Headlight Adjustment

[NancysToy]

Maybe the insert is still there just can't see it because of picture view. Once apon a time. Long long ago I worked for a manufacturer of automotive headlights and this type of design of adjuster looks familiar to me. Take the tupperwear off so you can see the front of the headlight assembly. Back out the adjuster screw about an inch or more. If the insert is still there and not broken you should be able to pop the head of the scew (whicth is ball shaped) back into the insert and if it holds all you have to do is adjust it.

:agree: You will need to get the pivot points freed up and lubed, though, to assure it won't pop out again.

 

[Firefly]

Maybe the insert is still there just can't see it because of picture view. Once apon a time. Long long ago I worked for a manufacturer of automotive headlights and this type of design of adjuster looks familiar to me. Take the tupperwear off so you can see the front of the headlight assembly. Back out the adjuster screw about an inch or more. If the insert is still there and not broken you should be able to pop the head of the scew (whicth is ball shaped) back into the insert and if it holds all you have to do is adjust it.

:agree:

And if that part isn't working-- I can probably tear down one of my spares and just send you the parts you need.

The way it works is the front plate is secured to the cluster -- and when you move the adjuster that plate stays in place and the actual light unit is what moves--- IF the adjuster screw is properly attached to the plate that is.... and yours is NOT. If you can get the screw back in you might be able to adjust it - but I would probably avoid putting direct pressure on the front of the screw--- perhaps adjust from the rear as we discussed.

I can send more pics if that helps.....

 

[AZ Desert Spyder]

After a test ride last night, the lights are still a bit low. It's going to be 109 degrees again today so I doubt I'll work on it today, but then it's finally supposed to be dropping down to 99 Friday and thru the weekend so that will give me an opportunity to really work this issue. I wanted to take the tupperware off as Billybovine suggested, but I wasn't sure how it comes off. I see 2 screws up front, but then it looks like the rest just snaps into place. I tried prying it loose with a screwdriver, but it didn't seem to want to come apart and I didn't want to risk breaking it. I can't find any information in the owners manual or in the service manual which I just purchased to removing it. Can someone verify how it comes off? I do think I need to lubricate the pivot points and the whole process would be much easier if I could get at it from the front. I do agree with Firefly though that I should continue to adjust them from the rear, especially since I can now see that the phillips head on the adjusters is also worn badly.

Thanks again for being so supportive. And many thanks to Firefly for actually offering to send me parts of your spares. You obviously have the spares for a reason, so I'd feel bad asking you to do that, and if it came to that, I would certainly want to compensate you for the parts.

 

[NancysToy]

Your shop manual will have a section telling how to remove all of the body panels...and also the headlight assemblies if you wish. Expand the "Chassis" section and look in the "Body" tab. for the panel instructions.

 

[AZ Desert Spyder]

Found it. Thanks! I guess I didn't think of body panels as being part of the Chassis! pps:

 

[Firefly]

After a test ride last night, the lights are still a bit low. It's going to be 109 degrees again today so I doubt I'll work on it today, but then it's finally supposed to be dropping down to 99 Friday and thru the weekend so that will give me an opportunity to really work this issue. I wanted to take the tupperware off as Billybovine suggested, but I wasn't sure how it comes off. I see 2 screws up front, but then it looks like the rest just snaps into place. I tried prying it loose with a screwdriver, but it didn't seem to want to come apart and I didn't want to risk breaking it. I can't find any information in the owners manual or in the service manual which I just purchased to removing it. Can someone verify how it comes off? I do think I need to lubricate the pivot points and the whole process would be much easier if I could get at it from the front. I do agree with Firefly though that I should continue to adjust them from the rear, especially since I can now see that the phillips head on the adjusters is also worn badly.

Thanks again for being so supportive. And many thanks to Firefly for actually offering to send me parts of your spares. You obviously have the spares for a reason, so I'd feel bad asking you to do that, and if it came to that, I would certainly want to compensate you for the parts.

No problem bro---- If you need them you need them--- no big deal to me... I pick up spare parts for when they are needed--- not just by me. At the very least I can send you one of my light fixtures to play with so you can see exactly how it 'should' work.... just lemme know.....

Not sure I'd mess with putting lube on the pivot areas. They should not need lube. Your main problem is that adjustment screw not being in the front plate like the others.

