H-3 HID Help- Feedback

[murray]

I need feed back re H-3 bulb stabilization. I am installing a Xzenon depot H-3 Kit.

Picture # 1 - Bulb placed in socket without support, As you can see the problem is no lateral support ,centering. Lack of bulb depth control.
Picture # 2 - Back of bulb with Z clip modified for support. The clip bifurcates the 2 wire ends. My concern is the clip possibly wearing the wire.
I will use additional wire cushion for protection from clip ( elec tape )
Picture # 3 - Front view with clip.
Picture # 4 - Oblique view with bulb debth check.

Question have others used the modified Z clip support method ?
Does it appear the bulb should seat deeper into the metal top ? (
I may have to install the stock bulb to check for proper depth placement.












9

[PATTERSON]

That big chunk of black plastic needs to come off the bulb.......all that is is for support for shipping. Toss it, and the bulb should fit fine in the back of the headlight housing, then you can close up your wire clips to keep the bulb in place.
After looking at your pictures a 2nd and a 3rd time though, I'm beginning to wonder.........that bulb sure looks different than anything I've seen previously......must bulb bases have 3 little wings that stick out at the sides, .....those should go into slots in the bulb holder at the back of the housing. Have you modified this thing?

[murray]

That big chunk of black plastic needs to come off the bulb.......all that is is for support for shipping. Toss it, and the bulb should fit fine in the back of the headlight housing, then you can close up your wire clips to keep the bulb in place.
After looking at your pictures a 2nd and a 3rd time though, I'm beginning to wonder.........that bulb sure looks different than anything I've seen previously......must bulb bases have 3 little wings that stick out at the sides, .....those should go into slots in the bulb holder at the back of the housing. Have you modified this thing?
Patterson thanks for the reply . I should note this is the H-3 high beam bulb for a 2002 LT.
The black piece is part of the stock bulb housing.

[dronning]

Could you post a pic of the bulb alone as it came from the mfg. - something doesn't look right.

Dave

[zippy_gg]

Patterson thanks for the reply . I should note this is the H-3 high beam bulb for a 2002 LT.
The black piece is part of the stock bulb housing.Pete, I had the same problem with my H3 kit from CQ-light. I had to remove quite a bit of that plastic off the holder to allow the bulb connector to go through. I wish I had taken pictures as quite a few folks run into that issue.
The next goal is to allow the new bulb to be seated all the way down in the metal piece. To be sure it was in the right place I compared with the stock bulb. I think I had to bend at least one of the tabs in the metal piece to allow the HID bulb to go all the way down.
Confused yet? Like I said I wish I had taken pictures but I was too frustrated and wanted to finish the job and put the bike back together.
I hope this helps a teeny bit.

[murray]

Could you post a pic of the bulb alone as it came from the mfg. - something doesn't look right.

Dave
Dave thanks for the help . Here are 2 pictures of the bulb.
Does it look like a H-3 to you guys

[murray]

Pete, I had the same problem with my H3 kit from CQ-light. I had to remove quite a bit of that plastic off the holder to allow the bulb connector to go through. I wish I had taken pictures as quite a few folks run into that issue.
The next goal is to allow the new bulb to be seated all the way down in the metal piece. To be sure it was in the right place I compared with the stock bulb. I think I had to bend at least one of the tabs in the metal piece to allow the HID bulb to go all the way down.
Confused yet? Like I said I wish I had taken pictures but I was too frustrated and wanted to finish the job and put the bike back together.
I hope this helps a teeny bit.
Gilles thanks for the feedback. Thankfully not confused.
I will also check the stock H-3 bulb for depth comparison.

[zippy_gg]

Dave thanks for the help . Here are 2 pictures of the bulb.
Does it look like a H-3 to you guysYes Pete, that is the right bulb.

[murray]

Yes Pete, that is the right bulb.
Thanks ! The little B>^*&^d is in glad I am done with this.
Now I have 2 more ballast to find a place for my PHID driving lights. Gone are the Piaa 910 ' S . Up for sale or I may mount on the truck..

[airborneod]

I had the same issue. I had a real difficult time getting the bulb to stay in place. Make sure your tabs are lined up and the bulb base flat against the tabs. Once I got that to happen I filled the entire back part of the assembly with silicone. Knowing the legnth of the bulb life I doubt I will ever need to replace it.

[Rick-L]

Other than silicon, what has anyone else used to keep the H3 HID bulb in place on the pre-'05 KLT? What's the preferred method?

