Headlight and running light bulb replacement question

RAG · 08-31-2015, 05:36 PM

Hey Guys,

Front headlight went out. Don't like the visability at night with the standard headlight and running lights. I am going to switch out my headlight bulb to the Sylvania Ultra Silverstar H4 replacement bulb. I am also going to change the running lights to the Sylvania Ultra Silverstar H3 55 watt bulbs.

In doing this are these lights just direct replacements (headlight bulb says it is) or do I need to do anything different from just taking old ones out and putting new ones in?

Thanks for the help

**cnc** · 08-31-2015, 06:09 PM

By running lights I presume you mean hyway lights, cause the standard running lights are 1157 in the front turn/ running light, 1156 in the rear turn and 1157 in the brake/ running light.
For the hyway lights, if it is a h3 in there now it should be a plug and play for the replacement you are wanting to put in.

Vulcan Bill · 08-31-2015, 10:08 PM

If you haven't bought the Sylvania bulb yet consider the Osram Nightbreaker bulbs instead. The sylvanias don;t last because of the additional heat generated from the higher wattage bulb. Mine burned out in 4 months, both beams, leaving me to drive a 25 mile ride home from work at midnight with no headlight. (Yes, I carry an extra bulb now!)
The Osram's are OEM wattage but produce much more light than OEM and its a much whiter light. The first time I used mine it actually made me say WOW!
Just my 2 cents....
Heres a link
http://www.amazon.com/OSRAM-Night-Br...reaker+plus+h4

Tearitupfixitrepeat · 08-31-2015, 10:56 PM

You need an find insert to run H3 in your spotlight bucket. I had some Adjures that fit but not all do. Finding a 55 Watt sealed beam is relatively east though.

RAG · 09-01-2015, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan Bill

If you haven't bought the Sylvania bulb yet consider the Osram Nightbreaker bulbs instead. The sylvanias don;t last because of the additional heat generated from the higher wattage bulb. Mine burned out in 4 months, both beams, leaving me to drive a 25 mile ride home from work at midnight with no headlight. (Yes, I carry an extra bulb now!)
The Osram's are OEM wattage but produce much more light than OEM and its a much whiter light. The first time I used mine it actually made me say WOW!
Just my 2 cents....
Heres a link
http://www.amazon.com/OSRAM-Night-Br...reaker+plus+h4

Thanks for the info on the Osram Nightbreaker. I think I am going to go with that. For my highway lights I have the Wagner 4449 sealed beam lights. Is there a white light replacement for these? I don't want to have a white headlight and yellow highway lights if I don't have to. The bottom line is better night visibility so I will do whatever is best for that.

Thanks

hammer · 09-01-2015, 12:25 PM

Good catch, thanks Bill. It's on my list for winter updates.

dogdoc · 09-05-2015, 01:14 PM

Hey Bill will that bulb you were talking about above fit my 1600cc Nomad '05?? Do you need 1 bulb(I see you buy 2 on Amazon, so 1 is spare?) or is that bulb you mentioned a hi/lo bulb? if so thats a good price. Thanks

Vulcan Bill · 09-06-2015, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogdoc

Hey Bill will that bulb you were talking about above fit my 1600cc Nomad '05?? Do you need 1 bulb(I see you buy 2 on Amazon, so 1 is spare?) or is that bulb you mentioned a hi/lo bulb? if so thats a good price. Thanks

Yes to all. It fits, it's a two element hi/low bulb, they come 2 to a pak and yes, that is a good price. I paid $33 for mine and had to wait for it to ship from Germany.

RiseLikeRa · 09-06-2015, 10:39 AM

I know exactly what you are talking about when you say that you don't want a white headlight and yellow passing lights. Unless you are using the same manufacturer the balance is very hard to create. Trial and error will get you the results and night vision that you want. I have a box full of great Wagner bulbs that I bought. Even though they give great light I ended up going LED and I am 90% happy. The lost 10% is the reduced visibility of the LED lights during daylight hours. At the right/or should I say wrong angle it may look like the lights are dim or off. At night with Bambi running toward the road from your blind side those LED lights are worth a million dollars. Now you can see clearly what was in the shadows with regular bulbs.

My 2 cents
Ra

Vulcan Bill · 09-06-2015, 06:21 PM

What all is involved with going to an LED headlight? Is it just a matter of switching bulbs or do you have to add some electronics too.

RiseLikeRa · 09-06-2015, 11:31 PM

I have seen guys that report switching to an LED bulb. Pretty much plug and play with no extra electrical things to do. The results vary depending on replacement bulb chosen and most importantly, the headlight housing. Some housings throw or reflect the light outward much better than others.

The Harley style LED bulbs are bright as hell and still plug and play. You will need an adapter to mount the light in our bucket. The results are wonderful, the price, from $169-$700 per headlight can be at big stop sign.

