| Author | Message | ||
     Poondogger |
Anyone out there tried replacing the low beam headlight housing with a high beam? I took out the spoon and put in a brighter bulb but at 80mph on lower Alabama roads at 4:30am (my commute) I need more light. What's the price, and are they actually interchangeable? | ||
| Rageonthedl |
i have a brand new high beam if you wanna buy it... | ||
| Poondogger |
Sure if it'll replace that low beam piece of SH#$*. Why don't you need it? | ||
| Chainsaw |
I run 2 hi beams aimed a bit lower than normal. About $40, no mods needed. I'm not sure the headlight can handle a higher watt bulb without melting the housing. Might be something to watch out for. | ||
| Frausty_void |
I tried posting this earlier but badweb wasn't responding. I believe both housings are the same, (sorry to step on your toes Rage) If you've removed the "spoon" then you've got two high beam assemblies. Both my housings say "low" stamped on them, only difference, one had a spoon, one didn't Not sure what lamp you're using to light, but I'd suggest something like a Sylvania SilverStar, it's and H.I.D. knockoff h3 bulb, I've got two in my 'bolt, and never had any lighting issues. Then again, 80 mph, at night, in the boonies.. is far from safe imo. | ||
| Rageonthedl |
I work at a dealer and i had an exta left from somthing | ||
| Max |
You can change to better kelvan rate. Which white or almost blue will give you better output over stock that look amber. I used these from autozone APC super white 55 watt model number 50h3pw. They work great better output white light. | ||
| Ugly |
80 mph @ night in the boonies sounds great!imo} | ||
| Hkwan |
"You can change to better kelvan rate. Which white or almost blue will give you better output over stock that look amber. I used these from autozone APC super white 55 watt model number 50h3pw. They work great better output white light." Max, are you talking about those rice bulb with the blue tinted film? Those are infamous to be the worst bulb anyone can put inside a vehicle. It actually decreases true light output. Only thing it does is changing the color to blueish with that blue tint. Stay the heck away from those. If you do some search in other auto / moto forums, you will see how trashy those bulb's are. | ||
| Poondogger |
Rage, how do I get a hold of you to negotiate a deal for this light? Let me know. | ||
| Nadz |
Frausty, sorry to step on yours, but the two housings are not the same. If you look at the profile from the side, the hi-beam is narrower, and therefore throws a tighter cone of light. As for higher wattage, I stubbornly tried that, and melted my housings, an $80 mistake. You can buy a "hotter" (whiter) bulb without the ghey blue tint, and that will improve your visibility, but more watts will slag the housing and dust the reflective coating. By the way, don't try to polish it- the coating is vacuum deposited and very thin. You'll polish it right off in (literally) two seconds. Ask me how I know... As for APC, those are absolute crap. Read it again, crapity crap crap. Never had one that lasted more than a month in either car or truck. If it was seen on "Fast & Furious", be assured it is Crap. I believe the answer lies with replacing the housings entirely, as described by badwebber XB9 HERE. I have them in my garage, waiting for some free time. They are aluminum and very high quality workmanship. | ||
| Hkwan |
Nadz, so you have actually bought the 90mm Hella lamp ( http://www.susquehanna.com/susq/hella/headlamp.htm#90mm ) that Xb9 talked about? Sounds like bunch of custom work to get that mounted, no? | ||
| Duc_htr |
had the same issues with my 9r in the mountains at night... switched to the silverstars and have no problems anymore... people even flash me when I ride with the brights on at night... | ||
| Poondogger |
Anyone know where I can get a 12r stock high beam housing? How much? I hear 'ya Nadz on how cheap that coating is. Mine is gone after trying to get rid of a fingerprint. (Message edited by poondogger on August 19, 2005) | ||
| Duc_htr |
I have a couple that I used for a project a while back... I paid around $35-40 a peice for them from harley... even came with the bulb... Try dave at appleton hd... look at the sponsers link... http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/17143/17143.html?1124477323 | ||
| Nadz |
Yeah, got Hellas and just waiting for some time. I wanted to wait until I had replaced my RED plastics (shameless plug), but I havn't had time, dammit. I see it as a good investment (if it works) because the housings were $80 each, compared to $40 per Buell assembly. I will post pictures when I get around to it! One edit: yeah, it will be a couple of man-hours of work, but I almost bought the farm because of the fading OEM lights. Tried hotter bulbs, but I just couldn't keep up with my buddies at night so I'm motivated enough to do a total conversion. (Message edited by nadz on August 19, 2005) | ||
| Poondogger |
Got the another high beam light to replace the low one. Sick brightness. $39, 15 minute install. 12R headlight problem solved. Out. | ||
| Hkwan |
Poondogger, so just looking at the hi-beam light, what is the difference physically? | ||
| Poondogger |
The only detectable difference between the two housings is the high beam has a "hi" on it towards the back where the housing becomes narrow. Besides that they are identical, externally. I'm going to replace my old one too as the new (hi housing) one is much brighter. I can't believe I've been riding all this time literally in the dark. | ||
| Hkwan |
Hmmm.. doesn't sound like there is too much difference. Now, how is the hi-beam housing comparing to the low beam ones but without that 1/2 circle plate covering half of the light output? | ||
| Lonexb |
Hkwan think of the low beam housing as a flood light and the high beam housing as a spot light. as far as taking out that half circle plate in the low beam housing, i found it helped a little bit, but not much. lone xb | ||
| Diablobrian |
So, from the other thread I collect that 85 watt bulbs will NOT melt the housing. Am I correct? | ||
| Poondogger |
Hkwan, There's no comparison with respect to light output. The low beam doesn't contribute a thing to illuminating the road. I just ordered another high beam housing to replace the original. I don't know why but the new one I just installed on the low beam side is about 3 times brighter than the old high beam. $39 I really don't care, just give me another. | ||
| Hkwan |
Poondogger, how long have you been running the original hi-beam? If quite a while already, then the reflective paint could be worn and or the bulb itself has be degrading. | ||
| Poondogger |
I think the combination of both is exactly what happened. I cleaned the lens on the inside which seemed to help and removed some of the one atom thick reflective stuff trying to clean it. Neww one is definately worth the money since it's so hassle free to replace the whole damn thing. | ||
| Hkwan |
The problem is that coming up with $30, $40 each time to replace the light is not a good long"er" term solution. How long have you used your original set? | ||
| Poondogger |
7500 miles, 1 yr. |
