Topic: Looking for a brighter headlight

[wickedgreyzx3]

I just bought a '75 CB550 last night and it's fantastic so far except when I ran out of gas 

Anyway I noticed the headlight is not super bright on it and I'm assuming it's a sealed beam, so what options do I have.

Thanks In advance

Jason
Ft. Wayne, Indiana

[chickenman_26]

You could replace the original sealed beam reflector with a H4 halogen unit. But don't use a standard 60/55 watt bulb. The charging system will have difficulty with that at low speeds and idle. Use the 45/45 watt H4 bulb that many Hondas are equipped with. The GL1500 and ST1100 use that bulb as well as a lot of Honda's 4-wheelers. A dealer should have one. Candlepower is having a heck of a deal right now on Bosch reflectors that fit your bike. I recently put one in my '71 500, and it's a big improvement.
http://store.candlepower.com/ca53mohe.html

Stu

[andy750]

Candlepower is having a heck of a deal right now on Bosch reflectors that fit your bike. I recently put one in my '71 500, and it's a big improvement.
http://store.candlepower.com/ca53mohe.html

Stu

Great link Stu. Which H4 bulb are you using?

Would this work?

<font color = "red">Narva 45/40w Halogen R2 Bulb for Old European Headlamps</font color>Narva 45/40w Halogen R2 Bulb for Old European HeadlampsThis 12-volt bulb combines modern halogen construction with the P45t base and original power rating of 45/40w to suit headlamps originally equipped with tungsten R2 bulbs. Compared to original tungsten bulbs, these halogen ones have double the lifespan, give 20% more light, and won't dim with age.

http://store.candlepower.com/h4hb29003bulbs.html

thanks
Andy

[Philly550K1]

The first thing I would do, since this is a newly acquired bike, is follow the headlight circuit, and clean or replace all of the bullet connectors, fuse, etc. The corrosion is resistive, such that the filament might not be getting all the juice it could. Actually, start by getting voltage at the headlight, then you can quantify the improvement...

Jon

[Laminar]

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67320.0;topicseen







Bright enough?

[MCRider]

The first thing I would do, since this is a newly acquired bike, is follow the headlight circuit, and clean or replace all of the bullet connectors, fuse, etc. The corrosion is resistive, such that the filament might not be getting all the juice it could. Actually, start by getting voltage at the headlight, then you can quantify the improvement...

Jon

I'd agree with that. Changing out hardware is fine but possibly unnecessary if you maximize what you have.

I suggest wiriing a relay into the circuit. This will get more power to the stock bulb and it will be brighter. If you're not a do it yourselfer, try these guys.
http://easternbeaver.com/Main/Products/H4_Kits/h4_kits.html

Even if you want to upgrade to an H4, you should consider a relay.

After cleaning everything of course.

I see this is your first post and you are a fellow Hoosier. Lots of us on the forum, welcome.

[Old75_ratafe]

Or just get a new headlight bulb they do fade with time and if you get a slightly brighter one like say a slyvainia silver star it should be a big improvement too.  I had the original (or at least 18 year old) bulb in mine and just replacing it with another stock one was a huge improvement.  Headlight quality has really improved over the years.

[Laminar]

Or just get a new headlight bulb they do fade with time and if you get a slightly brighter one like say a slyvainia silver star it should be a big improvement too.  I had the original (or at least 18 year old) bulb in mine and just replacing it with another stock one was a huge improvement.  Headlight quality has really improved over the years.

Can you get a stock replacement Silverstar?

[Burnboy]

I got this one last year, plastic lense instead of glass, bolts up perfectly and is much brighter

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/headlight-CB1000-CB400-GL1000-GL1100-CB750-HORNET-BROS-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1e56eb028bQQitemZ130307261067QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[Laminar]

If you're going to do that, you might as well get an H4 housing like I did.

[Old75_ratafe]

Or just get a new headlight bulb they do fade with time and if you get a slightly brighter one like say a slyvainia silver star it should be a big improvement too.  I had the original (or at least 18 year old) bulb in mine and just replacing it with another stock one was a huge improvement.  Headlight quality has really improved over the years.

Can you get a stock replacement Silverstar?

Yep. its just a plain 7inch round, Orielly's carries them in stock on the shelf.  Pretty sure autozone does too.  They fit jeeps, bugs and some older fords and stuff.
Should be a H6024ST part# and they sell for $21.99

[chickenman_26]

Great link Stu. Which H4 bulb are you using?

Would this work?

