Article [13] ST1300 - Headlight Bulb Change [VIDEO]

Steve Blair said:
With all due respect...

NOOOO!
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Perhaps you miss my point, an "Article" on this forum simply tags the post so that it's easier to find. I wasn't proposing that the content be changed, simply the "Article [13]" tag added.
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Which Mellow then did.
 
Steve Blair said:
Thank you so much for this.

I stumbled around reading endless text on how to do this...all of it reducing me to a cursing lunatic.

What fuggin tabs on the clips on the plug before turning the wire to the left if you're right handed and push if you not while lifting on the snoozle flugin with you index thumb and be sure to angle the tangle before pulling the tucksit and bending the jiggamthing?

A picture is worth a thousand words. A video is worth ten thousand.

I changed the left years ago. Now it's the right side's turn. This video makes it a 2 minute job as opposed to the previous one that was at least 30 minutes and 2 wrenches through the wall with taunts of damnation for every automotive and motorcycle design engineer who doesn't work on their own machines or have hands the size of Achmed the Dead Terrorist.

Simple, clear, great video. Thanx again.
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Great post, got a laugh of your description. I have had all of those moments.
 
Benson004 said:
I put this video together while I had my bike torn apart. You have to do it blind and by feel, so this is nice to see what you’re actually doing. It’s an easy task once you know what you’re doing, but until then, it can be a struggle! Even the experienced bulb changers may appreciate this!
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Thanks for your video. Can you provide advice or recommendations on going LED. Would to hear everyone's opinion.
Thanks
 
ad.hom said:
Perhaps you miss my point, an "Article" on this forum simply tags the post so that it's easier to find. I wasn't proposing that the content be changed, simply the "Article [13]" tag added.
1618138914377.png
Which Mellow then did.
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Ooops...sorry ad.hom. It's been a number of years since I've been on the site.

You're right. I don't know what is an "Article". I panicked at seeing the post thinking it was simply a manuscript of the video.

As alluded to in my comment, there is enough description of the process where the video shows you how to do it without all the debate and drama. It literally took 3 minutes to swap it out once seeing the grab 'n snap, rubber pull, lefty loosey and reverse to install. End of story, brute easy once you know what it looks like in the dark.
 
That was an excellent video, just finished replacing a blown bulb without any disassembly to the fairing, took 5 minutes with that video running :thumb:
 
Benson004 said:
I put this video together while I had my bike torn apart. You have to do it blind and by feel, so this is nice to see what you’re actually doing. It’s an easy task once you know what you’re doing, but until then, it can be a struggle! Even the experienced bulb changers may appreciate this!
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Excellent! Thanks!
Do you or any of the others on here have a tutorial on headlights not working(other than bulbs needing to be replaced)? Bought my ‘04 in 2019 and the headlights don’t work. I know it’s not an uncommon fault for these but I’ve found no simple answers. Anyone?
 
The excellent video in Post #1 shows how easy it can be.
No more arthritis, cramping, skinned knuckles, or creative vocabulary in the garage or driveway.
Just remove all the cowling, the dash, the headlight nacelle... and voila! It's all right there in front of you, ready for bulb replacement.
And just THINK! of all the cleaning you can do in there.
 
Just replaced the Left headlight, following advice shown in the video. But I wonder if I installed things correctly:

The bail clip didn't feel like it hooked in as far as I thought it should, but it seems to look like what was in the video.

The rubber collar snapped in just fine, but I wonder if the interior seal looks correct.

Would appreciate another set of eyes.

Thanks for any help.
Lt Headlight Rear 1.jpgLt Headlight Rear 2.jpgLt Headlight Rear Rubber Collar 1.jpg
 
JimS said:
Just replaced the Left headlight, following advice shown in the video. But I wonder if I installed things correctly:

The bail clip didn't feel like it hooked in as far as I thought it should, but it seems to look like what was in the video.

The rubber collar snapped in just fine, but I wonder if the interior seal looks correct.

Would appreciate another set of eyes.

Thanks for any help.
Lt Headlight Rear 1.jpgLt Headlight Rear 2.jpgLt Headlight Rear Rubber Collar 1.jpg
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Looks fine. If your bulb doesn't move, you should be good.
 
I don’t suppose it matters but there is a TOP marked on the rubber seals. The tabs end up being at 12 and 6 o’clock.
 
Bulb doesn't move, just concerned it un'bailing' when I'm riding.

I didn't see any orientation markings on the seal, but I put it back the same way it came out, which was indeed at 12 and 6. I want to make sure that inside seal looks like it should. I'm sure it helps keep moisture out.

Even though I own the same year as the OP, my bulb came out with tabs extended, so I didn't bend them on the new bulb. Not quite clear on the relevance, just wonderin'.
 
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JimS said:
Even though I own the same year as the OP, my bulb came out with tabs extended, so I didn't bend them on the new bulb. Not quite clear on the relevance, just wonderin'.
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Either your headlamp had the original configuration bulbs in it, or they were not properly installed if they were automotive H4/9003 bulbs. If the latter is the case, the beam pattern must have been screwed up as well.

If you are installing original equipment style bulbs, nothing needs to be done with the two lower tabs. If you are installing automotive style H4/9003 bulbs, they physically do not fit in the headlamp housing properly unless something is done with the two lower tabs.

Have a look at the below post for an explanation.

Headlight LED -- F2 vs F3 vs NB35 | Lighting / Visibility

Are the F2 bulbs you linked to above plug/play replacements for the stock bulbs? No, not a direct plug and play. The two lower alignment tabs must be cut off so these will fit in to an ST1300 reflector. Other than that very minor detail, the rest is plug and play.
www.st-owners.com www.st-owners.com
 
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Oh, I got it now. The failed bulb is the original and I replaced it with oem. Thanks all for the help.
 
JimS said:
The failed bulb is the original and I replaced it with oem.
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Because of the design of both the ST1100 and ST1300 headlamp assemblies, lighting regulations in North America limit their maximum allowable bulb wattage to 45 watts. This results in underwhelming light output.

If you ride in the dark at all, you should consider upgrading to the new design LED headlamp bulbs that are designed to be a retrofit for halogen headlamp reflectors. The correct design are the subject of several threads on this forum.
 
The video was a useful reminder of every bale-retained H4 variant I have ever changed across multiple Hondas and Yamahas. Thanks for the refresher.

I was able to work my way in from the top, the heli up-and-back bars helped with clearance between the fairing, forks, and triple clamps. The bulbs I put in have a thicker base plate that the bale clamps in place... that took a little more pressure than was comfortable, but it should retain the bulbs even better.

I put in a pair of these guys: Alla Lighting Mini P43t Base FL-BH 12500 Lumens H4/HB2/9003 LED Headlights Bulbs, Dual Hi/Low Beam 90W Xtreme Super Bright 6000K Xenon White Replacement for Cars, Motorcycles https://a.co/g3kpvnA

Definitely a cooler-temperature light than my old 45w/45w Phillips bulbs which were warmer and a bit yellow. Great vertical cutoff on the lights and wider horizontal dispersion and I like them so far.
 
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