Headlight aim By bobf (Read 2,334 times)

[bobf]

Yesterday I was in my car and followed by a neighbor on a nice looking Harley. His left head light stood quite bright in my mirror but the right head light was pointed somewhere but not the same as his left.

So when I got home later I turned on my headlights of my MC 54 250B, and on the wall about 10 feet away I had a bright high beam left showing on the wall but the right was lower and right a bit. Retried that with the low beam headlights and it also showed the same. Left was lower than the high beam and the right was even lower and a bit to the right.

Are head lights adjustable? Is there a spec to be used? Not sure if what I have is appropriate or not.

I am sure there must be some opinions on this. Would like to hear them. Also, if there is a spec of some sort I would like to see that also.

I remember when auto headlights were required to fit a particular pattern and they were tested in annual safety tests. Now there doesn't seem to be any safety test and only a clean air test, if any.

Are motor cycles and scooters free of any headlight rules also?
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[turtle8]

I've never been pleased with my Chinese scooter headlights. They were awful on my 150cc. On my 250B, the left is higher and brighter than the right. I think there is an adjustment, but it looks like you'd have to take the front off to get to it.

[Bashan]

I talked to about a half dozen cops about laws regarding headlights on motorcycles. I got a different answer from each one. The only thing in coomon with their answers was that you had to have one. Apparently that's not a high priority with them as long as you're not acting like an idiot. I Googled "motorcycle headlight laws Alabama" and got a non-police website run by the AMA. Next to the headlight required line was a checkmark, that was it.

On my wife's Bashan there is a couple screws you can use to adjust the headlights but you have to take the front cowling off. Then, it's about the cheesiest system you've ever seen, it's really laughable. If you turn the screws very much the plastic breaks. There's one for up and down, and then two threaded posts on each side for lateral adjustments; I just leave them alone for fear of cracking the plastic. My Pegasus has a sturdy looking screw that you can access by sticking a screwdriver through a port on the front. The light seems to be right where it should be so I've just let it be. I bet if your headlight hit a cop in the eye he could easily use it as an excuse to pull you over if he wanted to. I think that's reason enough to at least get them in the ballpark. Rich

[bobf]

From your comments it seems that there must not be a specification to be met. Hard to believe but really possible. Maybe I should check into a couple of scooter and MC shops this week. If none I would guess that I should set the bright beams first, direct ahead and not up, maybe a few degrees below level, and keep right of the center line of the road. You do not want to shine on the stars or moon. Your intent is to see the road as far away as possible to see obstructions or other dangers like critters. Then the lower beams would just have to be where they end up.

Thanks for those comments. I hope there really is some spec to explain the settings. If I find one I will post here.
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[jct842]

some of the cheap bulbs have too much difference between low beam and high beam. what I do is get it in the ball park then go out on a deserted road and adjust going back and forth between high and low. then see of any one is winking at you on city streets. my 150 has a bulb more suited to a 50 as you can out run it on the highway at best it is just barily good enough. I bought a whole box of bulbs on ebay for about what 2 cost at a online scooter dealer. Unless it would be an emergency I do not intend any night riding with it anyway. I have 2 other scooters with better lights. john

[Hammerspur]

As I recall from many moons ago the best method to aim motorcycle (or scooter) headlights goes like this:

-- Have someone measure the distance with rider aboard from center of headlight to ground.

-- Make a mark with tape or ? on a perpendicular wall at that height.

-- Measure 20 feet away from wall and mark spot.

-- Drive straight and square at wall stopping at 20ft. mark

-- With rider's weight on machine, beams on high, adjust right/left aim to center on wall marking and up/down likewise... should put the low beam right where it's supposed to be.

---

Of course you'll need to locate the adjusters first.
In the case of my E-Ton R4 that would be adjus-'TER' as there is no provision for side to side, elevation only.

Guess that's to make sure one doesn't permanently damage the eyesight of oncoming drivers with that intense beacon of light produced! ;D

[bobf]

Well, I have not adjusted the lights yet, but I did do some investigating. I can put my hands up from underneath and I found this.

On the left side, drivers left, I can feel the back of the lamp housing and I can push the one side toward the front. The left side is somehow mounted on a long rod that can swing the light housing. The center part is free.

On the right hand side I can feel the light housing but I can not move it at all. There also the lamp seems to have a rod that swings the lamp on the outside but the center doesn't and it is not free.

Sort of like maybe a adjuster screw is missing on the left side. Unfortunately the Rocketa Assembly drawings give no detail on the headlight assembly. Just a name and price.

This all sounds like one of those winter jobs. At least in Arizona I will be able to do it outside and not freeze to death like in Colorado.

Was wondering too, if coming up from underneath would be a good way to adjust the lights with the ratchet wrench. If the adjustment screw is missing I hope I can get an equivalent screw, and maybe spring, at the hardware store. Oh dog gone it, this may take me into a tear down situation.