AlbertaClipper Posted June 19, 2009 Share #1 Posted June 19, 2009 Went out to go for a ride today and found my headlight was out. High beam worked ok. I felt for the plug up beside the headlight adjuster knob to see if it had come loose (again). It was tight. I then pulled the fairing off and then the headlight bracket and found that the plug was completely melted. The metal clips were still plugged on to the bulb but the plastic was a molten ball of plastic. I checked the circuit with a spare bulb I had and everything still worked. So the Silverstar bulb I put in a year ago had blown. I wonder if the Silverstar produces too much heat or was there a bad connection causing the heat? Don't know if I should put another Silverstar in or go back to the stock bulb...after I change the plug of course. Whatcha all think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7Goose Posted June 19, 2009 Share #2 Posted June 19, 2009 I have over 50,000 miles on my SilverStar Ultra with zero problems. Might be dimming just a tad with age, though. Seems as bright as ever to me, but when Ponch and I pointed our bikes side-by-side at a wall, his SilverStar Ultra made a noticeably brighter and whiter spot than mine. Goose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazmocycle Posted June 20, 2009 Share #3 Posted June 20, 2009 i have had to replace the headlite plug on my 01 royal star and my wife's 06 v-star 1100 due to it melting. my royal had the silverstar bulb but my wife's had stock bulb in her's, so i think it's just a loose connection problem. i just took the one off a wrecked royal i have and replaced it and it's doing fine now. you can problly find one at autozone to fix your's. the wires seems to be a little small to me, but the one i put back in had bigger wires on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuddyRich Posted June 20, 2009 Share #4 Posted June 20, 2009 You guys should think about going to HID. They come down in price a lot and have a nice bright white light. I really like mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyB Posted June 20, 2009 Share #5 Posted June 20, 2009 You guys should think about going to HID. They come down in price a lot and have a nice bright white light. I really like mine OK I'll bite, what is HID Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragerman Posted June 20, 2009 Share #6 Posted June 20, 2009 Sounds like it heated up as a result of a bad connection. You said its come loose on you before so perhaps you weren’t getting a proper connection. I run the same bulb and haven’t had a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usnmustang Posted June 20, 2009 Share #7 Posted June 20, 2009 OK I'll bite, what is HID High Intensity Discharge... aka brighter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuddyRich Posted June 20, 2009 Share #8 Posted June 20, 2009 Looks like this. I would go with 6000k. I have 8000k and its a little too blue for me but I'll wait another year and change it out. Its been on the bike for 3 years now.Be sure to get the kind where the element/capsule change position for HI/LO. The housings reflector is designed for elements in 2 different locations for HI/LO. I'll see if I can find a link to a set like mine Bi-Xenon HID H4 http://www.shopxenon.com/images/Halo_vs_hid.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuddyRich Posted June 20, 2009 Share #9 Posted June 20, 2009 This is what it looks like. Towards the bottom of the page there is a display showing the switch for hi/lo. I'm not recommending this kit or company. The type of HID Bi-Xenon is what I wanted to show. The link at the bottom of this page is some what less expensive. http://www.xtralights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=22 http://www.xtralights.com/images/bixenon_compare.gif http://gothidkit.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venturous Randy Posted June 22, 2009 Share #10 Posted June 22, 2009 I have run the Silverstars in my bike, and our Caravan and Maximas and even though the lights were brighter, the lifespan of any of the bulbs was poor. I ended up going back to stock on the cars, but I now have a PIAA bulb in my 83 bike after I upgraded to the 86-up headlight assembly. RandyA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve S Posted June 22, 2009 Share #11 Posted June 22, 2009 These headlight plugs are a standard automotive plug. You should be able to pick one up at most any auto parts store. It would probably save you a few dollars over going to the dealer and much easier than going to a salvage yard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainhorsega Posted June 22, 2009 Share #12 Posted June 22, 2009 Can you run a modulator on HID? and is this kit a straight plug in swap or is there re-wiring involved? This is what it looks like. Towards the bottom of the page there is a display showing the switch for hi/lo. I'm not recommending this kit or company. The type of HID Bi-Xenon is what I wanted to show. The link at the bottom of this page is some what less expensive. http://www.xtralights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=22 http://www.xtralights.com/images/bixenon_compare.gif http://gothidkit.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
04Midnight Posted June 22, 2009 Share #13 Posted June 22, 2009 I'm curious, too. Specially how the low beam/high beam works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyR Posted June 22, 2009 Share #14 Posted June 22, 2009 It says 'solenoid'.. implying that a magnetic coil pulls the light emitting element in to adjust the beam between high and low. sounds too complicated for a light bulb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuddyRich Posted June 22, 2009 Share #15 Posted June 22, 2009 Can't run a modulator on them cause the modulator changes the voltage. The HID would just go out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuddyRich Posted June 22, 2009 Share #16 Posted June 22, 2009 Actually what happens with a standard bulb is this. First look at the bulb. You'll see 2 elements. One is for low and one is for high. When you switch to hi beam it switches element on the standard bulb. That changes the focus of the reflector. The HID I showed does basically the same thing. Since the HID only has one element it moves it back to where the element should be for hi then out for low. Works good. On a standard bulb both elements are not used at the same time hi beam in case any of you were wondering Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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