Headlight assembly issues and removal

Don in Lodi

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Don in Lodi,
What do you mean by “no fumbling with the weird indexing, no fiddling with latches, inspect the harness”?
Exactly what I wrote. I'm guessing you've not changed a bulb yet... The bulbs index at seven o'clock, not twelve, weird. The spring wire latches are not easy to latch and unlatch when you can see them, doing them blind and with gravity helping out is a fair bit more difficult. And the harness on the early bikes had an issue with melting down to blobs of carbon, thus a paranoid inspection.
 

MFP

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Exactly what I wrote. I'm guessing you've not changed a bulb yet... The bulbs index at seven o'clock, not twelve, weird. The spring wire latches are not easy to latch and unlatch when you can see them, doing them blind and with gravity helping out is a fair bit more difficult. And the harness on the early bikes had an issue with melting down to blobs of carbon, thus a paranoid inspection.
Thanks for clarifying the terminologies in question.
As mentioned in my initial post I have changed the bulbs as well as removed and reinstalled the bulbs quite a few times so I could dry out the moisture in the headlight assembly with a hair dryer.
 

Squibb

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You may be aware of this already, but here goes.
The hairdryer method works, but there are a few aspects to consider. Point the dryer into the housing, with bulbs out & you tend to just heat up the air within so it will just become more humid - the misting lifts, but soon returns once things cool down. Best then to get the bike in a dry area with naturally low humidity. Blow out this humid air & slowly reduce the heat setting so you end up pumping ambient air through. Then, provided the breathers are clean, the glass should stay clear.

If any significant misting returns in dry conditions, then it's time to remove the lamp unit & check for damge/seals.
 
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MFP

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You may be aware of this already, but here goes.
The hairdryer method works, but there are a few aspects to consider. Point the dryer into the housing, with bulbs out & you tend to just heat up the air within so it will just become more humid - the misting lifts, but soon returns once things cool down. Best then to get the bike in a dry area with naturally low humidity. Blow out this humid air & slowly reduce the heat setting so you end up pumping ambient air through. Then, provided the breathers are clean, the glass should stay clear.

If any significant misting returns in dry conditions, then it's time to remove the lamp unit & check for damge/seals.
Squibb,
Thanks for the info.
Actually late last Fall when riding in a charity event I came across a R/GSA owner who had a similar issue and he recommended
basically the same protocol that you mention and I have yet to try doing so.
Will certainly give it a go when I try and sort out the issue which will be hopefully soon.
 

BWC

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Had it happen just the once on my 12 when it went in for it’s first service at the dealer. Went to pick it up and noticed moisture inside the headlight. Got the service writer to have a look and make a note of it in case it became an issue.
Never had a problem after that one time. I think the complementary bike clean I got was done by someone probably a little to enthusiastic with a pressure washer.
Once you get the headlight out and have a good look it should become apparent if there’s a way for water to get in. I’ve had mine out and it’s pretty well sealed with the exception the few places others have noted.
 
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