| Author |
Message |
    
Clot
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 01:40 am: | 
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Good idea Ridrx. Did you just follow the same contour across the top? I took pics of mine with and without the spoon last night and OMG what a difference. Low to the left, High to the right in both pics.
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Treadmarks
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 06:31 am: |
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If you guys decide to use foil, get the heavy stuff cafeterias/mess halls use as it is less likely to wrinkle.
I have used permatex grey adhesive sealant to build custom headlights. Very strong bond on metal, plastic and glass. It also has a temp rating of 650 F.
Just make sure your reflector is smooth and the bubbles are sanded and clean. |
Ducxl
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 09:02 am: |
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So,what's the fix? Must we simply replace/w OEM? and wait for the burn to happen again? |
Midknyte
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 12:08 pm: |
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Thanks Clot - those are convincing pics.
Does anyone know if those deflector spoons are common in other similar headlights? (just curious)
I can't look at "those" pics and "not" want to take mine out... |
Gowindward
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 12:26 pm: |
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I've been doing some googling trying to find operating temps for halogen bulbs.
It looks like 482deg F is a min. for the bulb to function properly. Temperatures could be as high as 900deg F, but I think that is for a much higher wattage bulb than our 55w bulbs.
Here's the source
http://science.enotes.com/how-products-encyclopedia/halogen-lamp
I think the "spoon" is a common way to control the light coming from a headlamp.
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Sparky
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 12:29 pm: |
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Clot, those are good pics that show the perspective of the rider.
How about if you could get someone to take the same pics of your headlights, only instead from the garage looking at the bike with the camera at headlight height? It would be interesting to see the other perspective -- the effectiveness of the spoon at reducing glare.
Perhaps Ridrx is onto something -- paring down the size of the spoon, emitting more light without cooking the reflector? |
Gowindward
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 12:39 pm: |
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From McMaster.com
High-Temperature Aluminum Foil Tape
Get the reflective capabilities of aluminum foil plus the higher temperature resistance of a special silicone adhesive. This tape protects parts from moisture, dust, and chemicals (not resistant to acids), and its reflective surface dissipates heat and flames. Ideal for wrapping over insulation and engine support structures.
Tape is 0.0036" thick and consists of a 0.002" thick aluminum foil with 0.0016" of silicone adhesive. Temperature range is -65° to +600° F; apply at 0° to +200° F. Color is shiny silver. Meets FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation) 25.853(a).
Wd. Lg., yds. Spool ID/Material Per Roll
1" 5 1"/Plastic 7594A8 $12.79
1" 60 3"/Cardboard 7594A4 66.90
I do have some concern that the aluminum will oxidize quicker at the elevated operating temperatures of the lamp, so as an alternate there is also Nickel Foil in a wide assortment of guage and width, but no high temp adhesive backed.
8912K21
Nickel Alloy Foil .002" Thick, 4" Width, Plain
In stock at $8.95 per Ft.
High-Temperature Ceramic Adhesives
High-performance mica-based adhesives provide excellent electrical insulation and bond strength. Bond ceramics and some metals (including steel, iron, and lead). Use on diesel engines, exhaust systems, gas turbines, and ceramic tapes. Can also be used to coat furnace linings. Adhesives withstand temperatures from -300° to +2300° F. They resist oil, gasoline, acids, and alkalies. Begin to harden in 20 minutes; reach full strength in 24 hours at room temperature (1 hour at 250° F). Color is gray. Size Each
Standard Viscosity for Brush
1-lb. ( 1/2 pt.) Can 7482A21 38.08 |
Gowindward
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 12:42 pm: |
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The photo I posted about of my low beam housing had the spoon pulled when the lamp was new. From my experience that will not fix the reflector degrading. |
Midknyte
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 02:06 pm: |
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Is there high-temp chrome paint in a rattle can? I tried doing some goolge'ing and the best I got was the Krylon site, which was not terribly consumer friendly and said nothing about the temp resistance of the paint I could find there. |
Xl1200r
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 02:33 pm: |
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I don't think you're going to see oxidation problems with aluminum foil.
This foil thing was an idea I tossed out there a while back, but seeing as how I don't even have my bike yet I coudln't experiment.
What I could experiment with I did in highschool. We built parabolic solar reflectors in an engineering class using nothing but mattebaord, rubber cement, and (you guessed) regular-'ol aluminum foil.
Now, I understand it has been in a controlled environment in my bedroom closet, but I built that reflector 8 years ago and the foil looks as shiny as the day I made it. |
Snackbar64
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 02:41 pm: |
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Reynolds Aluminum foil. Don't knock it until you've tried it. It really works. I see that a few of you are put off by this idea, but why wait for Buell? The company is going to do what is best for them when they feel like it. Also, it looks like they are fazing out the Firebolt. So I wouldn't look for them to fix this current problem with the lights, but rather make the next bike's headlights much better. Don't be surprised if your new tool kits on your new bikes have small strips of foil in them from now on.  |
Bueaddicted
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 04:19 pm: |
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Fazing out the Firebolt??? Who started this rumor?
 |
Ridrx
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 05:03 pm: |
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Clot,
Yes, I just followed the original profile of the top edge. I don't think that alone will solve our problem. It was just something I did to move the cutoff line further out while I was replacing the original reflector.
Gowindward,
I had been curious if anyone had removed one while still relatively new. I take it you had the same result as the rest of us in spite of that?
Bueaddicted,
That borders on blasphemy! Honestly, as the RUMORS thread is consumed in a fiery debate over TO XB or not TO XB, does it REALLY matter? I assure you whatever comes next is going to make you want one... even if only for few miles!
AND I BET DOLLARS TO DONUTS IT'S GONNA HAVE KICK ASS LIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Molly_hatchet
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 - 06:37 pm: |
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I HIGHLY DOUBT THE FIREBOLT WILL BE FADED OUT ANYTIME SOON ..UNLESS ITS TO MAKE ROOM FOR A BIGGER AND BETTER BROTHER OF THE SAME TYPE. |
Damnut
| | Posted on Friday, March 02, 2007 - 12:32 pm: |
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Well to all of you that were saying that Buell would do NOTHING to fix this issue may I present this...........
Dear Jim Moreira
Thank you for your recent e-mail concerning the headlamp reflector on your
Buell Firebolt. Buell Customer / Technical Service Department in Milwaukee,
WI would like to recover some examples of the headlamp reflectors for the
Firebolt with issues of the reflective coating degrading.
Buell would provide replacement of OEM headlamp reflector through an
authorized Buell dealer and request the original headlamp reflector returned
to Buell Motorcycles 3900 West Juneau Ave, Milwaukee WI 53208 Attn: Jon
Selensky , Customer Service Department.
I just spoke to Jon on the phone for about 10 minutes and he couldn't have been a nicer person to talk to. Once we finished discussing the headlight, we started talking riding. Class act folks over there.
I would like to thank Court for his input on this. THANK YOU COURT!!!!!!!!!!
so YES Buell is working on this....... |
Cereal
| | Posted on Friday, March 02, 2007 - 12:44 pm: |
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I got the same email and started a thread:
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/327 77/261789.html?1172857007 |
Ridrx
| | Posted on Friday, March 02, 2007 - 12:49 pm: |
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Happy to say... "I stand corrected".
Court,
If ever we should have chance to meet face to face I owe you a steak dinner. I bet the jap bike guys dream of the day that a few posts on a forum get such results. |
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