Another headlight question

[greyranch]

Hi everyone, I was riding to my son's house last night and both high and low beams burned out on my 79 Standard.I already had a weak low beam. Anyways,I know from researching the forums the 9003 lamp replaces the H4 bulb,but has anyone tried the higher wattage 9003 and with what results.The wiring to the lamp looks a little thin in my opinion. Thanks for any info ! Brad

[trapper_492001]

Burned out Head lites

I had both hi and low beams burn out on my 81special had to ride 3 miles in the dark. It turnd out to be a bad ground.

[renegade_xs11g]

when the lights go out

Mine was the alternator.....I'd not installed the allen screws to hold the stator coil in place.

Light's out about 80 from home....SWMBO on the back
Hot wired light..60 miles from home
Bought a jump box 20 miles out
got inside 3 miles out had to walk the rest

SWMBO was ....... let's just say..... somewhat less than pleased

[greyranch]

Thanks for the advise everyone, I bought a new H4 bulb today and installed.So far -so good.If I have anymore issues will check the wiring. I am a part time mechanic and have seen many wiring issues by customers installing higher wattage bulbs in their cars. I did not want to chance 30 year wiring.Thanks again,Brad

[roach25681]

Forgive my incompetence.....but what the hell does SWMBO mean?! This has been annoying me for some time now.

[JWSanders]

"She who must be obeyed" referring to their significant other.

I however perfer the SWMOM. "she who must obey me"

Might explain why I currently don't have one.....

[TopCatGr58]

I posted this a few moments ago, but you had already posted what you had done while I was composing it, and then JW posted also, and you "might" not see it, so I'm reposting it, and will delete the previous "LATE" copy, just some info you might find helpful/useful??

Hey Ranch,

It would be a good idea to check your charging system first!

I've put in the 9003 bulbs with no problem. I don't know what extra wattage level you're talking about, but I know that JCW offers the 80/100 watt versions(*they say for Off Road Use Only* ) vs. the stock 55/60 watt bulbs.

I know there are CLEAR LENS conversions for the 7" round special lights, but can't remember if they have one for the standards....the standards have special prongs that are used to position and hold the headlight reflector in the housing. I remember someone posting about using some JB Weld to make the tangs, as well as removing/grinding off the wrong ones from the AUTO style housings to be able to use them in the Standards metal housing! The Clear Lens reflector might also provide more light transmission forward instead of just spreading it all around the near front of the bike!?
T.C.

I can't remember exactly what the size of the rectangular headlight is, but I think it's 4x6.25", vs. the larger auto 6x8 size!

Here are a couple of links on JCW , first the clear lens housing, but it is for autos, comes in pairs only, , and as I said, may require a slight modification to get it to fit securely in the metal housing!

The second is JCW's Halogen conversion for MC's, for bikes that used sealed beam headlights, and at the bottom of the description is where you can specify the 80/100 watt bulb. Their paper catalog shows the bulbs separately, this is for the entire housing and bulb I think!

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/I...D:100000275169

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/I...D:100000211512

[Mashermoto]

Can anybody follow up on replacing the rectangular standard headlight?

If someone has a good solution, they should be honored with a sticky post I love the looks of a rectangular headlight, but had no idea a frick'n burned out headlight would be the most difficult problem to solve on a XS1100E rebuild

But enough of my rantings...how about some pictures

[crazy steve]

Can anybody follow up on replacing the rectangular standard headlight?

If someone has a good solution, they should be honored with a sticky post I love the looks of a rectangular headlight, but had no idea a frick'n burned out headlight would be the most difficult problem to solve on a XS1100E rebuild

I'm in the same boat (own a '78E) and there aren't too many options....

1. Find a replacement '78 lamp assembly. These do turn up on Ebay (I've seen a NOS one for about $60), but you still have a non-replacable lamp.

2. Replace with a '79-up 'standard' unit that has a replacable lamp. Inexplicably hard to find, and also pricey. These weren't sealed very well from the factory and the silvering goes bad, so that may be why they're rare.

