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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | I had a feeling my bulb wasn't blown since the high and low went out. I was right. The socket is toast.
(headlight socket.jpg)
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 headlight socket.jpg (85KB - 1 downloads)
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Iron Butt
Posts: 721
| Were you running higher wattage than stock bulbs? That can be the only thing that I can think of that would cause that to happen (don't ask how I have experience with the same thing!). |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | I bought the bike used, but pretty sure they were stock. Both headlight sockets on my wife's Pontiac melted about a month a part. 18 GA wire for the ground, than jumped from the low beam to the high beam. This was payback for voicing my opinion of GM products. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Were they mounted properly in the sockets? Those lights get hot, especially on high beam. Check it out the next time you are sitting still. My guess is, unless you are moving that the heat will not disapate well and will cause stuff to melt. I think this would be true if it wasn't in the socket right either. That looks like an easy fix though, glad it wasn't worse.
Edited by varyder 2011-09-20 9:07 AM
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 10
baltimore | loose connection |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| I'm thinking defective bulb.
The back end of the light should never get hot weather standing still or moving.
Think about cars running the same style bulb and in winter they sit for twenty minuets or more warming up.
I would not reuse that bulb.
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Tourer
Posts: 363
Goldsboro, NC | dougvisionrider - 2011-09-20 10:05 AM
loose connectionGotta agree with this being the most likely problem. A poor connection (not pushed on well enough, vibrated loose, or loss of spring in the contacts) will increase contact resistance... could easily increase delta-T to the melting point.
I think I'll check mine tonight. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | I have to go with loose connection. Might have loosened it when I tried to get that rubber thing out from behind the air filter.
I have given up for now. New socket is in and bulb is in place. I cannot get the retaining clip on. I have injured my hand from tring so hard. I am ready to take a hammer to the bike. I really hate retarded designs. I will get rid of the bike before I change another headlight bulb. As soon as my blood pressure comes down and my hand stops hurting I will try one more time before I start taking the GD bike apart to remove the assembly. The effing clip came of easy. The bulb is seated all the way. I don't get it. FU to the engineer that thought this nightmare up.
Edited by cw1115 2011-09-20 11:37 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | Brother.... I feel your pain. 
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | cw1115 - 2011-09-20 12:34 PM
I have to go with loose connection. Might have loosened it when I tried to get that rubber thing out from behind the air filter.
I have given up for now. New socket is in and bulb is in place. I cannot get the retaining clip on. I have injured my hand from tring so hard. I am ready to take a hammer to the bike. I really hate retarded designs. I will get rid of the bike before I change another headlight bulb. As soon as my blood pressure comes down and my hand stops hurting I will try one more time before I start taking the GD bike apart to remove the assembly. The effing clip came of easy. The bulb is seated all the way. I don't get it. FU to the engineer that thought this nightmare up.
this in deed is a frustration with the bike. I have smaller hands than most and have got it down to a science. fortunately I've not had a bulb go in some time and currently use ATV rated H4's. after removing the airfilter I adjust the assyembly in the all the way up position. This helps a lot but then the headlights need readjusting back to the normal throw. Another frustration I have is that I've all but lost detail dexterity in my left hand, making changing out the left headlight a real challenge, but I get through it by taking rest breaks in between.
The only thing that I can recommend is try moving the headlight up, and if you're hands doesn't allow movement find someone with strong but smaller hands.
I would think by 2011 this part would be fixed by moving the headlights sockets forward about 1 1/2 inches, I believe that would make all the difference in the world.. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 69
AZ | "I would think by 2011 this part would be fixed by moving the headlights sockets forward about 1 1/2 inches, I believe that would make all the difference in the world."
Having spent an afternoon unsuccessfully (and painfully) reaching in from behind to change out a bulb, then another afternoon (well 2 and 1/4 hours) disassembling then reassembling my 09's front end to change a bulb, I believe what would make all the difference in the world is 4 or 6 small screws on the FRONT of a detachable lens assembly.
Remove lens assembly...unclip/unplug/replace bulb/plugin/reclip...then screw lens assembly back on. 10 minutes tops if working slow and careful.
IMO user friendly headlight replacement was not even a consideration in the design engineers thinking...or ALL the design engineers have very small & thin hands.
regards, |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | Yep. Had a friend with smaller hands and more patience than me spend about 30 minutes before he gave up, saying the clip must be bent. I was going to ride an hour to the dealer tomorrow but refuse to be beat. Tried again after I got the right side panel off and could see it. No good. It's in and working. Clipped went right on with assembly out. My hand hurts. Now reassembly. I guess I really should go buy a new bulb for the other side.
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headlite replacement procedure.jpg (37KB - 8 downloads)
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Tourer
Posts: 494
Akron Ohio area | I spent $92 bucks to have my left headlight bulb replaced.
I think the mechanic hates me now. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 162
Northern NJ | Recently I had the socket melt like that and it was replaced by Zack's.
I thought it was the bulb. I'm SO glad I didn't try to change the bulb myself and then find the socket melted!
FWIW I run the high beam all the time, except at night with oncoming traffic. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| You have to get your mind set to the fact that taking the bike a part will be the easiest. Yes its a half day job.
I have done mine twice now. I bought those bright white lights that only last a year.
Burnt connector bike has to come apart.
Spring clip you have to pinch together to get it to un hook.
Rubber boot will seal to the back of the bulb and carefully pull it out. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | I almost never use the high beams. Bike is all back together, all set for my 1500 mile ride home next week. I once again have a body panel bolt left over. Guess I'll figure out where it came from when the next bulb burns out. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | I am resurrecting this thread as I just noticed my left side connector is melted, just like yours. Did you get a replacement at a local auto parts store? I am thinking of upgrading to ceramic. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| Just a quick question, was the bott properly seated when you took assembly apart. Sounds weird I know. Back on the '99s Pete and I upgraded our headlights. He did not replace his boot I did. His melted mine did not. I can only assume the boot directions the heat away from the connector by design?
Something to keep an eye on for the future.
The ATV bulbs sound good. I bought those expensive PIAA recommended bulbs. I have severe carpal tunnel and Pete was nice enough to spend 2-1/2 hours changing them out for me. 3 months later a low beam went out. Blows bilge water. The bulbs give off fantastic light so I tell everyone she's light the sport bikes with 1 low beam.....
Safety items should be easy to repair no matter what. Never mind that headlights on is the law on motorcycles. |
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Cleveland, GA | Mine melted last year, too. The wrench at my dealer went to the local parts store and bought another to splice in.
I run high beams almost all the time. |
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Tourer
Posts: 494
Akron Ohio area |
Our bulbs normal lifespan is around 22,000-25,000 miles. (Because our headlights are always on, the mileage thing is pretty spot on) Yes, always replace any headlight in pairs. I'm on my third set. I don't have any problem replacing my Vision's headlight bulbs. (My mechanic does it) |
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Tourer
Posts: 494
Akron Ohio area |
double post
Edited by bigfoot 2013-04-16 11:37 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | Never burned out a Vision bulb praise God but if I do, I'll let my tech. do it. Problem solved. I haven't lost half a day, my religion or the skin on my hands  |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | Looking at the pictures Rollin' posted with the headlights (http://www.vision-riders.com/bb/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=8901), I did mine in 30 minutes last night for the first time. I followed the owner's manual instructions to a T. I am 6'4" with XL hands. Sure it was tight, but not that bad. |
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Headlight socket melted.
