once again -headlight bulb replacement

[dharnie]

I got the adjustment knob off, rubber gasket off & the female electrical plug off > now I see a "u" shaped spring holding the bulb in the headlight. I do not understand the instructions elsewhere of how turning the bulb 90 degress to the left will free it from the u shaped spring! or how long needlenose pliers help!

[dharnie]

sooooo----here is my contribution how to take the headlight bulb out - as already posted elsewhere - - when you get the plug off & the rubber guard off - the long needle nose can be used to swing the springed clip off to the left THERE IS NO _ NO _ "twisting to the left" as posted elsewhere! You pop the spring off the retainer with your finger or use the long needle nose or a straight instrument such as a screw driver. It pops off at the top of the bulb and swings to the left. Then the bulb almost falls out. It is simple but untill you get in there and try this most "instructions" mean nothing. After trying to "TWIST" the bulb - as instructed elsewhere - I almost broke the bulb. It does not TWIST!! Pull the u shaped spring free and the bulb almost falls out - hope this helps others!

[Semi-retired]

Yeah.....I did the same thing you did. Just went in....peaked around.....found that clip......figured, "what the he** are they talking about in the manual when they say "rotate counterclockwise".

 

I just pushed down on the end of the clip.....boing.....out popped the bulb.

 

Congratulations!!

 

m

 

sooooo----here is my contribution how to take the headlight bulb out - as already posted elsewhere - - when you get the plug off & the rubber guard off - the long needle nose can be used to swing the springed clip off to the left THERE IS NO _ NO _ "twisting to the left" as posted elsewhere! You pop the spring off the retainer with your finger or use the long needle nose or a straight instrument such as a screw driver. It pops off at the top of the bulb and swings to the left. Then the bulb almost falls out. It is simple but untill you get in there and try this most "instructions" mean nothing. After trying to "TWIST" the bulb - as instructed elsewhere - I almost broke the bulb. It does not TWIST!! Pull the u shaped spring free and the bulb almost falls out - hope this helps others!

[Jon Bogott]

Used these posted suggestions and it helped a lot. One thing would have helped too if knew before trying to remove spring "U" clamp is how the spring releases. The little ring on the spring's upper bracket pushes in and down to lock spring over bulb. So, need to push in on ring to remove tension, and move upward in slot about a sixteenth of inch to another slot allowing it to swing outward and left toward you around bulb. Easy to understand once bulb is out and can see how spring locks in place. Hopes this saves you some of grief I had. It really isn't too hard to change these bulbs by following these members posted instruction. As one reminded us, do not twist or turn bulb to get it out. It will pull out easily once spring tension "U" bracket is released. Can change them now in less than five minutes. Dealer wants one hour labor. Good to know how to do this yourself if on trip so give it a try.

Edited May 21, 2010 by Jon Bogott

[N3FOL]

I like this post. Definitely very helpful. I guess it is easiest to access the light bulb housing with the forks turned all the way to the right...correct?

[M61A1MECH]

Yes turn the the wheel hard to the right, when you pop the little spring clip off, just pray that you do not find what I found. The tang on the hinge that allows the spring to swing and by the way keeps the spring in place when it is swung out, was not folded over the spring. I swung it out, removed the old bulb, but as I was reaching in to install the new bulb, plink goes the spring on to the floor.

No amount of fiddling or cursing would keep it in place long enough to allow me to get the bulb installed. Finally had to put some tape on the spring to keep it in place until I could get the bulb in and swing the spring back in place. With spring tension on it, it is OK.

 

I made a mental note that the next time I have to do this I go out and get a pair of long reach needle nose pliers and pinch the tang in place before I pull the bulb.

[BradT]

Okay Dumb Question. To replace the headlight bulb do you need to split the fairing ? Or does it come out the front, with the fairing on?

 

I know sounds like a dumb question but never had the bulb out before and never paid much attention to it.

 

Brad

[BuddyRich]

I have used a long pair of needle nose pliers and turned the handlebars full left and right and removed it from the back side and replaced it. Takes a little practice but you don't need to split the fairing if you do it like that.

