Passing Light Adjustment

[Hart]

Greetings from Indiana.

 

New to site and first post. Just had factory passing lamps installed and need to adjust them up. Side to side is no problem but looked at them and it dosent apear they go up without tearing them apart. Suggestions and any info would be appreciated. Great site, have learned alot about my new ride from here. Thanks

 

[BMW]

That's right, you need to open them up and loosen the nut on the inside to make your adjustment than put them back together and hope you have them where you want them. Good luck!

[Hart]

Thanks BMW, Kinda what I thought but didn't want to hear.

[Smokee]

Hi John,

My first words of advice for adjusting the passing lights are to: 1) allow more time than you think you'll need, 2) pad that front fender to keep from dinging it when you throw your wrenches in frustration and 3) make sure no sensitive ladies or impressionable young children are nearby when you start cussin' the stupid, thick-headed, ignoramus that designed that passing light mount system! Also, you may want to eventually order one of Tony's "passing light relocation brackets" found on this forum. It's worth the money, believe me. Oh, yeah...back to aiming your lights....

As has been said, you have to drop the lamps out of the housing to access the "special nut" inside...loosen it...hold the (energized) lamp in the housing without shorting the terminal to any metal...get it aimed "just" where you want it...hold your mouth just right...let the lamp hang down by it's wires...put the wrench back on the "special nut" and snug it down while letting the whole mess slide out of adjustment...cuss...repeat numerous times...cuss as needed...finally, when you get it pretty close to where you want it and the sweat is running down your nose, pause and take a deep breath 'cause you still have the OTHER one to do!

The good news is, once you get 'em where you want 'em, they tend to stay put.

 

Smokee

[Stoutman]

If you have a center stand or a bike lift you can leave the lights turned off and just use a level to get the vertical alignment. Put the bike on its center stand, or put it on the lift just enough to get it to stand up with both tires on the ground.

 

Take the front bezel off and loosen the adjusting nut.

 

Take the light out and let it dangle.

 

Adjust the lamp so that the face is plumb straight up and down.

 

Check to make sure both lamps are facing straight ahead. I do this with a level or straight edge laying across the top, then look down on the lights to see they both align side to side. I put blue locktite on the adjuster nut because I had trouble with the lamp coming loose and turning around to face the bike. Didn't lose the light, but had to turn it off until I could stop and tighten things back down.

 

Hold everything in place while you tighten things up. They can slip out of alignment as mentioned above, and then you have to start over. Check them again to be sure the are straight up and down, and square side to side, then put the lamps back together.

 

I have found this process to align the lights perfectly.

[Hart]

Thanks guys, it dosen't sound like much fun, mabey I can get my wife to help:rotf:.

[Smokee]

That's a great idea! Get the wife out there to watch you throw those wrenches! That'll impress her!

[BradT]

Hi John,

My first words of advice for adjusting the passing lights are to: 1) allow more time than you think you'll need, 2) pad that front fender to keep from dinging it when you throw your wrenches in frustration and 3) make sure no sensitive ladies or impressionable young children are nearby when you start cussin' the stupid, thick-headed, ignoramus that designed that passing light mount system! Also, you may want to eventually order one of Tony's "passing light relocation brackets" found on this forum. It's worth the money, believe me. Oh, yeah...back to aiming your lights....

 

As has been said, you have to drop the lamps out of the housing to access the "special nut" inside...loosen it...hold the (energized) lamp in the housing without shorting the terminal to any metal...get it aimed "just" where you want it...hold your mouth just right...let the lamp hang down by it's wires...put the wrench back on the "special nut" and snug it down while letting the whole mess slide out of adjustment...cuss...repeat numerous times...cuss as needed...finally, when you get it pretty close to where you want it and the sweat is running down your nose, pause and take a deep breath 'cause you still have the OTHER one to do!

 

The good news is, once you get 'em where you want 'em, they tend to stay put.

 

 

Smokee

 

:rotf:Seems to me that your mechanical ability is similar to mine.

 

Curse and hit it with a hammer, and curse again because you now broke something. Again I could not agree more on your comments.

 

Not sure who installed mine but when you take the lights of there almost impossible mounting position the person never left enough wire to rest it nicely on the fendor (covered for protection). So the whole light bar and lights have to dangle from two small wires which of only one bares the weight.

 

I am sure the person who wired mine had is ears ringing.

 

Brad

[Smokee]

And, rightfully so!

(yep, I got that one-wire dangle goin' on, too! I feel yer pain, bro'!)

[Obber]

Hi John,

My first words of advice for adjusting the passing lights are to: 1) allow more time than you think you'll need, 2) pad that front fender to keep from dinging it when you throw your wrenches in frustration and 3) make sure no sensitive ladies or impressionable young children are nearby when you start cussin' the stupid, thick-headed, ignoramus that designed that passing light mount system! Also, you may want to eventually order one of Tony's "passing light relocation brackets" found on this forum. It's worth the money, believe me. Oh, yeah...back to aiming your lights....

 

As has been said, you have to drop the lamps out of the housing to access the "special nut" inside...loosen it...hold the (energized) lamp in the housing without shorting the terminal to any metal...get it aimed "just" where you want it...hold your mouth just right...let the lamp hang down by it's wires...put the wrench back on the "special nut" and snug it down while letting the whole mess slide out of adjustment...cuss...repeat numerous times...cuss as needed...finally, when you get it pretty close to where you want it and the sweat is running down your nose, pause and take a deep breath 'cause you still have the OTHER one to do!

 

The good news is, once you get 'em where you want 'em, they tend to stay put.

 

 

Smokee

 

/\

/ l \

l

l

Yea, What he said!

 

 

:bang head::bang head::bang head:

[Hart]

Lights are done. I appreciate all the wonderful help :happy65:and advise. Smokie you were right, it took three times longer than I expected and then only with another set of hands helping hold the lights while I tightened them. Sadly I only lost 2 wrenches, I sure hope the neighbor finds them before he hits them with his mower.. Thanks All