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Visionary
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Sand Rock, AL United States | I need to replace one of the headlight bulbs (not the center one) I don't have enough room for my hand to squeeze the retaining clip to release the bulb. Has anyone gone at it from the front? So you don't have to blindly feel around for stuff. |
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Visionary
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New Bohemia, VA | Removing the assembly is basically the only other alternative if you have larger hands. I'm able to remove the air filter and then adjust the headlight up and basically out of the adjuster, so it seems. This gives me enough room to fiddle around in there and change the bulb. I had to remove my assembly the first time because the jackleg at the factory installed the clip wrong and it wouldn't undo to remove the bulb. |
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Sand Rock, AL United States | that's the thing. I don't have big hands and thought I would be able to do it but I have tried and tried. |
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Visionary
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Sand Rock, AL United States | was the assembly very difficult to remove? reassemble? |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | tedious, I'm one not to remove more than I have too. I didn't remove the side fairing as per manual, but did remove enough fasteners up front to remove the headlight assembly. The bear seems to be the bolts underneath, but I think there is a trick, just don't know what it is at the moment, that was over five years ago. |
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Visionary
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Sand Rock, AL United States | Thank you. I pray I haven't bitten off more than I can chew. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| If you do a search you'll find lots of threads on replacing the bulbs including some really great tips. It does tear the back of your hands up. I found that if I only run the low beams during the day the bulbs last for years. If I run the highs all the time I end up changing bulbs out at least yearly. Yes, it sucks the big one :-(( |
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Iron Butt
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Peru, IN | I rarely run the high beams so hopefully, my lights will last forever. I do pretty well at taking stuff apart but always seem to have extra parts when I put things back together. Hate to spend a few hundred bucks for the dealer to change out a couple bulbs. |
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Visionary
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New Bohemia, VA | I used the "expensive" bright lights for a while that blew out every so many months. I went to the "cheap" powersport lights and I can't even remember the last time I've changed them out. One was changed about 5 months of the other, about two years ago, and both are still going strong. I could change both lights under an hour I was changing them so often. Now, I would have to refer to my notes since it's been so long since the last change. The other thing about the lights that I'm using, they were on clearence, making them even cheaper, about $2 each, if I remember. Go figure. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| If you haven't tried yet. Pull air filter and adjust headlight all the way up. That might get your hand in there. Go to auto parts store and ask for the longest lasting H-4 bulbs. Replace both of them.
Other wise take the hole front apart but you only need to do one side.
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Cruiser
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Victoria Tx, TX United States | I took my dash apart to get to mine. Hmm??? |
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Cruiser
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Lumber Bridge, NC United States | do yourself a favor and don't buy cheap replacement bulbs. it takes about 1 to 2 hours to do.
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | marcparnes - 2014-05-12 2:49 PM
If you do a search you'll find lots of threads on replacing the bulbs including some really great tips. It does tear the back of your hands up. I found that if I only run the low beams during the day the bulbs last for years. If I run the highs all the time I end up changing bulbs out at least yearly. Yes, it sucks the big one :-((
Thank you, I finished up yesterday evening, success! and with a record minimal fasteners left over (thank you Lord) lol!
I never run high beam during the day. Now that I got it out and could see the back of the unit, I might be able to do it blind by feel like the manual instructs, but , if not, I can go in from the front again. After reading all about the headlight bulb replacement nightmare , I really expected it to be worse than it was. Time consuming (I'm intentionally slow at bike tinkering) , harder than it has to be but not that bad really.  |
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Visionary
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Sand Rock, AL United States | Monkeyman - 2014-05-12 3:11 PM
I rarely run the high beams so hopefully, my lights will last forever. I do pretty well at taking stuff apart but always seem to have extra parts when I put things back together. Hate to spend a few hundred bucks for the dealer to change out a couple bulbs.
I couldn't see paying someone to change a bulb for me either but I almost convinced my self to after reading post after post ranting about the headlight but I did it. This was monumental for me. I was afraid to touch the bike because of the body work. My fear was I would break the tabs and cost me but I finally convinced my self to try it. Once I pealed back the layers it allowed me to understand more about the bike.
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Visionary
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Sand Rock, AL United States | johnnyvision - 2014-05-12 7:06 PM
If you haven't tried yet. Pull air filter and adjust headlight all the way up. That might get your hand in there. Go to auto parts store and ask for the longest lasting H-4 bulbs. Replace both of them.
Other wise take the hole front apart but you only need to do one side.
I didn't even take thought to the qaulity of the replacement, I just slapped the burned out one on the old barrel head at O'Reillys and said I need one of these Maybe it will last. |
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Visionary
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Sand Rock, AL United States | going in through the front really served several purposes. I made identical lower deflectors out of metal at work and needed to see how much clearance was between the panel that the brackets are mounted on . The deflectors are heavier at .0747 thickness metal so I'm securing brackets by drilling and fasteners through the panel. Also, last year at the wildlife loop in Custer State Park, someone dropped their Harley against my Vision and dented the chin cowling. I was able to take it off and hammer it some. It looks a little better now. |
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Cruiser
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Albuquerque NM | Jimtom, we would love to see some pictures of the deflectors that you made. Maybe you can inspire some of us to do something similar. |
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Sand Rock, AL United States | gr8punkin - 2014-05-15 3:05 PM
Jimtom, we would love to see some pictures of the deflectors that you made. Maybe you can inspire some of us to do something similar.
I sent you an email. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| hey what about the other thousand of us we want to see to. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | IT IS A PAIN IN THE ASS........... |
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Cleveland, GA | I changed headlight bulbs a couple of times. Now I pay my dealer to do it. I went through a LOT of bulbs - but I used to ride with my high beams on all the time. Not anymore!
Oh, by the way - one time my headlight socket was melted and I had to get it replaced completely. Fortunately the mechanic at my dealer went to the local auto parts store to get it rather than ordering it from Ma Vic. Saved me a ton of money! |
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Tourer
Posts: 341
West Salem, WI United States | That's one of the cool things about this bike (and Victory in general), they seem to have used stock off the shelf automotive parts for many things. At least in the wiring harness anyway! |
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Tourer
Posts: 576
, IA | $100 for 2 at local dealer to do work y waste your time |
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Visionary
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Sand Rock, AL United States | sonicbluerider - 2014-05-20 7:16 AM
$100 for 2 at local dealer to do work y waste your time
Cost me $10 and I learned something about my bike. I actually enjoyed it and have the satisfaction of knowing how to do it now. $90 left over for gas , well worth it to me |
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Visionary
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Sand Rock, AL United States | johnnyvision - 2014-05-12 7:06 PM
If you haven't tried yet. Pull air filter and adjust headlight all the way up. That might get your hand in there. Go to auto parts store and ask for the longest lasting H-4 bulbs. Replace both of them.
Other wise take the hole front apart but you only need to do one side.
I checked and turns out , I did replace it with a long life bulb. Eiko 9003 HB2 60/55W |
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headlight bulb replacement
