Need Headlight Thoughts while on the road

[Cowboy]

I am on the road now for the seventh day and had to change the headlight bulb on day four and now it is blown again. Not sure when it blew again but noticed it this morning as we rode through the fog.

Fuse is not blown!

What could make the bulb blow?

Did not touch the filament when I replaced in the Walmart parking lot in some town of PA.

Long way from home now! Sherrie and I are in Warren, NH head over to Bar Harbor Maine.

Sure would appreciate any thoughts on what might cause the bulb to blow?

[Yammer Dan]

I know you didn't touch it but did you wipe it down? Could have had something on it ? Just a thought. If you got it at Wall-Mart they might replace it anyway. If receipt shows its only that old?? They do stand behind things. Fuse connectors good?

[Cowboy]

Made the mistake of buying from AutoZone saw them before finding the shaded parking lot at Walmart. Still might ask!

I did not have anything to wipe the bulb down with, I very carefully removed from plastic container without touching filament.

Fuse holder is very clean.

I will double check for any lose or damaged wires / holders.

 

What about a possible power surge from the Switch as when you first start up? Not sure just trying to think out loud!

[cowpuc]

Heyyyy,, Hi Cowboy!! Assuming the RSV's doen't have a sealed beam headlight, any chance you are picking up moisture internally in the headlamp? That could do it if the moisture gets on the bulb.. Another thing, any chance you happen to notice it getting brighter just before it blew - that could indicate a regulator problem.. All the other lights on the bike ok?

Glad you folks are out there eating up the miles brother = HAVE FUN!!

Puc

[Cowboy]

All other bulbs ok

Going down for the night talk in the am

[djh3]

Are both filament blowing out or just the low or high? You say you had to replace it on the road. So how old was the one you took out? If there is anyway you could close the connectors in the headlight plug I would think making sure it has a positive connection would be a good thing. I sure would not put the expensive bulb in to replace like the silver star or that ype. It may be just a fluke and you got a bad bulb.

[aharbi]

I think it may of been a bad bulb. If it does it again then i'd start looking for a problem. Also, due to vibration the bulb should be either "heavy duty" or vibration resistant to ensure longer life.

[tz89]

When I was doing the bulb thing the advice was to get a bulb made for motorcycles and not the wally mart bulbs like the silverstar ultra which is bright but doesn't last as well. Apparently they have a less rugged filament and are susceptible to the more extreme road vibration that motorcycles experience. But constant blowing sounds more like a electrical problem, a regulator spike, bad switch or a bad ground.

[Peder_y2k]

Avoid bulbs made in non first world countries as the second and thrid world countries have yet to master the art of filament metallurgy. Buy only bulbs from the USA, Britain, Holland, Belgium, Germany, and Japan. Avoid Mexico, Poland, China, India, Taiwan, etc. Not all countries make bulbs, but the ones mentioned have bulb factories

-Pete, in Tacoma WA USA

[djh3]

I had installed a sylvania bp1210/h4 bulb. It says "off road" ATV bulb. I never had a problem with it and still carry it as a spare since I have modded over to an HID. I got mine at NAPA

[Flyinfool]

As Yammer suggested, clean the bulb before installing. Just because you did not touch the bulb does not mean that a person packaging it at the factory did not get a finger on it.

Even if all you have is a clean dry cloth to wipe it with it is still better than nothing. Ideal is some alcohol, even rubbing alcohol would help and it is cheap. You can go to the pharmacy section and get alcohol moistened wipes (these are a good thing to have in your first aid kit anyhow).

 

The only thing that could cause a power surge is a RR that is getting ready to fail. Odds are that if was the RR letting a high voltage spike through you would also have other bulbs and/or fuses blown. Turning on a switch or a bad connection will not cause an increase in volts to blow a bulb.

And as mentioned it is entirely possible that you got a brand new bad bulb. I have had 2 new bad halogen bulbs in my lifetime.

[eusa1]

I had installed a sylvania bp1210/h4 bulb. It says "off road" ATV bulb. I never had a problem with it and still carry it as a spare since I have modded over to an HID. I got mine at NAPA

what he said!

 

I replaced several before I found out that the brightest bulbs are not always very tough.

 

I replace the goldstar 5 times before I quit them.

[Flyinfool]

FWIW

Sylvania just lost a class action for false claims on the Silverstar and Silverstar Ultra bulbs. I am waiting for my check in the mail.......

http://www.bigclassaction.com/settlement/30m-preliminary-settlement-approved-in-sylvania.php

[Cowboy]

Thanks to all!

Being on the road and trying to get things packed up every morning & set up every night has made it hard to ask for opinions and suggestions.

Sounds like I need to try the heavy duty filament and make sure to wipe with alcohol.

Should see a NAPA sometime tomorrow, we are at Durham, ME at a KOA.

Will be riding the coast south it looks like.

Thanks again.

[Cowboy]

Puc,

Got to stop at a shop that had a voltage meter and tested the voltage. Regulator is going bad or is. Rev up and the voltage goes to 15

Local shop in Augusta, Maine Snowmobile repair shop! Their distributor up in Bangor Maine had a regulator, made the 1 hour ride up and changed it in the parking lot. Rechecked the voltage and it is back down in tolerance 13.4 with rev

 

When I get home I am going to find a voltage meter that I can mount on the bike and not stick out like a sore thumb. Wish I could find one to mount behind the cassette deck door.

 

Any way just thought I would give a update and another thanks to all!

Got a hotel tonite rain in the forecast for tomorrow. Think I will try and get the headlight replaced.

[djh3]

Glad to hear you got it figured out.