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Author Topic: R65 headlight replacement option  (Read 6696 times)

Offline montmil

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R65 headlight replacement option
« on: August 02, 2011, 02:28:21 PM »
Is anyone running the Sylvania H6024 sealed beam headlight in their R65?

The reflector in my 1981 R65 headlamp is becoming pretty non-reflective. Looking for an easy upgrade in light output without over stressing the OEM electrical sysytem.

The H6024 specs say it is a 7.03-inch diameter. Ought to fit OK. The three male spades on the lamp look like plug n' play as to the R65's bulb socket.

Thoughts? Experiences? Gracias,

Monte
Monte Miller
Denton, TEXAS
1978 BMW R100S
1981 BMW R65
1983 BMW R65
1995 Triumph Trophy
1986 VW Cabriolet

Offline Lucky_Lou

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Re: R65 headlight replacement option
« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2011, 04:22:09 PM »
How about an LED replacement if your worried about power.....
Lou
Ask questions later

Dizerens5

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Re: R65 headlight replacement option
« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2011, 04:34:48 PM »
What us Brits really need is a simple adaptor ring allowing fit of the standard UK 7-inch light unit. All kinds of alternatives are available, even a new version of the old Lucas Le Mans (if you are in the mega-rich category). The Cibie unit with concave front lens was very good, not sure if it's still available - at least the lens stayed clean I recall!

Offline montmil

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Re: R65 headlight replacement option
« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2011, 04:49:29 PM »
Quote
How about an LED replacement if your worried about power.....
Lou

The Sylvania H6024 pulls but 40 watts so the power draw is not a concern.

What's interested me in the replacement is that the H6024 is a one-piece, sealed beam headlight with a good light pattern on both high and low beam.

Not to mention the $10.00 price at the local WalMart.

May give it a shot.

Monte
« Last Edit: August 03, 2011, 03:49:54 PM by montmil »
Monte Miller
Denton, TEXAS
1978 BMW R100S
1981 BMW R65
1983 BMW R65
1995 Triumph Trophy
1986 VW Cabriolet

Offline Justin B.

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Re: R65 headlight replacement option
« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2011, 09:08:59 PM »
Monte, this one is even cheap enough for you!!!

http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1228860638
Justin B.

2004 BMW R1150RT
1981 R100RT - Summer bike, NEKKID!!!

Offline montmil

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Re: R65 headlight replacement option
« Reply #5 on: August 03, 2011, 08:43:41 AM »
I don't recall whom on the list I bought one of the lamps you noted, but I just could not bring myself to grinding on the headlight trim ring.

I thought about it, but the replacement cost of a new ring is huge! One of my R65s has a perfect ring while the other has only a slight ding. Even the dinged one could be repaired and re-chromed for pocket change compared to the $$$ demanded by BMW for a new replacement.

The H6024 requires three locating "nibs" be sanded off- using the belt sander- before it fits into an unmodified BMW ring.

I'm off to WallyWorld today. If this works out, I'll post up a thread.

Monte
Monte Miller
Denton, TEXAS
1978 BMW R100S
1981 BMW R65
1983 BMW R65
1995 Triumph Trophy
1986 VW Cabriolet

Offline Ed Miller

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Re: R65 headlight replacement option
« Reply #6 on: August 03, 2011, 12:05:25 PM »
I use one Monte!!!

Of course, that's in my Windjammer fairing.

Ed Miller
'81 r65
Falls City, OR

Offline montmil

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Re: R65 headlight replacement option
« Reply #7 on: August 03, 2011, 03:59:10 PM »
Quote
I use one Monte!!! Of course, that's in my Windjammer fairing.

Windjammer? Is that one of them there fairing things I see in the Cruiser magazines? ;)

Bought the H6024 a W-M but it wasn't ten bucks. $8.74.

Right now, it's 108°F in my backyard and 115° in my shop. Tomorrow morning early I'll fit the lamp.
Almost 1700 beer call... What the hey. In four minutes, it'll be Happy Hour on the east coast. [smiley=beerchug.gif]

Too damn hot!
Monte Miller
Denton, TEXAS
1978 BMW R100S
1981 BMW R65
1983 BMW R65
1995 Triumph Trophy
1986 VW Cabriolet

wa1udg

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Re: R65 headlight replacement option
« Reply #8 on: August 03, 2011, 05:19:20 PM »
I would bet a standard "E Code" 7 inch round  European light from Cibe  or Hella is  far better than the typical US made "SAE APPROVED" sealed beam, and the two interchange.  Marshal at one time made a 7 inch with two reflectors and bulbs inside it, one for high and the other for low.  THAT was a headlight.  You see the unit on endurance racers in th elate 60's and 70's.  You might try  googling Dan Stern Lighting  on the net.  He doesn't sell junk and has most of the real non" JC and the Boys"  stuff.  
The H4 bulb and the standard US 7 inch (and 5x7 ) dual beam lamps use the same socket.  

Offline Justin B.

