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[bikerhifinut]

Can anyone offer some practical help here?
I have a 2011 500 EFI B5 attached to a Watsonian Grand Prix sidecar.
The issue I have is that the headlight is nothing more than an efficient means of dazzling oncoming drivers on dip, and on main beam its a reasonably good searchlight! There appears to be no means of adjusting the beam down at all. I am concerned greatly at this, as aside from the complete uselessness of it as a headlight, I suspect a fussy MOT tester could fail it at its first MOT in September. Is there a way to adjust this thing at all? Because otherwise I feel a snotty phone call to the supplier over this. "Fit for purpose?"

Regards

Andy.

[Norm]

Andy,
read the posts a bit further down the page "riding in the fog"

[bikerhifinut]

I'll have a look tomorrow.
I did take the rim off when I had the first issue with it. I really couldn't see how it adjusted even taking into account the "slot" etc. The bike must sit a lot differently with the Sidecar on it, I can only hope that there is enough adjustment to get the beam down low enough. I don't want a great gap around the rim/cowl interface either.
Its a small thing to some perhaps but it's things like that can have an out of proportion effect on ones riding enjoyment. If I ride at night I get flashed at and often get drivers coming at me with their headlights at full beam scorching my poor old retinas. So the headlight must be pretty bright, once I get the thing pointing at the road and not the stars.

Andy.

[Norm]

In typical Indian style, the problem has been around for years but they just use the head in the sand, ostrich style, and ignore the problem, whilst shaking their head from side to side stating that "we have never had this problem before"

[Beezabryan]

They all do that Sir

[another Allan]

Hi Andy. Just for clarification, the part that can be adjusted is not the headlamp rim (which holds the light unit,) but the inner chrome ring attached to the casquette. The mounting holes for the inner ring can be elongated so that it provides some downwards adjustment. However, if you have done this and the light is still pointing too high, then I would be concerned that the additional weight of the sidecar was loading the rear suspension too much. If so, increasing the preload may help, or perhaps stronger springs are needed.

[Scalyback]

I assume you have a standard H4 type bulb?



Go get a spare,(in case), then very carefully with pliers or similar,



bend the Tabs on the bulb, as close to where they join as possible,



For light beam to go sown, glass part of bulb needs to go up, so bend upper


lugs towards the glass, lower lugs away from glass,try a little at first, then refit


the headlamp and test.



don't get finger grease on the glass bulb, they don't like it, use a cloth to hold,

The spare bulb is for if you break the bloody thing.



P.S. this is not a hear-say, I did it on Thunderbolt after changing the tyres, and

it worked for me! Only down side is although the beam does get lower, the

distinct cut off line between light and dark goes a little out of focus, but at

least the beam is in limits!

scalyback

[Michael]

Hi there...




There are three philips head screws holding the headlight unit to the casquette. The lower two can be loosened and sit in oval holes in the casquette allowing for some movement back and forward (moving the beam down and up, respectively). The upper screw pulls the headlight bit tight against the chrome rim at the top (12 o'clock position). There is some movement available using the lower two screws. You could always make the holes in the casquette a little larger (removing material at the back of the holes would allow for lower beam). Hope it helps!

[Scalyback]

Thank you Michael,


I just checked on Thunderbolt and you are correct!



never thought it,

never knew it,

Never came across them,



but now I can stop bending my bulbs!



scalyback Simon

[bikerhifinut]

I've had a fiddle and got a small amount of downward adjustment. As I feared it does make the top of the retaining ring looks untidy with a gap and the slot exposed, but I suppose I shall have to live with it for now at least.
I am surprised that RE have been allowed to get away with this for so long, some fussy MOT testers would have a field day on this.
Anyway I will try and have a ride after dark one night soon, work permitting.
Its made me think seriously about fitting spots or additional Headlight on the chair, which I can adjust for a nice flat beam that lights up the road.
Any Ideas on what maximum extra load the bike's charging circuit can take? The owners manual is sparse to the point of uselessness on quite a lot of essential parameters.
If push came to shove and I felt the bike was worth spending the money on, I'd consider junking the strange cowl thing and fit more conventional top yokes with a "normal" headlight. But I don't want to chuck money where its potentially wasted. I would rather spend my dosh on getting a bit more usable power out of the engine for sidecar use. That's another story though.
Andy.