Headlight shield

[Barry]

Looking at this parts fiche recently reminded me to ask ...did anyone ever remove the metal cap heat shield/UV shield/anti glare shield or whatever else it's supposed to be that is fixed to the reflector and did it make any difference to the headlight beam ?

[tvrla]

Good question! I'm curious about that too. I sort of recall a friend's bike not having one, many many moons ago.

[nhmaf]

As it is annual motorcycle inspection month and I've got to get my 3 bikes through, I'm not going to experiment at this time.

I would speculate though, that it could tend to cause alot more heat stress in the center of the headlight lense - could be more prone to cracking especially when some rain drops start hitting it.    I don't know how much of the total lumen output is redirected by it back to the reflector shell, but I'd also suspect that the light pattern out front would be more intense in the center and more weak out toward the edges..

Those Germans usually do things for a reason, ya know!

[Barry]

Those Germans usually do things for a reason, ya know!  

They certainly do and sometimes go a touch overboard on things too.

If you look at a modern halogen headlamp bulb the top bit facing forward is blacked out presumably to protect the glass/anti glare etc.  I wonder if that was not the case back in the day and this cap was serving the same function ?

[nhmaf]

If you look at a modern halogen headlamp bulb the top bit facing forward is blacked out presumably to protect the glass/anti glare etc.I wonder if that was not the case back in the day and this cap was serving the same function ?  

That is my theory, too!

[cortina]

The cap is very easy to remove -it just unclips.I have removed mine to see if it makes much difference and will post the result later.

[Barry]

The cap is very easy to remove -it just unclips.I have removed mine to see if it makes much difference and will post the result later.  

Thanks for volunteering to experiment. Did you have to split the lens from the reflector to get it out ?

[cortina]

Yes.First loosen the headlight retaining screw/bracket at the bottom of the lens ring and remove the lens/reflector.Then unclip and remove the 6 wire clips at the back the reflector.There is a small indent in the reflector where a small screwdriver can be used to carefully prise apart the lens and reflector from the rubber seal between the two.This seal is replaceable if damaged.The heat/light cap can now be removed by simply squeezing together the two cap legs.I sprayed the seal with silicone to make removal easier the next time.

[Dizerens5]

I seem to recall that these shields (which were also fitted to some Lucas lights) are intended to reduce dazzle for oncoming drivers by hiding the actual filament of the bulb.

[montmil]

My '83 R65 has no interior cap but the halogen bulb has a black OEM painted cap on the bulb.
My '81 R65 has the metal cap plus a black hat halogen bulb.

Danged if I can tell a difference. No oncoming traffic flashes their hi-beams at me, so...

[wa1udg]

I don't think I have ever seen an H4 without a black end shield.