Cobra Lightbar for '05 Nomad...Got er dun....

[trip]

Well,
Finally bit the bullet today and purchased a Cobra light bar and lights for my 05 Nomad.

I've tried other front lighting systems, but haven't been happy so far. The Fire & Steel light bar that Kawasaki makes just didn't look that good to me, so I opted for the Cobra.

I'll be installing it myself, so I was wondering if there is anyone else on the forum that has installed a Cobra light bar on their '05 - '08 Nomad?

Any got-cha's? How did you hook your lights up and were the blinker lights easy to re-install?

Trip

[Top Cat]

Hey Trip, I put the cobra on my 07. Did it by the instructions "wiring up driving lights"on Gadgets. Put it on its own fused circuit. Hid the fuse and relay behind the cover where the toolkit used to be. If I can do it anybody can.
I hate to admit this but when I first took the bar out of the package I couldn't figure for the life of me how it would fit on the bike. I thought they sent the wrong one. Finally had to ask Cindy for help. I thought it came ready to hook up but it seems you have to turn the lights around :-[ It comes shipped with the lights facing backwards ::)

[trip]

Thanks for that info TC....when I get it, I'll keep that in mind.

[trip]

TC,
Were the blinker lights easy to take off the old bar and install on the new?

Trip

[tomk]

It's been a while since I intalled mine but if I remember correctly, the removal was easy. Cobra's instructions direct you to install the aluminum adapters into your turn signal light housings before you fasten them to the new light bar.

I ended up taking them back off because the threads on the adapter were too tight to tighten the nut that secures the light adapter to the new light bar. The turn signal housing started to crack. I ended up attaching the adapters to the light bar first, then I attached the lights. I should have test fit the nuts onto the adapters first but I thought they could get that right.

[Top Cat]

It's been awhile for me also but I don't remember having any problem at all with the turn signals.
On another note, I didn't solder any thing or use connectors. I just made a bare spot in the wires and twisted them together. I then covered them with electrical tape. I know this is not the prefered way but I have had no problems as of yet.
Trip, did you get bulbs or sealed beam lights? The reason I ask is I had a bulb blow on mine twice. I finaly figured out it was getting condensation in the housing. I put silicone seal around the reflector the last time and no problem since.

[vroc13091]

Trip,

I'm installing mine tomorrow. I'll let you know if I run into and gotchas

[trip]

Trip,

I'm installing mine tomorrow. I'll let you know if I run into and gotchas

Thanks guys....and thank you txcwdancer......

[beezer]

Where's Doc when you need him? His is an '05 as well. I thought he'd chime in and help out but he's probably working BD's tire machine.
I always liked the lightbars. They seem to really make the bike pop. How much did you find it for Trip?

[trip]

I got it off of ebay for 215.00....I think there's one or two more for the same price Beez.

[dkdixie]

Well,
Finally bit the bullet today and purchased a Cobra light bar and lights for my 05 Nomad.

I've tried other front lighting systems, but haven't been happy so far. The Fire & Steel light bar that Kawasaki makes just didn't look that good to me, so I opted for the Cobra.

I'll be installing it myself, so I was wondering if there is anyone else on the forum that has installed a Cobra light bar on their '05 - '08 Nomad?

Any got-cha's? How did you hook your lights up and were the blinker lights easy to re-install?

Trip

Are you going to sell the Kuryakyn Silver Bullets you had installed? If so, let me know, might be interested

[coldfingers]

thats pretty good trip, I had the dealer put the same bar on mine and they got 350 installed.

[vroc13091]

Hey Trip,

Here is low down what I ran into when I installed the Cobra Lightbar on my 2008 Nomad. Overall pretty simple and straight forward. Nothing an average individual with minimal tools couldn't handle.

I had one screw that was seized and had to get a couple of longer bolts for the bottom mount as the bar was a little to wide for the stock bolt to get a good bite.

Otherwise it was a piece of cake.


Unpacking:
1) That vacuum seal on the skin pack is like super glue but with diligence you can get it off.
2) The lights are shipped mounted 180 degrees form their normal position and need to be rotated.

Disassemble:
1) To save time on assembly, before disconnecting the turn signal wires in the headlight bucket, label the group either the left or right because the color wire codes in the instructions didn't match my '08 except for the ground which is black/yellow.
2) Instructions say to remove the spacer & grommet from the left side and reinstall to hold the brake hose bracket. I did the right side also. This way the hardware will not get lost in case I want to mount something under the headlight like maybe a LED Garage door opener.
3) To keep from stripping the Phillips head screw on one of the turn signals, I had to put the turn signal bar in a vise and use an impact tool to remove the Phillips screw that was holding the turn signal unit.

Assembly:
1) Assemble the turn signals on to the supplied stand off before mounting stand off to the light bar.
2) It is better to run the wires to connect the lights to the switch before mounting on the bike.
2) Mounting the light bar can be done by yourself but it helps to have someone to hold it

Mounting:
I remove the Lowers brackets completely. Then starting with the top hole mounted the lightbar with the lowers bracket one at a time.

For the bottom I had to purchase a longer bolt because the light bar was to wide. I didn't want to attempt to bend it in a vise. Instead I just took up the slack by tightening down the longer bolt.

The bolt was a hex flanged head M8-1.25 X 20. Picked it up from Lowes.

Once it was mounted and re-formed the light bar flange, I probably could have used the original bolt but since it was mostly hid from view by the light bar I just left them there.

It also helps to have an offset phillips screwdriver to reassemble the headlight. An alternative is to loose the lightbar lamps and temporarily rotate them forward to use a regular or stubby phillips.

All in all a relatively uncomplicated installation.

Good luck with yours.

[trip]

Thanks for the detailed explanation Chuck....Once I receive the light bar, I'll be referring back to help in the installation.

Trip

[beezer]

Doc's got one but his brother put it on for him