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Re: R65 headlight replacement option
« Reply #9 on: August 03, 2011, 09:49:31 PM »
Quote
but I just could not bring myself to grinding on the headlight trim ring


No cajones!  These H4 units were specified as direct replacements for a sealed-beam headlight so I would think the ring would need to be modified for one of them as well.
Justin B.

2004 BMW R1150RT
1981 R100RT - Summer bike, NEKKID!!!

Offline montmil

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Re: R65 headlight replacement option
« Reply #10 on: August 04, 2011, 10:11:08 AM »
Got up early to beat the heat and moved into the shop to see what I could see.

A belt sander made quick work of smoothing off the three locating "bumps" on the front face of the headlight. Safety goggles and a big mask plus a large fan kept the glass dust away from me.

Pulled off the OEM headlight and rim assembly, disconnected the electrics, popped off the keeper clips and extracted the lamp.

The H6024 dropped right into place. Installed the clips, plugged into the headlight socket and powered up. We gots lights.

Then the elephant in the shop walked in... The lower retaining clip inside the headlight nacelle would not fit. No way. No how. Rim flange on the H6024 is too thick. Rats.

Good news is the H6024 is the same brand and size as in the Cabriolet's grille so the lamp went into the VW parts storage. A $7.48 experiment was worth the knowledge gained.

So, unless there's another niffty n' neat way to secure the trim ring to the bucket, I'll continue rolling with the Bosch lamp, for now.

Did get in a fairly pleasant ride this A.M.

Monte



Monte Miller
Denton, TEXAS
1978 BMW R100S
1981 BMW R65
1983 BMW R65
1995 Triumph Trophy
1986 VW Cabriolet

wa1udg

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Re: R65 headlight replacement option
« Reply #11 on: August 04, 2011, 11:21:26 AM »
The three bumps are for an aiming machine.  The pattern on those sealed beam lamps was so bad that the common procedure  used in Europe of looking at ithe pattern  projected on a wall didn't work.  Many of the European Code H4 lamps have little  U shaped mounting points atttached to a very thin metal rim for purposes of making them interchangable with glass lamps.  Getting rid of the mounting points  is easy with a Dremel. The result will probably look just like the rim on the lamp you wish to replace.  As I gracefully age, and need better lighting, I find that it is harder and harder to ADD fog and driving lights to plastic front cars, and the wimpy "fog" lamp decoratuons on most new vehicles are a joke.  Factored into my next car buy will be a good hard look at light  mounting opportunites.  May have to buy some kind of SVU thing which will accept an OEM of aftermarket  light bar.  
Bit of trivia, when the Fed Nannies were busy enforcing the "NO NON-SEALED BEAM" regulations for cars, making  "Grey Market" importers, for example, PULL the expensive European lamps from high end European cars and replace them with JUNK (sometimes leaving the pulled lamps in the trunk, hint hint) the NANNIES were ADVOCATING the use of the same lamps in US motorcycles.  One could buy European H4 units in many imported car shops "for 'off road' and MOTORCYCLE  street use only"  You can guess where a LOT of them ended up.  My first pair of  7 inch "EC" lamps went into a 71 Volvo in
1972.  Had them in all my later cars until the "aero" headlight revolution made it impossible.  
Take a look at Dan Stern's site, if only to see what is availible.  You might even send him an email describing your plight.  He does some "custom work"  I can't see, given the care we lavish on these bikes, not having a GOOD headlight.  

wa1udg

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Re: R65 headlight replacement option
« Reply #12 on: August 04, 2011, 11:35:39 AM »
Come to think of it, I sent a  older Guzzi riding friend to my favorite parts store back in the 80s because he couldn't see much with the 2 dollar 7 inch US sealed beam the generous folks had installed in his rather expensive bike.  He bought an E Code Hella lamp with a 55/60 bulb and it dropped right in.  He was so pleased he came by the house just to show me.  BTW, monti, you are lucky, and could install E Code lamps in your car.  The improvement will please you, AND, since the E Codes are METAL, rather than plastic, you can stickum  55/100'or 80/100 bulbs in them  instead of the 55/60 (low/high watts) without melting anything (but your harness - so check that out)  Improving a harness is an easy DIY, but Stern sells them.  

wa1udg

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Re: R65 headlight replacement option
« Reply #13 on: August 04, 2011, 11:40:14 AM »
Constellation:  I think all you need so is grind  off the three U shaped pieces on the back of a standard E Code.  Take a look at one.  Then you have your choice of a bunch of good European stuff.  As I recall, your pattern is different for RHD.  Seems to me there is something you need to stick on Brit lamps when driving in Europe.  I have seen quick climps of them on Top Gear.  

wa1udg

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Re: R65 headlight replacement option
« Reply #14 on: August 04, 2011, 11:46:03 AM »
Lou, LEDs just don't have the onions yet. Cetainly not in a 7 inch round lamp replacement.  There are some factory installations on za new German cars but so far as I know there is nothing in LED which will equal an H4 low beam.  Now, "HID" lamps draw a bit less power but none of them are designed (no matter what they say) to work with a lens set up for  a halogen bulb.  Big can of worms.  Again, Dan Stern Lighting's site tells ya all about the problems.