 

[WackyDan]

That Firefly guy is funny looking.

Thanks again for being so supportive. And many thanks to Firefly for actually offering to send me parts of your spares. You obviously have the spares for a reason, so I'd feel bad asking you to do that, and if it came to that, I would certainly want to compensate you for the parts.

Dan(Firefly) is BRP's secret secondary supply chain in the U.S. I don't know of many other Spyder Lovers that stock the parts he does either as purposed spares or stuff he's unbolted for mods. He is a stand up guy, generous, and funny if a bit funny looking. I'm still using the bead riders he sent me last year when I was unemployed. His personal generosity with things like that has caused many of us to pay it forward and make this little community of ours all the better.

 

[AZ Desert Spyder]

Another update

Ok. I tore the front end down today and saw exactly what I was up against. As expected, the dealer gave me bogus info. There's nothing stripped. But as I mentioned before, the bolt has popped out of the locking mechanism that connects it to the frame. The white plastic part was apparently missing before, but now the black plastic on the back side is also gone, so there's a hole about the size of a penny. I suppose I might be able to jury rig something to replace the pieces, but I probably should really replace them with stock parts. I looked for the parts on the BRP web-site, but it appears they don't sell those parts separately. I've checked Craigslist for used parts, but didn't have any luck. There must be some Spyders out there that have burned or crashed and have spare parts available. Does anybody know where I can find used parts?:dontknow:

Firefly - Again, I really appreciate your offer, but I hate to cannibalize a perfectly good headlight fixture. I have managed to adjust the headlights from the back side for now and hopefully they won't stray, but I do want to fix them for future adjustments and in case I ever do sell the Spyder so I am hoping to find spare parts. I actually should replace the screws too because both of them have the phillips end rounded out to the point that a screwdriver won't work any more. Since you are a master at collecting parts, maybe you know where I might find some salvaged parts?

 

[Firefly]

Ok. I tore the front end down today and saw exactly what I was up against. As expected, the dealer gave me bogus info. There's nothing stripped. But as I mentioned before, the bolt has popped out of the locking mechanism that connects it to the frame. The white plastic part was apparently missing before, but now the black plastic on the back side is also gone, so there's a hole about the size of a penny. I suppose I might be able to jury rig something to replace the pieces, but I probably should really replace them with stock parts. I looked for the parts on the BRP web-site, but it appears they don't sell those parts separately. I've checked Craigslist for used parts, but didn't have any luck. There must be some Spyders out there that have burned or crashed and have spare parts available. Does anybody know where I can find used parts?:dontknow:

Firefly - Again, I really appreciate your offer, but I hate to cannibalize a perfectly good headlight fixture. I have managed to adjust the headlights from the back side for now and hopefully they won't stray, but I do want to fix them for future adjustments and in case I ever do sell the Spyder so I am hoping to find spare parts. I actually should replace the screws too because both of them have the phillips end rounded out to the point that a screwdriver won't work any more. Since you are a master at collecting parts, maybe you know where I might find some salvaged parts?

\

Just send me a PM with your address and tell me which side you want.... You can steal parts off it-- or swap the whole unit and just send me your bad one back. For what I'm doing with them it really doesn't matter if they are operational......

Seriously--- I really only need to have one headlight fixture to complete my mad scientist project....... so contact me and I'll send it out Monday...

 

[AZ Desert Spyder]

Problem resolved!!!

Well, I finally had time this past weekend to tear my Spyder down enough to completely remove both headlight assemblies. It's a bit scary having so much of the bike scattered all over the garage, but I kept a log of each step of disassembly and how many screws and snaps were involved with each step so I could reverse the process putting it back together and hopefully not have any parts leftover! Thanks to the unit sent to me by Firefly, I was able to see exactly how the unit was made and what needed to be replaced. But in the end, rather than tear parts off the headlight assembly Firefly so generously sent me, I was able to create my own fix using a couple of new phillips pan head screws, some washers, and a couple of nylock nuts. So not only is my problem fixed, but it's really even better than new. The screws I used have a much deeper head so it would be nearly impossible to round out the head. Everything is back together and working great!
hyea:
Thanks again Firefly. I'll be returning your headlight assembly to you this week! I hope some day I can find a way to repay you. If nothing else maybe I can at least "pay forward" some day by helping another Spyder friend in some way!:thumbup: