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What's the deal with headlight aim?

Started by mustangGT90210, July 02, 2012, 08:20:01 PM

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mustangGT90210

Been trying to aim mine for the last 2 hours, and no matter what I do, it's still off center on high beam so bad I light up the lane next to me. What is the proper way to aim the headlight on a '93 GS500? Because I really hope I'm missing something here.

P.S. Since taking apart the headlight, now my brake light doesn't work with the front brake lever. It did before I took the headlight apart. What color wires should I be lookin' for in there to get my answer?
'93 GS - Clubmans - '04 tank/seat - Custom "slip" on - Airtech fender - Drag Specialties speedometer - GSXR drag bike grips - GSXR pegs - Lunchbox - Re-jet - Sold!

-94 GSX-R 750 - Sold

-02 SV650 - Crashed, sold for parts

-96 Bandit 600 - Sold

-93 Intruder 800 - bobbed out basket case,new project

mister

You shouldn't need to Take Apart anything. All headlight adjustments can be done with the headlight still inact. Turning a screw for adjustments left/right, loosening the holding nuts for vertical. See page 6-29 in the owner's manual available here http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Maintenance.Books

Michael
GS Picture Game - Lists of Completed Challenges & Current Challenge http://tinyurl.com/GS500PictureGame and http://tinyurl.com/GS500PictureGameList2

GS500 Round Aust Relay http://tinyurl.com/GS500RoundAustRelay

duffy

Just a bird brain here!!!

iclrag

Quote from: duffy on July 03, 2012, 05:00:52 AM
a license to use tools is needed...
and to use brains as well..

if you don thave a book i would google it, or if you are more confident in your abilities turn the light on and find the screws and start adjusting, may take a few guesses to get it right though.

CrownSeven

Not sure if its the same on bikes, but on some cars, if you turn the headlight adjustment screws too much it can wear out the adjustment mechanism preventing the headlight from moving anymore.  Maybe the previous owner messed it up?


djslowmo

#5
I'm having a problem aiming my high beam as well.  They're both centered fine but on high beam I feel like the light aims too high.  The main horizontally focused beam, on high, is pointing up and off the road and I can't pivot the light down any farther because it's hitting the retaining nuts for the turn signals.  Is there any up/down aiming to be done within the light housing?  I haven't opened up my case or changed the bulb because I haven't had to but is there a possibility for improperly installed bulbs throwing off the aim? 
(I can get some pictures of this tonight against a big wall if need be)

*** I have a 99 GS500E with the stock round headlight ***
1999 GS500E --- K&N lunchbox, Chopped tail with Monster seat, bar end mirrors, usb outlet, integrated taillight,

mustangGT90210

I must have bent brackets holding the light on then, because I hit the up/down adjustment easy, and the side to side screw on the housing I tightened up and it helped a bit but still couldn't center.

Greatttt. I was hoping they weren't even though they looked off. I've never seen another GS500E to compare to
'93 GS - Clubmans - '04 tank/seat - Custom "slip" on - Airtech fender - Drag Specialties speedometer - GSXR drag bike grips - GSXR pegs - Lunchbox - Re-jet - Sold!

-94 GSX-R 750 - Sold

-02 SV650 - Crashed, sold for parts

-96 Bandit 600 - Sold

-93 Intruder 800 - bobbed out basket case,new project

djslowmo

Just answered my own question but figured I'd type it up because I never saw this in the forum. (because the rest of you aren't dumb-dumbs like me)

The up-down aiming of the headlight includes the two main bolts on either side of the main housing but it also includes a third bolt directly behind the right turn signal (10mm).  In my case (on a 1999 GS500E) the two side bolts did not need to be loosened as the third bolt behind the right turn signal is really what is holding the housing in its alignment.  This bolt is fastened by a nut with a retainer plate that keeps it from making full revolutions so you do not need to access this nut to adjust the up down aim of the headlight.  I used a long 10mm socket to reach this bolt but a normal length socket with a small extension would also work.

This fact was not specifically mentioned in the CLYMER guide on aiming the bulb.  I think the guide is actually incorrect in noting the side bolts as being the main/only source of vertical alignment.

I'd let you know now my aim with a tape measure and a wall 10ish feet away worked out but I'm afraid I'm past the legal limit.
It'll have to wait till tomorrow night.   :cheers:
1999 GS500E --- K&N lunchbox, Chopped tail with Monster seat, bar end mirrors, usb outlet, integrated taillight,

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