Topic: Headlights!

[PeWe]

Do not cut anything.
Here the box for my Hella insert. I could do the puzzle with the rings.
You can see which side up, "H4" in the front glass.

Which bike?
The tab on the chrome ring is not on a CB750.



I can open my headlight later after work.

[joegeis]

I've got a CB550. I'll compare the part number when I get home.

My part number is a little different: 1A6 002 395-03.

I'll fiddle around with it and see if I can solve the puzzle tonight without cutting the tabs. If you can post pictures later, that would be great!

[PeWe]

The number must be 1A6 002 395-031?
That is with H4 (lo/hi) only, mine has a parking bulb too.
Otherswise same.

I have not opened it yet. Working....

[grcamna2]

Joe,that Hella bulb you purchased looks very much like an automobile-style.
The way the back of it looks with the 3 electrical contacts and the 3) raised tabs;they look designed to fit inside an automobile headlight mount;those 3 tabs lock-in to the rear of a headlight mount bucket behind the bulb/reflector/back of an automobile headlight system. I've seen them before because I tried swapping-in an automobile headlight bulb into a previously owned bike;the lense of an automobile headlight is much different than a designated 'motorcycle specific' headlight bulb. The light pattern of a quality motorcycle-specific headlight bulb shines where you want it to go.

[joegeis]

That's frustrating because I bought this one specificity because it was advertised for motorcycles.  It cost almost double what the one on Amazon would have.

[grcamna2]

That's frustrating because I bought this one specificity because it was advertised for motorcycles.  It cost almost double what the one on Amazon would have.

Does the glass lense have the word 'Motorcycle' cast into it ?

[PeWe]

These headlights are std for automotive.
The good thing easy to get one for not that much money. Hella cost a little extra. There are much cheaper ones.

Below my headlight in my brown K2. The earlier box is probably for my blue K6.

The tall bulb with fan is LED H4

My reflectors fit in the rim set without any abuse.
My K6 had H4 as stock so no problem back in the days.

Bought new fresher  complete headlight rim kit when restored the bike.

Something like this sold by many. I think I ordered from DSS UK, maybe Germany too.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/363655169879?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=NIOOI2KxTzO&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=XgCEg0CPSya&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Added a better photo where the adj screw is visible. To aim beam more to the right to not blind meeting traffic.
Right side of the road driving

[joegeis]

Here is the listing. It does not say motorcycle on the glass in the listing or on the one I have in hand.

The listing has DOT on the glass, but mine does not.

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I'm super frustrated about this. I looked at all the Hella listings I could find, and they all look exactly the same as the one I bought, with those funny little tabs. If anyone has a link to site with a good quality headlight housing, please share! I'm struggling to find anything that isn't super modern and cheap looking. I just want a good reflector and light pattern!

[PeWe]

That look strange with those 2 screw looking devices sticking out.
Not std 7" H4 insert.

They hit the ring, right?

Here a std design. Hella found on Internet.
All other brands of 7" round H4 headlights look like this too since it is a std design.

[MauiK3]

Those glass bumps are from when we used a type of headlight aimer that fit over the glass.

[joegeis]

the one I received actually doesn't have those little horns on the glass

[PeWe]

the one I received actually doesn't have those little horns on the glass

That look ok, must be possible to use.
Just place the rings, oriented in right order.

[joegeis]

It's these three tabs on the back side that are in the way (circled in red). They stick up much higher than the little tabs on the stock headlight (circled in blue) and do not fit in the indentations of the ring. I feel like I'm missing something obvious here...

[Kelly E]

It's a car headlight, return it and get a proper motorcycle rated headlight.

[grcamna2]

It's a car headlight, return it and get a proper motorcycle rated headlight.

Yes.  +1

[joegeis]

It's a car headlight, return it and get a proper motorcycle rated headlight.

Any recommendations? I can't seem to find a quality halogen housing...

[grcamna2]

I had a customer in the 90's with a 75' CB550F (Sean) who had an Autorouche brand halogen H4 w/ removable bulb headlight fitted into his stock headlight rim/bucket. I didn't install it for him but noticed it on the bike and it worked good.

[PeWe]

I ordered car headlights, no problems.

Different ring set?
You have an old setup for non H4 headlight?

[grcamna2]

Joe,have you considered a complete stock 7" headlight with chrome steel headlight bucket and rim assembly;this one has the H4 halogen with replaceable H4 55/60wt. bulb,so you won't need to replace the entire,large headlight bulb when you blow a bulb.

I have this complete headlight assembly in beautiful condition if interested. Take a look at pictures of a 1982' Honda CX500 Custom and check out the headlight,then you'll see the one I have;the chrome bucket has no rust at all,shines like new.

[Kelly E]

It's a car headlight, return it and get a proper motorcycle rated headlight.

Any recommendations? I can't seem to find a quality halogen housing...

Stanley 001-1970 is an original H4 headlight for many Hondas and the work great. Car headlights don't have the proper light distribution. Here's a Stanley H4 and you can see how the car headlight doesn't light up the left hand side of the road when you compare this lense to your Hella. There are other brands of motorcycle specific headlights but are usually more expensive.

[grcamna2]

It's a car headlight, return it and get a proper motorcycle rated headlight.

Any recommendations? I can't seem to find a quality halogen housing...

Stanley 001-1970 is an original H4 headlight for many Hondas and the work great. Car headlights don't have the proper light distribution. Here's a Stanley H4 and you can see how the car headlight doesn't light up the left hand side of the road when you compare this lense to your Hella. There are other brands of motorcycle specific headlights but are usually more expensive.

That's the same headlight I have in storage which I've offered to Joe in the last post.

[grcamna2]

It's a car headlight, return it and get a proper motorcycle rated headlight.

Any recommendations? I can't seem to find a quality halogen housing...

What size headlight did your bike originally have,stock?  or a 7" headlight ?

[jonda500]

  In Australia the honda cb500k1 Stanley sealed beam headlight is EXACTLY the same as the sealed beams used in Valiants, Holdens, Fords and probably many other cars - it has the non symmetrical pattern for driving on the left side which lights up the left shoulder of the road when on low beam and avoids blinding the oncoming traffic.
  The honda headlight rings come in at least two types with the locators for those tabs in different locations to suit the different headlight. I have a collection of honda motorcycle headlights - only one of them has the word 'motorcycle' on it! 
John

[grcamna2]

Joe,PM received. I'll sell this Honda H4 headlight glass bulb/reflector to you.
We spoke about you purchasing just the bulb from me and installing it in your CB550 bucket and using your CB550 headlight(outer and mountings)rim. I'll get pictures.

[Dunk]

Used to be Cibie was the way but the stopped making them, the molds and dies worn out and not enough demand to make new. Hella is better than a sealed beam but mediocre as far as reflectors go, from what I hear and waht I've seen in the off road crowd.

I touchon relays and reflectors on page 5 of my restoration thread here: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,125385.200.html

https://easternbeaver.com has conpact relays to fit in your bucket. Since you can't get Cibie/Valeo reflectors anymore you can get comparable or better Koito reflectors from https://www.danielsternlighting.com/ I haven't used 7" round Koito reflectors but I have used the Koito large rectangular style and I can say they are every bit as good as Cibie. Koito is all I will use on my vehicles that don't already have Cibie reflectors.

I'm alte to the party but I don't see any mention of relays in your post. Relays and dedicated large gauge wiring are critical to a good headlight. It will even make a sealed beam a lot brighter.