I'm in the middle of the upgrade now and am weighing my options... Thinking maybe an old spark plug boot type rubber piece, maybe some fiberglass insulation... Looks like modifying the Z-shaped spring would still interfere with the supply wires for the bulb.

Advice/ideas?

Thanks in advance,
Rick

[JCarver]

John R and I did my HID install today and ran into a similar problem. I cut the metal spring clip out of the bulb holder with a dremel tool. This allowed it to go back in behind the bulb and then the larger spring clip held the bulb holder in place. It took some doing, but all seemed to have worked fine except for one weird item. My high bean is a vertical beam, think I may have to rotate the bulb 90 degrees. Anyone else have that problem, vertical high beam?

tia
John

[Rick-L]

Mine is vertical. I'm sure I got it in right too. The low beam still covers the sides fine but man oh man can I see straight down the road with the high! The pavement lights up from directly in front of me, I can see for miles ahead, even check for wildlife in the treetops. Took a while to get used to but I like it now.

[murray]

For those with LT'S prior to 2005 here is what I finally used to secure my H-3 bulb.Purchased Line Tape at the Home Depot in the electrical section. I wrapped the H-3 bulb in line tape and slid the bulb in the plastic housing. Very secure wire clip not required.

[Steve_R]

John, Look at the high beam reflector in the headlight assembly. You will notice that it is vertical in height. My high beam is vertical also. Ridden many a mile with it that way and I don't find it an issue. YMMV

[kevincook]

OK, I just installed my HID lights and my high beam is horizontal. What did I do wrong?

The high beam shines a beam that is very wide but does not project down the road very far.

I have to look at it again tonight. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Kevin

[jers99lt]

I believe that the round, metal retaining piece, that has a slotted groove to mate with the black plastic housing of the H-3 bulb, needs to be oriented correctly with the bulb. As I recall, there's two notches on the metal housing of the bulb and the rounded notch needs to line up with the finger of the metal retaining piece that is pointing inward. It's seemed like that was the only position that the bulb seated flush with all the retaining piece's fingers.
I should have taken pictures, but once I finally got it right, I just wanted to get it all put back together.
Jer

[JCarver]

OK, I just installed my HID lights and my high beam is horizontal. What did I do wrong?

The high beam shines a beam that is very wide but does not project down the road very far.

I have to look at it again tonight. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Kevin


Kevin:

When you open that up, please note where the bulb is and what position it is in. Reason I ask, I'd like to see what the horizontal beam looks like as mine is quite vertical. Like a prior poster stated, I agree that it is the position of the bulb, that it is not in the two notches. I had to cut off all of the metal on the clip that holds the bulb in, but did not alter the spring clip that holds the bulb clip in place. Dremel tool with a cutting wheel did the trick.

hth
John C

[kevincook]

I took the whole front assembly off again last night and removed the bulb to inspect it. The bulb is aligned with the two notches and the metal part of the bulb holder only fits on the plastic part one way so I'm sure that is correct. The whole assembly only fits in one way.

The high beam doesn't light up the road very far away but it sure does brighten everything up close and to the sides. I think I might try it this way for a while and see if I like it. I don't feel like removing all the tupperware again tonight. :(

I would like the ability to light the road up further ahead but a lot of people said it is so far down the road that they can't use it very often.

I'll try to take a picture of the bulb position in the headlight when I get home.

If anyone knows what might be different with my setup please let me know.

Thanks,
Kevin

[airborneod]

My low beam projects a vertical beam and my high beam goes horizontal. I know both are installed correct I bought these from CQ when they first came out...as a matter of fact I was the one that let everyone know about CQ. I can ride with both of them on and dont get flashed...Sounds like a few of you have the same issues.

[kevincook]

My low beam projects a vertical beam and my high beam goes horizontal. I know both are installed correct I bought these from CQ when they first came out...as a matter of fact I was the one that let everyone know about CQ. I can ride with both of them on and dont get flashed...Sounds like a few of you have the same issues.


Mine are the same way. I'm glad that I am not the only one. It seems to me that I should get flashed if my high beam is on though.

Kevin

[RaffyK]

Seems there is a problem. If you can ride with your hi beam on and not get flashed, the beam pattern is wrong.

I always got flashed when the high beam was on. The high beam should toss a tight light about 1/4-1/2 mile out. It will also be 'higher' since it has to 'travel' further forward.