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Author Topic: 79 650 headlight bulbs?  (Read 1745 times)

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Offline Hush

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79 650 headlight bulbs?
« on: March 25, 2009, 09:29:30 PM »
Since getting my 650 to run really good I have noticed a drain on the battery, if the bike is left after a ride it will start happily but straight after a ride not so happy.
One thing I have done since I was 15 years old is ride with my headlight on, a habit I don't intend breaking anytime soon. ;D
As I suspect the headlight is the drain on the battery I thought to check the bulb I run, the book (Clymers) says pre 81 should be a sealed beam 12volt 65/50W after 81 the bulb would be a 12V H4 Phillips No 12341/99 or equivilent (quartz bulb).
OK so my bike is a 1979 model that was not released until 1982, I would have thought the bike would have a sealed beam but no...it's got a dirty big Halogen bulb!
Does anyone know the difference in electrics to run a Halogen rather than a sealed beam?
Is there something different in the system that I can check?
It could well be that a PO has fitted the Halogen bulb for better lighting or that it was a spec demanded by the Ministry of Transport.
I just don't know where to check this all out as the book and my bike are in conflict with each other. :(
« Last Edit: March 25, 2009, 11:13:58 PM by Hush »
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I think the thing I most like about motorcycling is the speed at which my brain must process information at to avoid the numb skulls who are eating pies, playing the ukulele, applying make-up etc in the comfort of their airconditioned armchairs as they make random attempts to kill me!!!!!!!

Offline scunny

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Re: 79 650 headlight bulbs?
« Reply #1 on: March 25, 2009, 09:43:19 PM »
mines a piddly arsed bulb, can't read the markings on it ?
are you keeping your revs up around 3000 and higher ?
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Offline Hush

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Re: 79 650 headlight bulbs?
« Reply #2 on: March 25, 2009, 09:49:33 PM »
Hell mate since I put that new air filter in I red line this baby! ;D
I've discovered (and been told) that screwing the throttle makes these bikes perform, if it had CV carbs I could just twist and go but the old mechanicals need a fistfull of throttle and learning to use the gearbox right to get max performance.
So no probs keeping above 3 grand Scunny.
I'll get a shot of my bulb (size of Queen Marys' funnel) tonight and show you. ;D
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I think the thing I most like about motorcycling is the speed at which my brain must process information at to avoid the numb skulls who are eating pies, playing the ukulele, applying make-up etc in the comfort of their airconditioned armchairs as they make random attempts to kill me!!!!!!!

Offline Hush

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Re: 79 650 headlight bulbs?
« Reply #3 on: March 25, 2009, 11:11:28 PM »
OK I know you all like pictures and much as I hate taking my headlight apart (cos the spaghetti of wires all falls out) here we have one H4 Hella headlight made in Germany and one LIFE H4 12V60/55W bulb made in Japan.
Oh yeah that funny little round thing under the bulb in the middle picture is the park light bulb. ;D
« Last Edit: March 25, 2009, 11:16:42 PM by Hush »
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I think the thing I most like about motorcycling is the speed at which my brain must process information at to avoid the numb skulls who are eating pies, playing the ukulele, applying make-up etc in the comfort of their airconditioned armchairs as they make random attempts to kill me!!!!!!!

Offline Buber

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Re: 79 650 headlight bulbs?
« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2009, 12:02:48 AM »
That's not the bulb. I had H4 since I owned the bike (1994) and it was never a problem. Check your rectifier/regulator and/or cables. The alternator is more than capable of keeping such light up.
Other thing is - what's the wattage of your bulb? There are big ones around, up to 100Watts...
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Offline bryanj

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Re: 79 650 headlight bulbs?
« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2009, 12:32:49 AM »
If thats a Hella unit it aint standard as Hondas units (even Halogen) were Stanley
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Offline Hush

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Re: 79 650 headlight bulbs?
« Reply #6 on: March 26, 2009, 08:56:12 AM »
Ah I thought a German headlight sounded fishy on a Jap bike. :)
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I think the thing I most like about motorcycling is the speed at which my brain must process information at to avoid the numb skulls who are eating pies, playing the ukulele, applying make-up etc in the comfort of their airconditioned armchairs as they make random attempts to kill me!!!!!!!
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