Cover for LED Headlight Conversion?

MidLife

MidLife

Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
233
Location
Houston, Tx
Bike
2012 ST1300
There are no covers on the back of the LED bulbs on my ST1300, which doesn't seem like a good idea for riding in the rain?

Is there a good solution for sealing this area, like the rubber covers on the back of the OEM bulbs?

On the other hand, not sure how the LED cooling fans would work if the back of the headlight assy is sealed!
 
David Fyffe said:
Minimal water in this area when raining.
I have used LED bulbs for the last 5-6 years with no problem. LED pushes thru the rubber boot, fan sticks out the back.
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Are you using the OEM boot?

We often have inches of water on the road when caught in a downpour here in Houston. With water sometimes splashing up between the dashboad and handlebars, which worries me with these openings.

Also walls of water splashing down when passed by trucks. Cannot always pull over right away.
 
My LEDs separated so I was able to use the OEM rubber seals without modification to them. One half was on either side of the boot. But then I don't ride in the rain. :giggle:
 
I was able to use the OEM boots with my LED's (the now out-of-date-but-cutting-edge-at-the-time F2's) and the fan slightly protruded.
 
ST Gui said:
My LEDs separated so I was able to use the OEM rubber seals without modification to them. One half was on either side of the boot. But then I don't ride in the rain. :giggle:
Click to expand...

I'll check if it is possible here. But the aim and coverage is so good I hate to mess it up.......
 
ST Gui said:
You ain't lyin'. I have a different brand and fastening the bail wire was the only difficult part of the job. And it was difficult.
Click to expand...

This is why I am not looking forwards to tinker with something I didn't install myself and is working very well......

But not liking this open headlight assy.
 
As said, the rubber boots will fit on the LED lamps. I'd guess that a PO did not fit them when he installed the lamps.
 
I did the F2 LED conversion several years ago. Here are a few photos from that install. Other varieties of bulb may be different than what was, at that time, the state-of-the-art LED solution for the ST1300.

P4061732w.jpg


p4061742w.jpg

P4061739w.jpg

P4061736w.jpg

P4061738w.jpg
 
In the photos I posted you can see the fan, at the back of the bulb assembly. It's built into the "base" of the bulb.

Different makes / models of LED may not have them, I dunno. It's been a decade or so since I last looked.
 
At one time a few LEDs used passive cooling in the form of a wire braid acting as a heat sink. I don't recall if Spidey was particularly fond of them. I don't know if that method is still in use.

My ST's and car's LEDs have fans and I never hear them in the times I've had the lights on with the engines off. Maybe I've tuned them out. I can't recall every trying to hear them.
 
Fanless tend to have lower output...... When I installed the F2, first take it apart and install the bulb adapter into the housing. Then, install the rubber boot. Next, the bulb.... the wire and fan stay external..... if you have difficulty keeping the bulb in because the rubber boot pushes back too much, remove boot, shave a bit off the forward part of the small ID and Bob's your uncle.
 
SMSW said:
As said, the rubber boots will fit on the LED lamps. I'd guess that a PO did not fit them when he installed the lamps.
Click to expand...

The PO had the conversion done by a Honda shop! And they tossed the boots.....had to purchase a set.

Am taking the easy route. One of the mechanics at the local Honda shop has converted his 1300 with a set of these bulbs that separates and make it easy to install the boot, as some have described above. I'll let him do the booted install.

Whatever kit he uses also includes the position lights, so these will be done as well.

Thanks!
 
MidLife said:
Am taking the easy route. One of the mechanics at the local Honda shop has converted his 1300 with a set of these bulbs that separates and make it easy to install the boot, as some have described above. I'll let him do the booted install.
Click to expand...
I'd urge you to do this yourself for a couple of reasons. The only obstacle I see is removing the side fairing pieces - the large middle cowls. Replacing the lamps can be done with the fairing intact, but it is much more difficult.

Why do it yourself? I've found that doing my own maintenance is very satisfying and lets me get to know the bike. It is also a learning experience and there are few downsides to that. This is a fairly straightforward task and short of dropping a screw and having it roll under your work bench there are not many things that can go wrong. Doing it yourself is a chance to save some money and given the number of horror stories on this website about botched repairs by Honda trained (or dealer) mechanics I'll only trust one of these fellows AFTER I've seen his work (on someone else's bike). What can a dealer's guy do wrong? He is under some time constraints and might take shortcuts like pulling the fairing out and cracking it or not telling you if he sees evidence of heating at an electrical connector. He might also simply not look around to see if anything is an incipient failure - part of any maintenance procedure.

Edit: Not saying anything about your dealer or mechanic, but the example below is evidence why I distrust dealerships (and my own history of being screwed by my nearby dealer).

A legitimate assassination attempt was made... | ST1300 Related

A bike came in for "trash brakes". What I found is what horror stories are written about. A "dealer special" that the owner complained wouldn't stop worth a darn. Let's take a look... Yes in the first image, the rotor did eat the ENTIRE PAD all the way through the backing. On the passenger...
www.st-owners.com www.st-owners.com
 
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