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Cruiser
Posts: 231
Desert Hot Springs (Palm Springs area), CA | The other day I noticed that Nessy's right high beam was out. So I thought I'd tackle this, ought to be simple - but NOooo, project. I searched and searched all the wisdom I could find on this board and others and "went for it" via the method in the owners manual.
I'll spare you all my frustration but here a few things I did (apart from what others have said) that made my life much easier... 1) Instead of putting the bike on it's tipovers, I sat on a 5 gallon paint bucket. Perfect height for my body to get my hand up in there. The space was TIGHT. 2) Since I could not get the socket off the back of the light, I was forced to push the rubber boot off the back and out of the way first, then unclip the spring holding the lamp in its hole. I then fished the light and socked down and out and used a flat bladed screw driver to separate the socked from the old bulb. 3) I completely removed the boot from the wire. This allowed me to not have to fight the boot / wire while putting in the new lamp. 4) I installed the lamp and locked it in with the clip. BTW, after unclipping (by pushing down and right) my clips went straight back and up, not to the right as someone wrote. That threw me off a bit. 5) I had a HARD time getting the boot back on but then I tried spraying WD40 on the boot and it finally slipped on, then I made sure the bulb connector was in the center of the boot. This process was the hardest and when I finally tried the WD40, I got it to go on much easier. 6) Next I attached the connector to the back of the lamp which also helped seat the boot to the back of the lamp. 7) Turned on the head lights to check my connection. I repeated this process on the other side. Needless to say (and I know I'm repeating what every body else has said) while the Vision is an amazingly engineered motorcycle, something so simple as replacing headlight bulbs, is a pain in the A**! All total, about 2 hours time and the back of my hands are bruised. I finally figured out my body positioning so I was more comfortable and put less pressure on the back of my hands. I'm thinking that the next time I do this it will be easier because I also put dielectric grease on the connectors AND I've done it once. Hey Ma Vic, if you read these boards... PLEASE make something like replacing the head light lamps easier on future bikes. I for one would rather have 4 or 6 well placed screws with covers on the front of the bike than to have to do all this jive!
Edited by JS5Owner 2012-08-22 6:25 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | Yep, ya done good. Pain in the ass it is to change the bulbs. But with practice (been there, done that) it does get a little easier.
Your recommendation and use of WD40 on the boots is notable. I'll try that next time.
Edited by willtill 2012-08-22 6:49 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 849
, FL United States | I have never tried to do this without disassembling the front fairing because at 6'3" and 220 lbs with hands the size of small hams I cannot get my "hamhock" up in there. Just sayin' - I now pay my dealer to do this for me. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 244
| willtill - 2012-08-22 7:48 PM Yep, ya done good. Pain in the ass it is to change the bulbs. But with practice (been there, done that) it does get a little easier. Your recommendation and use of WD40 on the boots is notable. I'll try that next time. You mite also try Pledge, the silicone in it is good for the rubber boot |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | How much does your dealer charge to do this job? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 249
Phenix City AL. | I asked where the guy is that is responsible for the vision headlight was
, at the AVR, so I could kick him in the nuts for every one, but I guess he is in protective custody lol |
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Cruiser
Posts: 231
Desert Hot Springs (Palm Springs area), CA | jb.hatch, +1 <grin> |
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Tourer
Posts: 432
Gettysburg, 2008 Tour Premium | Tell me about the clip not coming off the back of the bulbs. Did you need to pry off with a flat blade? Or is there a tang in the clip that works it way into the holes in the center of the blades on the bulbs? Harleys (at lest my '07 was) are made like that and unless you deal with the tangs first it is almost impossible to separate the clip from the bulb. If no tangs I imagine you could just spray a bunch of WD-40 and it would help. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | The bulb is held in by a wire, locking tang. Move it from the lock and it swing away. The hinge is just a screw in clip. My first bulb change required me to remove the entire assembly to see they had mounted the clip wrong and it would not hinge. After fixing it, has been a piece of cake without removing the assembly. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 612
| I'm guessing that by 'clip', he is referring to the female connector that actually plugs into the back of the bulbs. Yes, those are a pain in the ass to remove. I had to use needle nose pliers on one of them to remove it, but the other wouldn't budge. It was actually pulling the entire bulb assembly out against the spring retainer. So for that one, I popped the spring clip retainer and freed the bulb, still plugged into the connector. As was mentioned above, I was able to get the assembly up high enough to then use a flat blade screw driver to work each 'tang' or prong loose from the connector and remove the plug.
