headlight spring clip
07-23-2005, 10:28 AM
#1
Member
Squid
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 45
headlight spring clip
change the headlight bulb.. ok, sounds like even *I* should be able to do that, right ?
NO ! very, very wrong!
step 1. read manual.
step 2. take out old bulb
step 3. put in new bulb
step 4. spend 2 hours trying to figure out how to put this ridiculous spring clip back in.
UNsucessfully.
step 5. take the bike to the mechanic, I guess.... if I spend any more time on it, I'll probably get so frustrated I'll need to kill something
NO ! very, very wrong!
step 1. read manual.
step 2. take out old bulb
step 3. put in new bulb
step 4. spend 2 hours trying to figure out how to put this ridiculous spring clip back in.
UNsucessfully.
step 5. take the bike to the mechanic, I guess.... if I spend any more time on it, I'll probably get so frustrated I'll need to kill something
07-23-2005, 04:38 PM
#3
Senior Member
SuperSport
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Nananimo, B.C.
Posts: 764
Re: headlight spring clip
The clip is very easy once you see what it looks like and how it goes. Maybe your hands are like ham hocks.
The clip hinges out to one side out of the way. You can re and re the bulb then.
The clip pokey end that attaches, goes under and around into, a "C" shape piece of plastic that holds the clip tight. The clip goes up under the bottom and hooks into it.
Its very simple once you see it. Get a small kid to do it.
The clip hinges out to one side out of the way. You can re and re the bulb then.
The clip pokey end that attaches, goes under and around into, a "C" shape piece of plastic that holds the clip tight. The clip goes up under the bottom and hooks into it.
Its very simple once you see it. Get a small kid to do it.
07-24-2005, 08:42 PM
#4
Senior Member
Back Marker
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Riverside, Calif ( Sun City)
Posts: 165
Re: headlight spring clip
I would have not figured it out unless I had pulled the front fairing....
After I did that... I was able to visual remember the clip and did it without removing a thing....
I can definitely see how you had a MAJOR issue if you never saw it head on....
After I did that... I was able to visual remember the clip and did it without removing a thing....
I can definitely see how you had a MAJOR issue if you never saw it head on....
07-25-2005, 09:31 AM
#5
Senior Member
Back Marker
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 123
Re: headlight spring clip
W-O-T made a good point. I had to do the same, full fairing removal, to figure mine out. It turned into a full day project though......I ended up doing a deep cleaning of my bike. That's what took must of the day....the spring was 15 seconds......AT MOST!!! LOL 
07-26-2005, 01:11 PM
#8
Senior Member
Superstock
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 281
Re: headlight spring clip
Changing the bulb is not that easy to do if you can't see or get at it very easilly, as is in the case of the SHawk. I've changed my bulb on my Kawasaki Ninja 500 which requires you to remove the faring giving super access to the whole thing, as well as the Ninja 250R. From remembering I was able to replace my 2005 bulb with a PIAA Superwhite in the tiny space provided without looking pretty-much with both my mitts in there.
The hinge is a pretty universal motorcycle-type locking mechanism that slides and clasps over a weird bit like a hinge and is bizzare. Once you see how it is done by removing the faring and remembering and pre-analyzing the removal and how it should look when you're done before you remove it then the whole thing should only take about 10 minutes even for a beginner (minus faring removal, 'course, which may take up to 30 minutes if you don't know where the bolts are, etc.)
Luckilly, the SHawk bulb is accessable (just barely) by:
1) Unplugging the wire harness box thing from the bulb.
2) Pull back the black water sheath that looks like a plunger completely.
3) Un-do the hinge thingy holding in the bulb.
4) Pull out the bulb.
Replace the new bulb in the reverse order. Note that the bulb will have 3 metal tabs you have to line-up so it's seated in there. As far as I can tell, there's no worry for top-up rotation. Fits any way in.
Note* Never touch the new bulb's glass with your fingers! You can use a VERY clean rag or something NON-oily, otherwise the bulb will cook the oils on it and break the glass (or so I'm told).
The hinge is a pretty universal motorcycle-type locking mechanism that slides and clasps over a weird bit like a hinge and is bizzare. Once you see how it is done by removing the faring and remembering and pre-analyzing the removal and how it should look when you're done before you remove it then the whole thing should only take about 10 minutes even for a beginner (minus faring removal, 'course, which may take up to 30 minutes if you don't know where the bolts are, etc.)
Luckilly, the SHawk bulb is accessable (just barely) by:
1) Unplugging the wire harness box thing from the bulb.
2) Pull back the black water sheath that looks like a plunger completely.
3) Un-do the hinge thingy holding in the bulb.
4) Pull out the bulb.
Replace the new bulb in the reverse order. Note that the bulb will have 3 metal tabs you have to line-up so it's seated in there. As far as I can tell, there's no worry for top-up rotation. Fits any way in.
Note* Never touch the new bulb's glass with your fingers! You can use a VERY clean rag or something NON-oily, otherwise the bulb will cook the oils on it and break the glass (or so I'm told).
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