<font color = "red">Narva 45/40w Halogen R2 Bulb for Old European Headlamps</font color>Narva 45/40w Halogen R2 Bulb for Old European HeadlampsThis 12-volt bulb combines modern halogen construction with the P45t base and original power rating of 45/40w to suit headlamps originally equipped with tungsten R2 bulbs. Compared to original tungsten bulbs, these halogen ones have double the lifespan, give 20% more light, and won't dim with age.

http://store.candlepower.com/h4hb29003bulbs.html

thanks
Andy

Won't work, Andy. You need a P43t base for a H4 reflector. Candlepower sells one (http://store.candlepower.com/4512vh4hebu.html), but I tried a standard 60/55 H4 bulb that I had laying around, just to see if it caused discharging battery problems. I expected that it would, but it hasn't.

Stu

[andy750]

Hey Stu,

You were too late..I found out the hard way that it wouldnt work. However Candlepower exchanged it and sent me the bulb you mention. Just waiting for the refund and Ill be a happy customer. Good customer service so far though.

thanks for the advice.
cheers
Andy

[shizzomynizzo]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/7-H4-MOTORCYCLE-HEADLIGHT-HARLEY-HONDA-YAMAHA-KAWASAKI-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3efbd732feQQitemZ270513156862QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

I have one of these with a white bulb, quite a bit brighter than stock. no fitment issues.

[andy750]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/7-H4-MOTORCYCLE-HEADLIGHT-HARLEY-HONDA-YAMAHA-KAWASAKI-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3efbd732feQQitemZ270513156862QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

I have one of these with a white bulb, quite a bit brighter than stock. no fitment issues.

I have that one on my K4 but was wanting to try the lower watt bulb to draw less power.

[Joel]

You could replace the original sealed beam reflector with a H4 halogen unit. But don't use a standard 60/55 watt bulb. The charging system will have difficulty with that at low speeds and idle. Use the 45/45 watt H4 bulb that many Hondas are equipped with. The GL1500 and ST1100 use that bulb as well as a lot of Honda's 4-wheelers. A dealer should have one. Candlepower is having a heck of a deal right now on Bosch reflectors that fit your bike. I recently put one in my '71 500, and it's a big improvement.
http://store.candlepower.com/ca53mohe.html

Stu

I have a 400F but I've changed to a 7" CB bucket.  I can't remember if it was from a 750 or a 550/500.  Do the 750 and 550/500 use the same size & style headlight?  I'd love to get one of these if it bolts right in.

[chickenman_26]

I have a 400F but I've changed to a 7" CB bucket.  I can't remember if it was from a 750 or a 550/500.  Do the 750 and 550/500 use the same size & style headlight?  I'd love to get one of these if it bolts right in.

The 500/550 and the 750 use the same size and style lamp, though the wattages differ. That Bosch reflector will work for you. But don't use the Honda bulb I referenced. I was incorrect - it's not an H4 and won't fit. Use the bulb Andy bought from Candlepower.

Stu

[333]

Or just get a new headlight bulb they do fade with time and if you get a slightly brighter one like say a slyvainia silver star it should be a big improvement too.  I had the original (or at least 18 year old) bulb in mine and just replacing it with another stock one was a huge improvement.  Headlight quality has really improved over the years.

Can you get a stock replacement Silverstar?

Yep. its just a plain 7inch round, Orielly's carries them in stock on the shelf.  Pretty sure autozone does too.  They fit jeeps, bugs and some older fords and stuff.
Should be a H6024ST part# and they sell for $21.99

No.  They are not the same as car bulbs.  The light is reflected differently, as there is only one bulb.  They may fit, but will not shine as bright.

[Old75_ratafe]

Or just get a new headlight bulb they do fade with time and if you get a slightly brighter one like say a slyvainia silver star it should be a big improvement too.  I had the original (or at least 18 year old) bulb in mine and just replacing it with another stock one was a huge improvement.  Headlight quality has really improved over the years.

Can you get a stock replacement Silverstar?

Yep. its just a plain 7inch round, Orielly's carries them in stock on the shelf.  Pretty sure autozone does too.  They fit jeeps, bugs and some older fords and stuff.
Should be a H6024ST part# and they sell for $21.99

No.  They are not the same as car bulbs.  The light is reflected differently, as there is only one bulb.  They may fit, but will not shine as bright.

Actually that is a dual filament bulb (high / low) and the reflector housing was literally identical to the ORIGINAL I pulled from my 76 750. I replaced mine with that exact brand & style only not the higher brightness silverstar version and it was MUCH brighter than the original.  And here is why... the original sealed beams on our bikes were not halogen bulbs just sealed like a normal light bulb and bulbs filaments like any other piece of wiring becomes less conductive with age and their for dimmer with time.  Years ago the manufacturer's decided to start using halogen technology inside the sealed beams as well as the capsules so they didn't need to manufacture two different types.  Which did three things for them it made the bulbs brighter, more crisp and reduced production costs.  That and they could also market the higher brightness lines like xtra vision and silver star lines (nightguide, crystalvision in the phillips brands) in their sealed beam lines.