TLR Headlamp unit

[ratTLeR]

Does anybody know if the TLR headlamp unit can be opened. There is an obvious join in the unit between the lens half and the main body, but I can't tell if the thing is glued together or what. I need to clean the inside of the lens!
Also, for any riders from LHD countries with the Projector lens type headlamp units, a question: I have one fitted to my TLR (courtesy of the previous owner and a wrecker who imports wrecks from LHD markets), but have a few problems for riding in Australia (RHD). The spread of the beam looks a bit like a 'J' with the long arm of the J being a higher beam pointing slightly to the right to light up signposts etc and the lower part of 'the hook' being the main road beam....as I have been informed from a friend in the USA. Of course, in a RHD environment, the 'signpost' beam serves nothing more than to be a blinding distraction to oncoming drivers, so I've tried to aim a bit lower. But the main concern is the apparent main beam (the hook) which gives lousy spread/coverage and intensity...even with high quality globes. Any thoughts or suggestions out there? (other than replacing it with the proper one....too expensive!!)

[eurotrash]

hmm there are stickers to put over the lens of a rhd in the UK for travelling on the continent, but i never seen them the other way round.
projector light assembly looks but does not work as well as the none projector version.
as for the sh1t inside your light, maybe use an air compressor to blow through bulb sockets.
if postage wasnt too expensive id swap you my rhd for it.

[PutteLiten]

LHD?
RHD?

[Rupes]

Left hand side and Right hand side... Which side of the road you drive on

[ratTLeR]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Unfortunately, the sh1t on the lens requires a wipe rather than a blow out; so I think the only way to wipe it clean is to split the unit if I can, or I guess the mark stays there. It probably wouldn't worry me except that the light coverage is so lousy on this thing!
The projector type lights are used only in Europe I think, and maybe Sth Africa. The other BIG LHD market, the USa, uses lights the same as the Aussie spec (dual H4's)
Sure, the projectors look 'stylish', but I'd rather see where I'm going at night, I reckon!
(PS the swap would be good...but the postage!?!?!)

[bobpeckham]

Does anybody use the blue bulbs that you see everywhere? If so some feedback would be appreciated. I would like to have different color bulbs that is all.

thanks

[ratTLeR]

I actually put some blue xenon bulbs in mine, but they didn't make that much of a difference in my case (refer the above posts)
so I can't say whether the bulbs themselves are disappointing, or whether they just don't work the best in my 'projector lens' headlamp. Go to eBay and search under 'Suzuki TL1000R' .....they're always there for about US$12.

[dragonbro]

Originally posted by bobpeckham
Does anybody use the blue bulbs that you see everywhere? If so some feedback would be appreciated. I would like to have different color bulbs that is all.

thanks

i picked up some bulbs from www.plasmaglow.com. i went with the same wattage bulbs cuz i didn't want to cook the wires or bulb sockets. the blue color looks good in my opinion (on the B/W TLR) but they don't seem any brighter to me than the stock ones. obviously if you want brighter lights you gotta go with higher wattage bulbs or fit an Hid kit on. me personally, i rarely ride at night and was only interested in the poser value of the blue lights

[dragonbro]

here is a pic of the front of my bike, lights off of course. i like the blue look behind the lens.

[TLSBill]

I picked up a set also.. but went 100/90.. Much brighter than stock.. Plus the white/blue light looks nicer w/my blue TLS..

No problems so far with the higher wattage.

[Miles B]

I'm not gonna promise you this works for your bike, and indeed, be real careful if you try it....

I have what you would call a Lexus SC400. Like the Supra, the lights get condensation inside of em. Where the lens joins the body, there is a thin bead of hard plastic compound. I separated mine by popping them in a warm oven for a few minutes. Be careful though, if done wrong, you can discolor the lens!!! Hell, I don't even know if that's the way the TL light joins, or if heat will totally kill your light.

What is in your light? Just condensation? Some slime? I would try everything you can before you open it. It is a real mess to get lights back together again. If you can, try taking all the lights out, and tipping some hot water in there, swirl it around, and use the hairdryer to dry it out. Maybe a bit of sponge on a stick if you can... trust me, opening headlights sucks.

[nathanTLX]

I'm with Miles. My thought was to un-mount the headlight and remove the bulbs from their sockets. That should give you a small hole directly into the lens area. Then it's a matter of cotton swaps or tweezers + rag or pencil with a small strip of cloth tied to the end. Something to get down in there to wipe with. I wouldn't split it if I could avoid it. That opens the door to all sorts of issues. Even if you managed to do it without breaking anything, you'd probably be much more prone to leaks into the lens area, condensation, etc.

[doug]

contrary to popular opinion the blue bulbs are not any brighter than a standard bulb in fact have less useable light. If you want any thing brighter you will have to go to a higher wattage bulb but you are treading in dangerous waters with your electrical system if you put in high wattage bulbs but at least you will be able to see. If you go higher wattage I would suggest you put a fan on the voltage regulator and solder the wiring connections in the main harness where the 2 wires become one from the voltage regulator.

[ratTLeR]

Miles and Nathan- Re: splitting the headlamp unit......I think you're both right, and I think I'll leave it alone. The mark appears to be residue from condensation and is really only noticeable when the light is on, and I doubt that it affects the (poor!) light intensity.
As for the blue lights, I had to put in single filament H1 globes for my unit, and they are appreciably smaller than the H4's, so I don't really get any cosmetic advantage when the lights are off (they llook neat in the above photo, though!) and as for when they are on....well I've already covered that!
Thanks for the replies!

[Slapper]

I'm actually in the same boat as Graham...

I went ahead and spent lots of money to have worse light output. In case anyone deosn't know what we're talking about, this is the projector beam headlamp unit that was used in Belgium, Netherlands, France and maybe some others:



On the inside of the projector lens, I have quite a thick film of dust. This is from the 100w bulb I installed, exploding 30 seconds after installing it the right way (didn't touch it, wiped it down with denatured alcohol first).

Somehow, I have to clean it out. My plan is to remove the headlamp unit from the bike, and wash it out with soap and water. Afterwards, I'll rinse it thoroughly with distilled water (no spots), and I'll dry it with a hairdryer.

I can't really think of a better way of doing it.