights.com. They stock Hella and Osram bulbs and they always gave me good life even in the higher watt versions. I dont know if I would use the 80/100 watt bulbs but using the 70/80 or the Osram should be good. I have no connection with them but just appreciate the fact they do not sell Chinese junk. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 721
| victoryvisiontour - 2009-08-27 9:09 PM The bulbs are a pain to replace. Unless someone else knows of a better way, I had remove the entire headlight assembly. It took some time. Lots of fasteners that are hard to get to. Lots of body parts to loosen or remove. Once I got the assembly out, the bulbs were easy to replace. It just took a while to get the headlight assembly out then back in. I have not had any issues with the bulbs. I had the front end apart during a stereo install and wondered how hard it would be to replace a bulb. So I did just to see how long it would take when time comes. Common tools will do the job, but it's not easy. You are right about how much of a pain it is to change the bulbs and like you I initially switched to the PIAA bulbs when the headlight assembly was being switched out due to a warranty issue regarding condensation in the assembly. From what one of the mechanics at Randy's cycles in Huntley, iL has told me it is easier to change the bulbs if you remove the air filter first. You still have to work by feel and in the blind but it is possible, even for a guy like me with my huge hands. With all the rain we have had the past couple of days here I took the opportunity to change the bulbs back out to the stock ones that came with the Vision and a few other minor issues that I just haven't gotten to before. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 721
| My original purpose for the post was because I was concerned not about having to change out the headlight bulbs, but more because both bulbs blew out their high beam filaments at exactly the same time, right when I turned the key on but before hitting the starter switch. Does anyone here think this is unusual? This is the first time I have had two bulbs blow out the same beam filament at exactly the same time, more to the point, I believe that there was some kind of power surge when I first turn the key to the on position. Thoughts??? |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | sorry TM, yes is unusual and can indicate something is amiss. at this time, i'd just think of all the circumstances that might have affected this. I don't know what but anything out of the ordinary, weather, dropping the bike, who knows. if there is nothing to investagate, my thought is, get two new bulbs and replace and more when the next time you do it. mine is nearly two years old with over 51,000 miles and many numereous starts and stops, and I'm on the original bulbs. but who is to say, today won't be my day for mine to blow. |
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Tourer
Posts: 354
20 miles west of Chicago. | I didn't know it was Steve, just a guess. I had a very similar conversation with him while he was repalcing the last one that burned out, and he's the guy there who worked out how to replace the bulbs the shop manual way, removing the air filter and getting his hand up in there. I've tried it and can't see how he does it without losing at least a lot of skin, and his hands are as big if not bigger than mine. He usually works on my bikes and strikes me as very smart and very skilled, not that the other wrenches are not also very good.
It does seem odd that both bulbs would blow at the same time in that situation. I wonder if using a multimeter at the bulb end of the headlight circuit would show if there is a surge when the ignition is keyed on. I don't know much about electronics, but if there is a surge, perhaps the PIAA bulbs are more sensative to it than other brands. Just a thought. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | Word of caution: Any time you remove the air filter, stuff a clean rag in the hole. This will keep dirt out. It's also a life saver when you drop a nut, bolt, or socket.
Edited by victoryvisiontour 2009-08-29 12:49 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 70
Central Victoria, Australia | gday to the forum,
I have an 08 Vision, i went on an Iron butt ride on the weekend in horrible conditions of tropical downpours and really high humidity.
when i was cleaning the bike today, i have noticed there is condenstaion in the headlight, I just read on this thread that some of you may of had trouble with condensation?
Is this a regular thing and the remedy is?
My warranty runs out in a month, so If its a warranty problem i need to get it seen to
thanks for the wisdom out there
Phil |
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Cleveland, GA | Get the headlight assembly replaced under warrenty. There have been quite a few people who have had cracked headlight assemblies allowing water inside. I'm one of them. I rode through a week of HEAVY rains and had a pool of water inside the assembly - right in the HID area! They had to replace the HID and the entire assembly. Couldn't find where the cracks were, but they knew they had to be there. |
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Tourer
Posts: 354
20 miles west of Chicago. | Ploz, if you look at the upper edge of your headlight, along the seam between the front lens and the body, you will likely see some tiny fracture lines, They don't look like they could admit as much moisture as you're probably seeing, but, obviously, they do. Had mine replaced once under warranty for the same reason, a second time because the reflector around the HID bulb fell off. When you get it replaced, keep an eye on it. I don't know if the supplier actually has fixed the problem or if they are just replacing the failed ones with the same thing which may be subject to the same problem. My latest one has been OK so far. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 849
, FL United States | Mudge - 2009-08-25 6:00 PM
I've had two of the PIAA, $50 + dollar, power sport anti-vibration bulbs burn out with very short service lives. a lot of white light, but I wouldn't buy them again.
I also tried the PIAA Super Bright bulbs but after having them only last 3 or 4 months on 3 different sets, I went with Sylvania H4's the last ime and they have lasted a year or so.
EDIT I never had both of them burn out at the same time - usually the left low beam (replaced them in pairs always).
Edited by CoolHandLuke 2010-02-08 2:21 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 70
Central Victoria, Australia | Thanks Mudge,
spoke to Victory here, and yep they will sort it out.
thanks for the wisdom
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | I'm going on two years with the stock bulbs still intact. The only ones my dealer has replaced locally has been for a guy who runs the high beams as much as possible. When my originals burn out I want to switch to a nice, white light that is a closer match to the HID but haven't heard of a really heavy duty long life white bulb. Silverstars have a notoriously short life and the PIAAs are not far behind. I'm going to stick with the stock wattage and am looking at Hella or Osram but I need to do more homework to make sure they will last as long as these stock ones have. (I still have almost 40k miles on the original brake pads also.) I'm pretty dang happy with the stock Victory stuff. I keep looking for hairline cracks at the top of the lense but so far nothing. |
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Tourer
Posts: 432
Gettysburg, 2008 Tour Premium | SongFan is on the right track. Hella/Osram is the right way to go. Last forever even when installed in my old paintshaker....... Err H-D.
See my other post. I don't work for them but they are the best US source I have found for quality euro-made halogen bulbs. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 732
Western WA | Same problem with the PIAAs. Which is a bummer because they throw out a ton of light.
I now have another high beam out, and I'm seriously thinking of just returning to the stock bulbs. |
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Headlight problem