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Tourer
Posts: 432
Gettysburg, 2008 Tour Premium | Just as I expected. Spring tension used to hold the wiring clips in place on the back of the bulbs. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Yo, dudes, when you do get the "clip", plug off, put some dielectric grease on that tang, lots of it. You'll be able to pull, push with no problems. The biggest problems will then be the space to work in, getting the clip undone, and fastened and getting the boot back on. Don't forget, remove the air filter, and adjust the beam up as far as it will go, giving you a hair more room. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 849
, FL United States | pollolittle - 2012-08-23 10:45 AM
How much does your dealer charge to do this job?
1 and a half hours labor = $150 but well worth it to me |
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Cruiser
Posts: 231
Desert Hot Springs (Palm Springs area), CA | Turk - 2012-08-24 7:22 AM I'm guessing that by 'clip', he is referring to the female connector that actually plugs into the back of the bulbs. By clip I mean the wire springy thing that holds the bulb into the headlight assembly. This is in contrast to the electrical connector that provides eletricity to the bulb. BTW, the back of my hand is still swollen! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 612
| JS5Owner - 2012-08-24 2:24 PM
Turk - 2012-08-24 7:22 AM I'm guessing that by 'clip', he is referring to the female connector that actually plugs into the back of the bulbs.? By clip I mean the wire springy thing that holds the bulb into the headlight assembly.? This is in contrast to the electrical connector that provides eletricity to the bulb.? BTW, the back of my hand is still swollen!
LOL back of my hand took a week to heal up..... looked like my cat scratched it up
Okay, was just unsure of your nomenclature. Yes, on the one side, I resigned myself to just unhooking the clip and pulling the bulb out still connected to the electrical connector. Those connectors get fused onto the male terminals on the back of the bulb. There was dielectric grease in the plugs already, but I added more. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | I just don't get it. Changing the bulbs is easy. I have only had to change the center one, but it's the same for all three.
STEP ONE: Buy new bulb
STEP 2: Stop at dealer and say "Hey, can ya put this i or me while I eat breakfast across the street?"
STEP 3: Go eat breakfast
STEP 4: Return to dealer, pay bill, ride off while smiling broadly, thinking of the mechanic that had to do all that crap!!
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Cruiser
Posts: 244
| Does any one have experiance in switching over the center lite (HID) on 2009 & earlier to a standard H4, The above statement sound like 2011's have an H4 in the center lite. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| wingit3611 - 2012-08-27 6:45 AM
Does any one have experience in switching over the center lite (HID) on 2009 & earlier to a standard H4, The above statement sound like 2011's have an H4 in the center lite.My 2011 had an HID in the center position. The 2013 has just a regular bulb.
Marc |
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Cruiser
Posts: 231
Desert Hot Springs (Palm Springs area), CA | wingit3611 - 2012-08-27 9:45 AM Does any one have experiance in switching over the center lite (HID) on 2009 & earlier to a standard H4, The above statement sound like 2011's have an H4 in the center lite. My 2009 has a 35 watt H4 in the center... I've seen some discussion on putting in an HID but I don't have any experience. Check around. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| there is a guy that sells HID's at a really good price his name is CrossRoads he is the Moderator you can find him at
http://www.victoryforums.com/private.php?do=showpm&pmid=34114 |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 612
| wingit3611 - 2012-08-27 9:45 AM
Does any one have experiance in switching over the center lite (HID) on 2009 & earlier to a standard H4, The above statement sound like 2011's have an H4 in the center lite.
My 2011 also came with the HID center light, not an H4.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | I'm pretty sure Nozzledog put an HID in his ride. And it was for way less than $100 It's here in a thread somewhere. Just do a search. All 8 balls had H4's not HID's. Can't speak for other model Visions.
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Cruiser
Posts: 244
| Madd: I can't see where the HID lite really help the nite vission. The regular lites are just geat. Does you middle lite switch on high with your other lites? seems to me that would be better than
HID. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | wingit3611 I have an H4, so I cannot compare. But people with an HID will tell you that it is amazing. Extremely bright. Search for Nozzledo's info. He talks about his change to HID, where to buy (I think he bought a PIAA kit) and the difference in illumination.
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Tourer
Posts: 466
Grand Cane, LA | HID's make a big difference in night vision! I switched my headlights to HIDs and I won't go back. If they are set up right, you can't get a brighter light until someone makes an LED to fit our bikes. I got my kit from ddmtuning.com. They come in either 35 watt or 55 watt. About $95 for the 55 watt kit with the slim ballasts and I've had mine for about a year and are trouble-free so far (knock on wood). Go with the 4300k kit if you want to match the color of the center HID for those that have the factory center HID. |
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Yet more suggestions for replacing Vision Headlights