[N3FOL]

Yes turn the the wheel hard to the right, when you pop the little spring clip off, just pray that you do not find what I found. The tang on the hinge that allows the spring to swing and by the way keeps the spring in place when it is swung out, was not folded over the spring. I swung it out, removed the old bulb, but as I was reaching in to install the new bulb, plink goes the spring on to the floor.

No amount of fiddling or cursing would keep it in place long enough to allow me to get the bulb installed. Finally had to put some tape on the spring to keep it in place until I could get the bulb in and swing the spring back in place. With spring tension on it, it is OK.

 

I made a mental note that the next time I have to do this I go out and get a pair of long reach needle nose pliers and pinch the tang in place before I pull the bulb.

 

Thanks for the heads up and something to think about and be ready for the unexpected. Not sure how much life I have left on my headlight bulb with close to 14K miles on the bike. Usually the low beam burns out and you are not completely left without a headlight...I think the high beam may still work until you get a replacement right away. If I recall, our Venture takes 9004 bulbs.

[snafu]

sooooo----here is my contribution how to take the headlight bulb out - as already posted elsewhere - - when you get the plug off & the rubber guard off - the long needle nose can be used to swing the springed clip off to the left THERE IS NO _ NO _ "twisting to the left" as posted elsewhere! You pop the spring off the retainer with your finger or use the long needle nose or a straight instrument such as a screw driver. It pops off at the top of the bulb and swings to the left. Then the bulb almost falls out. It is simple but untill you get in there and try this most "instructions" mean nothing. After trying to "TWIST" the bulb - as instructed elsewhere - I almost broke the bulb. It does not TWIST!! Pull the u shaped spring free and the bulb almost falls out - hope this helps others!

 

Yes, there is the rubber boot that twists to the left, not the bulb! The rubber boot is threaded and must be turned to the left many times before it comes off (not smoothly). It goes back on the opposite way (with some pressing after it is screwed on). Right about the bulb retaining spring, but I managed it fine with fingers. Just press the spring loop end and the right side down (toward the front of the bike) then to the left (toward the sky) and it releases the retaining spring. Then be careful because nothing is holding that bulb in and it will fall out. If you catch it wrong you can smear the optics. Then swing the hinged retaining spring all the way out to the left side of the bike to get it far enough out of the wasy to get the new bulb in, which only goes in correctly one way (middle contact up). Also I recommend not only pulling off the adjustment knob to get access, but also removing the retaining bracket around the adjustment knob shaft (two small phillips head screws) because it allows the shaft to wiggle a little more. Getting the adjustment shaft in the wrist is the most painful part of changing the bulb, but not bad. I have thin wrists, so for meatier guys get the wife or kid to do it. I think splitting the fairing is a waste of time and risk of damage which is unnecessary.

[Semi-retired]

Yes, there is the rubber boot that twists to the left, not the bulb! The rubber boot is threaded and must be turned to the left many times before it comes off (not smoothly). It goes back on the opposite way (with some pressing after it is screwed on)..

 

Wow. I'm surprised to hear you say that, buddy; I've changed my bulb two or three times........have never found any twisting or turning of the rubber boot necessary. Just, Pull Off..........Push On. Seems to work for me.

 

Mine's an '03. Do you suppose different years are different?

 

Just my 2 cents.

Mike

[Gary N.]

You guys must all have some pretty small hands if you can get in there from the back.

I find it much easier to just pull the fairing and pop the head light out of the frame myself.

[Condor]

You guys must all have some pretty small hands if you can get in there from the back.

I find it much easier to just pull the fairing and pop the head light out of the frame myself.

 

And they say size doesn't matter......

[royalstarjac]

You guys must all have some pretty small hands if you can get in there from the back.

I find it much easier to just pull the fairing and pop the head light out of the frame myself.

 

I don't have small hands but I do have a long pair of pliers.

Takes 5 minutes, much easier than splitting the fairing, especially if you have the passing lamps without the spacer.