Hitchcocks Forum

I am coming upto MOT time and last time I was warned that the headlight beam was a trifle too high. I can't see how to adjust it! It's a 2002 Classic 500. Can any one help please?
P.S. Mind you I have just fitted a new rear tyre, so with its higher profile, and if I pump up the pressure, that might do the trick anyway!
P.P.S. My little 1953 trail bike is on the point of being recommissioned. If I wait until November then I won't have to obtain an MOT Cert. Hmmmm...I always to see that as a slight safety net to cover any of my mechanical deficiencies (of which there are many!) so I might, as suggested on another thread, ask for an informal check up in any case.
Thanks
stephen

I`m a newbie on here,if your headlight is round with a shell then like mine undo the mounting bolts slightly either side and enough to tilt up or down.

Thanks for the immediate response. I should have said the bike has the standard casquette (spelling?). I am sure it must be easy - but I can't see it! stephen

Alan R has come up with the solution to this common problem. In the "Sixty 5" thread below he has written........ "The headlamp shell is secured onto the casquette by 3 screws, one of which is on the top. Remove the shell and file that top hole in the casquette into an oval thus allowing the shell to tilt forward."

With due respect to Alan and Howard if Stephen's classic is like mine there is no need to resort to such drastic measures. Loosen all three screws around the chrome rim, and the headlight unit can then be tilted slightly up or down - the two bottom screws are located in slotted adjusters. Cheers. Tony.

Thanks all. I'll have a closer look this weekend. stephen

High pressure rear tyre.
Low pressure front tyre.
Then I hope you can pass the MOT without problems.
I think it is "good" if the headlight is a bit "high", so cardrivers see You are comming. Everything in this matter is important, much light, yellow jacket and a loud silencer. In Sweden all cars and motorcycles must use the head beam during dylight too. So thats why I recommend a headbeam a bit up in the sky.

Hi Guys--------- my mod re}--Headlight adjustment was for a Bullet 65....my own 65 of a few years ago having had the same problem from cars etc coming towards me ie flashing their lights because my beam, even though set on LOW, was still too high.Hence my filing the hole into a slot. I now run a 2005 Classic 500 and that top hole is now a slot actually cast in as part of the casquette. My 1997 Bullet still has that original hole, so will have to mod that at some time. Drastic ??---- hardly, but certainly effective.

I had mot yesterday examiner said my headlight was spot on.I have same set up as you.To achieve this a two minute job is required
1 loosen screw on top of head light rim
2 put screw driver or similar between main body and chrome rim.
3 turn it slightly so it pushes chrome rim away from main body of head light . when gap reaches about 3 mm that should do.
4 put bike on main stand on flat ground 4 ft from a wall
5 turn head light on low beam (you may have to start the engine)and mark the centre point of light on the wall.
6 measure vertically from ground to point you marked on wall
7 measure middle of bike headlight to ground.
8 if both measurements are identical your headlight adjustment should be perfect
9 DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES LEAVE YOUR FRONT TYRE PRESSURE LOW AS COMPENSATION as well as being illegal if tested after an accident it is bl**dy dangerous

+ 1 to what Riggers said - no faffing about cutting slots, and most definitely no buggering about with tyre pressures. Neither is required (or desirable), in my experience.