Some time ago I upgraded the headlight sub-harness. After mounting all back, the headlight beam is pointing too far up and I need to adjust it downwards. This should be a very simple procedure but I'm finding it very difficult to get to the hex head screws (they're not Philips screws). I can see them with a mirror, but I can't get to them in view of the crammed space. The relevant section of the service manual is shown in the attached picture. A No. 9 socket fits on the hex screw head, but cannot get a ratchet in there to turn it. Anybody encountered this problem? And how did you manage to solve it?
Help with headlight beam
- Thread starter Juan
- Start date
Hi,
I needed to adjust them down a bit and struggled for an hour or so before I finally went to the store and bought
a set with a smaller (just the right size) ratchet spanner with three different extentions included, one of those was luckily
the right length.
I took a denstist mirror and "mapped" the area in my memory and then I could find the screws and manage to
adjust the beam!
What a great thing it would be with an electronic adjuster if it was lightweight
I needed to adjust them down a bit and struggled for an hour or so before I finally went to the store and bought
a set with a smaller (just the right size) ratchet spanner with three different extentions included, one of those was luckily
the right length.
I took a denstist mirror and "mapped" the area in my memory and then I could find the screws and manage to
adjust the beam!
What a great thing it would be with an electronic adjuster if it was lightweight
I put this together and it makes easy work of adjusting the headlights.
Attachments
jbrown
Active Member
Those adjusting screws have cup-like heads that have teeth on the cupped edge. You can adjust from the bottom with a phillips head screwdriver. Someone posted a good description here in the past. I'm attaching a picture taken from under the headlight where you can just see one of the toothed adjusters on edge. (Fuzzy 'cause my phone won't focus that close very well.)
Attachments
I would be concerned about why it is pointing higher. Changing out the harness shouldn't have made that happen. Something else is wrong.
If all you did was upgrade the harness check the lamps are sitting properly, the tab on the lamp sets at an odd angle there are posts about it on here as if they are fitted so they look right the beam is all over the place
HHH
New Member
Also the whole headlight assembly might not be seated on all four bolts.
Thank you all for your advice. I did the sub-harness installation myself because I'm a bit finicky and wanted to know that all is being done properly (not that I don't trust the dealer, but...). I do hope I put the headlamps back properly but I will check again. Having said that, I believe that even the way the headlamp mounting bolts are tightened will make a small difference in the beam. Perhaps I tightened the topmost bolts first, thereby forcing the headlamps to tilt slightly upwards (we're taking here of a minute fraction of an inch, but over a distance it multiplies greatly).
Yesterday I managed to get to those awkward alignment bolts and turned them about 1/8 turn clockwise (clockwise when sitting on the bike). I did see a change in the vertical direction of the beam (or did I imagine it?), but could only do the test in my garage, which is not big. So over this weekend I will test the beam on the road and see if it needs a bit more adjustment.
The important point is that with the help of you guys I managed to get to the alignment screws using an 8mm socket (not 9 as I said in my first post on this thread) and a screwdriver with a 1/4 inch drive head.
Yesterday I managed to get to those awkward alignment bolts and turned them about 1/8 turn clockwise (clockwise when sitting on the bike). I did see a change in the vertical direction of the beam (or did I imagine it?), but could only do the test in my garage, which is not big. So over this weekend I will test the beam on the road and see if it needs a bit more adjustment.
The important point is that with the help of you guys I managed to get to the alignment screws using an 8mm socket (not 9 as I said in my first post on this thread) and a screwdriver with a 1/4 inch drive head.
I too think that when you did the headlight sub-harness something did not get reinstalled correctly. The bulbs or entire headlight assembly are not in correctly. There is no way the adjustment should get "out" of adjustment just reinstalling it. Please recheck your work.
Mzee
Active Member
I also changed my glob and one of my lights is now pointing higher and outward. So it cannot be that I did something wrong.
skyRIDER55
Member
I had a problem with mine after the harness was replaced. The bulb is held down with a wire clip. Release the spring and turn the bulb until it falls into the groove. Makes a world of difference.
Packer
New Member
My previous bike, 1150GS, had a handy headlight adjustment lever to compensate for a passenger/luggage without adjusting suspension. Is there such a thing on the XT-Z, I can't see one and no mention in the owners manual?
Please where can I find the post about "sitting properly"? I didn't find anything with "search".... Thanx for attentionRoge said: