Headlamp reflectors misaligned

[crazykz]

Hey All,

Well during this past summer I managed to move one of the headlamp reflectors while I was putting in a new bulb. Now the right reflector is pointed lower than the left and it drives me nuts when I see it at night. At first someone suggested that the bulb may not be seated correctly but after removing the headlamp assembly you can see that right reflector is pointed down slightly more than the left.

Now the question is how do I get it back to where it should be. I'm afraid to pop the housing apart because I may not be able to get it back together.

Anyone tried to pull this thing apart? Suggestions?

Curt

 

[crazykz]

Well you don't have to take it apart. In fact it would be very difficult to take it apart. Their is a gray maluble gasket all the way around the two pieces that have been pressed together. There are then catches all the way around. It is hard to get any of these to release because the gasket holds the two pieces together. They will also deform and break easily.

The answer to adjusting the vertical placement of the left or right reflector housings individually is by using the two adjustments on each side of the drain/vent that is located on the bottom back of the assembly. I've attached a picture to show this. These bolts are not covered in the manual. Turning the bolt clockwise will aim the corresponding reflector down and counter-clockwise will raise it up. These bolts are attached I believe to a hinged plate that is spring loaded although I cannot see it. You can see from the picture that the reflectors are much closer vertically now than they were in the previous post.

There is another adjustment screw behind a rubber nipple just to the right of the vertical adjustment motor screw. This screw seems to hold the upper part of the mounting bracket that screws the reflector housings in place. This screw is at the top of this bracket with individual vertical adjuster screws are at the bottom of this bracket. However that doesn't quite make sense since the housings can be adjusted separately so I'm not quite sure what this one screw actually does as it doesn't seem to move the reflectors.

My right reflector housing had some how made the individual adjustment slip while I was putting in a bulb. I felt it move when I did it and didn't know how I was going to fix it. Some people have had problems with bulbs not seating correctly so before you adjust this you should make sure that the bulb itself is not out of place. The adjustment is easy and you can look at the lines on the reflector housing to get them lined up. Once it's on the bike you can use your favorite headlamp adjustment process.

I'm surprised that the manual doesn't mention these other screws but now we know what they are for. At least 2 out of the 3. Hope this helps someone in the future.

Curt

It seems that the image upload is corrupting images in the database so I'll put a link to the picture on my website.

 

[RaYzerman]

Great find!! My V-Strom had individual adjustments, horizontal and vertical, and I used to put my right lamp a touch higher than my left. I was hoping not to offend oncoming drivers, but still cheat a bit on getting some of the light higher on the right. However, on the ST, those nice white knobs for adjusting horizontal........ I can't find any info anywhere on the proper method to adjust those (or on the V-Strom either). It is very difficult to discern any change when you do.

 

[crazykz]

However, on the ST, those nice white knobs for adjusting horizontal........ I can't find any info anywhere on the proper method to adjust those (or on the V-Strom either). It is very difficult to discern any change when you do.

They are hard to get to when on the bike but if you aim the lights at a flat surface you can tell when you're moving them. I've probably screwed my headlamps up after messing with some of the other adjustments but we'll see once I can get it back on the bike in the spring.

Curt