I went with the Truck Lite LED phase 7 bulb.

Ra

08-31-2015, 05:36 PM	#1
RAG Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 59	Headlight and running light bulb replacement question Hey Guys, Front headlight went out. Don't like the visability at night with the standard headlight and running lights. I am going to switch out my headlight bulb to the Sylvania Ultra Silverstar H4 replacement bulb. I am also going to change the running lights to the Sylvania Ultra Silverstar H3 55 watt bulbs. In doing this are these lights just direct replacements (headlight bulb says it is) or do I need to do anything different from just taking old ones out and putting new ones in? Thanks for the help __________________ 2001 Vulcan 1500 Nomad FI Chucksters Intake, left side clean TFI, Cobra headers with fishtail mufflers Original Thunder monster baffles in header Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

08-31-2015, 06:09 PM	#2
cnc Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal QC Posts: 12,034	By running lights I presume you mean hyway lights, cause the standard running lights are 1157 in the front turn/ running light, 1156 in the rear turn and 1157 in the brake/ running light. For the hyway lights, if it is a h3 in there now it should be a plug and play for the replacement you are wanting to put in. __________________ Norm Ward 2008 blue / silver nomad kawanow / VBA #01136
	0

08-31-2015, 10:08 PM	#3
Vulcan Bill Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Mesa Az Posts: 1,400	If you haven't bought the Sylvania bulb yet consider the Osram Nightbreaker bulbs instead. The sylvanias don;t last because of the additional heat generated from the higher wattage bulb. Mine burned out in 4 months, both beams, leaving me to drive a 25 mile ride home from work at midnight with no headlight. (Yes, I carry an extra bulb now!) The Osram's are OEM wattage but produce much more light than OEM and its a much whiter light. The first time I used mine it actually made me say WOW! Just my 2 cents.... Heres a link http://www.amazon.com/OSRAM-Night-Br...reaker+plus+h4 __________________ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- '05 1600CL. Originator 18" Harley wheel mod, Dobeck TFI, True Duals, Mutazu hardbags, Flanders handlebars n' a bunch more. *Sometimes I miss the good ol' days but most times I'm just glad I survived them*
	0

09-01-2015, 12:25 PM	#6
hammer Sr. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,329	Good catch, thanks Bill. It's on my list for winter updates. __________________ Hammer aka CrocHammer KawaNow#00988, VROC#26389, VR#2202 Abbotsford, BC, Canada 2006 Black Nomad
	0

09-05-2015, 01:14 PM	#7
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Hey Bill will that bulb you were talking about above fit my 1600cc Nomad '05?? Do you need 1 bulb(I see you buy 2 on Amazon, so 1 is spare?) or is that bulb you mentioned a hi/lo bulb? if so thats a good price. Thanks Last edited by dogdoc; 09-05-2015 at 04:04 PM.
	0

08-31-2015, 10:56 PM	#4
Tearitupfixitrepeat Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 87	You need an find insert to run H3 in your spotlight bucket. I had some Adjures that fit but not all do. Finding a 55 Watt sealed beam is relatively east though.
	0

09-06-2015, 10:39 AM	#9
RiseLikeRa Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Pawling, NY Posts: 186	I know exactly what you are talking about when you say that you don't want a white headlight and yellow passing lights. Unless you are using the same manufacturer the balance is very hard to create. Trial and error will get you the results and night vision that you want. I have a box full of great Wagner bulbs that I bought. Even though they give great light I ended up going LED and I am 90% happy. The lost 10% is the reduced visibility of the LED lights during daylight hours. At the right/or should I say wrong angle it may look like the lights are dim or off. At night with Bambi running toward the road from your blind side those LED lights are worth a million dollars. Now you can see clearly what was in the shadows with regular bulbs. My 2 cents Ra
	0

09-06-2015, 06:21 PM	#10
Vulcan Bill Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Mesa Az Posts: 1,400	What all is involved with going to an LED headlight? Is it just a matter of switching bulbs or do you have to add some electronics too. __________________ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- '05 1600CL. Originator 18" Harley wheel mod, Dobeck TFI, True Duals, Mutazu hardbags, Flanders handlebars n' a bunch more. *Sometimes I miss the good ol' days but most times I'm just glad I survived them*
	0

09-06-2015, 11:31 PM	#11
RiseLikeRa Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Pawling, NY Posts: 186	I have seen guys that report switching to an LED bulb. Pretty much plug and play with no extra electrical things to do. The results vary depending on replacement bulb chosen and most importantly, the headlight housing. Some housings throw or reflect the light outward much better than others. The Harley style LED bulbs are bright as hell and still plug and play. You will need an adapter to mount the light in our bucket. The results are wonderful, the price, from $169-$700 per headlight can be at big stop sign. I went with the Truck Lite LED phase 7 bulb. Ra
	0