'98 Headlight Bulb

Discussion in '5th Generation 1998-2001' started by bigmac9137, Jul 17, 2013.

  1. bigmac9137

    bigmac9137 New Member

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    One bulb went out on my '98 front headlight. I need to replace them by mid next week. What is best route? Can I get the right bulbs at Auto Zone, Walmart, etc? If so, whats specs to look for?

    Do you have to take off front fairing to change it?

    I know I can look in my clymer manual or just tear it apart myself but im busy and most of you are way smarter.

    thanks
     
  2. YAUGURU

    YAUGURU New Member

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    The bulb is the number 3,
    YES to replace it I think is needed to remove Mirrors, windscreen, and upper fairing.

    BUT.. try because I think that with muuuch patience and maneuvers... may be you can remove it (just touching, blind no eyes) with tact from behind, long arm, through the holes between the yoke and fork.. contortioning a little.

    Good Luck

    head.jpg
     
  3. Y2Kviffer

    Y2Kviffer Insider

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    You need H4 bulbs and bend or cut off the lower 2 tabs. I bent mine and installed them from the back. It takes a little patience as it's all by feel, you can't see. I have seen an adapter so you can leave the tabs alone..on ebay maybe.
     
  4. TNRabbit

    TNRabbit New Member

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    I just did this & recommend removing the fairing. I used a Honda bulb.

    Check all the dash lights while you have it apart...3 of mine were burned out. I replaced with LED bulbs.
     
  5. bigmac9137

    bigmac9137 New Member

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    thanks all!
    I just bought normal sylvania H4 bulbs at Advance auto and bent the bottom two tabs down. I took off the front fairing, but I feel that since I know how everything works, next time I might be able to do it without taking it off, but its probably not worth it. Took about 45 minutes total. Easy as pie.
     
  6. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    Honda H4 Headlight Bulb Shims

    It only took 17 years for me to break down and buy these things (don't know if they were available back in the day.) Its the only way to fly if you buy an H4 bulb, unless you want to pop for an official propriatory Honda bulb, which would be a sin!

    Dont take the freaking motorcycle apart to install a bulb, you can do it from the top or bottom or something.
     
  7. marriedman

    marriedman New Member

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    This interests me, where did you find instructions for this? Was there much involved? Any links to the LED's you used would be appreciated.
     
  8. TNRabbit

    TNRabbit New Member

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    No real instructions; I just search around on here & found where someone had done an LED exchange. I used the same bulbs they did: 194 LED Bulb - 5 LED Wide Angle Wedge Base | Miniature Wedge Base LEDs | LED Car Bulbs | Super Bright LEDs

    You'll need 5 for the instrument backlighting, another 2 for the turn signal indicators. I used BLUE for the LCD screen as I like the looks of it better:

    Click on this link: http://vfrworld.com/forums/mechanics-garage/42931-led-dashlights-mod.html

    [​IMG]
     
  9. Skifreak

    Skifreak New Member

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    I did all of my dash in LEDs when I changed out my headlights. It was much brighter than stock (installed only 1 LED on the left hand side for comparison sake)
    image.jpg

    I will dig and see if I can find the thread.

    But definitely buy the store H4s, snip the tabs, and do it when you change the oil or have the fairing apart for some other reason.
     
  10. Skifreak

    Skifreak New Member

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  11. TNRabbit

    TNRabbit New Member

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