3. Convert to a 7" round assembly. The Mike's XS unit will work nicely and is reasonably priced.

4. Haven't tried this one yet, but I can't see any reason why it couldn't be done. Go to the auto bone yard and find a rectangular headlight out of something that has the same size (try an older '80s S-10 or Blazer). The shape of the retaining ring is the critical thing here. Doesn't matter which side it's off of. Lots of vehicles used this size lamp, but some use a 'squarer' ring. Buy the retaining ring and the bucket. Cut the back out of the bucket and duplicate the OEM Yammy brackets onto it. You can now install an automotive-type light in the bucket, then the modded bucket into the bike. You'll probably have to tweak the trim ring screw brackets a bit to get it in.

One of these days I'll get off my lazy a** and do this for my '78. When I do, I'll do a 'how to' and post it....

'78E original owner

[Mashermoto]

Steve,

Now that's a national championship answer

I checked the online parts manuals and found you are correct that our 78 standards are the only model with throw away rectangular headlights, which are out of production You are also correct that the 79 and up standards used a lamp assembly with replaceable bulb, which are also out of production

My bike build is using a cafe headlight faring that requires a square headlight, so it looks like I'm the one nominated to solve this problem once and for all and post the result with pictures

Thanks for your help

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Masher,

Why work so hard! MikesXS has something in that shape that will work! However, looking at the description, it doesn't say that it's a replaceable halogen bulb? I checked my copy of MikesXS catalog, and it's not much more descriptive, just that there isn't much room inside it for all of the stock wiring?
T.C.

Rectangular 5 x 7" Headlight Assembly


Rectangular 5 x 7" Headlight Assembly with halogen lamp - Black - Ideal for
use when building street trackers. 9/16" Mount holes. Part #09-0027$35.00 USD Ea

[crazy steve]

...Why work so hard! MikesXS has something in that shape that will work! T.C.

I've looked at those, but they appear a bit cheesy with the all-plastic housing (losing the chrome trim ring). Plus Mashermoto is putting his in a fairing, and this unit doesn't appear to have the adjustments that the OEM housing has; Mike's unit looks like you adjust by rotating it on the 'ears'. That won't work too well if it's in a fairing. Besides, I'm partial to Cibie headlights in my vehicles whenever possible, and doing this conversion gives you the option. Great optics (I had a 4-light car that would throw light out nearly a mile on high beam, 'shining' the road signs), quality built, but not cheap. There's some lo-buck imported knock-offs that are 'ok', but if you travel dark rural roads like I do, you can see the difference. You'll have to decide for yourself if they're worth the money; they are to me.

T.C., your 'clear lens' conversion is basically a spotlight; lots of light directly in front, but poor side dispersion which is why you need the driving lights for side fill. Better optics can get close or equal in one light, without overloading the charging system.

Most OEM motorcycle headlights suck (excepting most of the units installed on the modern sport bikes), but I will say that the square unit on the standards is one of the better ones out of a pretty crummy lot.

'78E original owner

[Mashermoto]

Crazy and Top Cat,

The unit I used on my street tracker was the same one pictured. It was an OK unit, but it wasn't as sturdy as the OEM. The adjustment was controlled by tilting the mounts on the ears. I don't remember if it used a replaceable bulb.

That headlight is an option. I'll be sourcing a unit at some local parts stores today and report what I find. Pep Boys has the Hella units like JC Whitney sells.

[nightpilot]

I have also been wondering about heat in replacing my bulb. my xj is putting out good voltage but the light seems yellowish. It is square and in my factory faring leading to serious heat concerns.

I was wondering if just a newer H4 bulb would put out better light but also about higher wattage. Does the 9003 put out better light? Also anyone with experience with higher wattage in the fairings?

[webbcraft2150]

I have been running a 60/100 H4 in my Windjammer (round headlight) for years with no problems, yet. I still have the OEM Yamaha fairing with the square headlight and found the headlight was rather weak when compared to newer bikes. I have been eyeing "clearcut" headlight conversions for a while amd will give them a try as the long days of summer go away. My bro-in-law has a late model HD with a puny 5-1/2 headlight with the "clear" lens. His light output and dispersion is superior to my current set up. If you look at late model cars and bikes, very few of them have the "fluted" lens anymore, all are clear with the fluting behing the bulb.