My headlamps are out of focus, help!

[Westy_mate]

so i went for a Warrant today, flew through except my headlights were out of focus. Whats the best method to adjust them so they are right? my bike is a Honda CBR 250R MC19 1989.

Thanks in advance

[pete376403]

Its doubtful you can focus the lights - focus is set by the relationship between the bulb and the reflector so unles the bulb has moved in some way, it's as focused as it gets.
What you can adjust is the beam height and side-to-side alignment. Usually there are spring loaded screws, one at the side of the lamp for side-to side adjustment and one at the top or bottom of the lamp for height.

Basically you measure the height of the centre of the lamp from the ground, make a mark on a wall / garage door / etc and adjust the screws so the the high beam "spot" is centred on this mark when the bike is a metre of so away from the wall, vertical, square to the wall, etc.

The dip pattern is also built into the lamp assembly so not independantly adjustable.

(If your bike has dual lamps, and only one of them is low beam there could be a lot more to it - do an online search for a service manual)

Lots of interesing stuff about your bike here (but not about adjusting headlamps)
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/3432766/CBR250-(MC14)-CBR250R-(MC1719)-CBR250RR-(MC22)-Specification-Guide

[Westy_mate]

Its doubtful you can focus the lights - focus is set by the relationship between the bulb and the reflector so unles the bulb has moved in some way, it's as focused as it gets.
What you can adjust is the beam height and side-to-side alignment. Usually there are spring loaded screws, one at the side of the lamp for side-to side adjustment and one at the top or bottom of the lamp for height.

Basically you measure the height of the centre of the lamp from the ground, make a mark on a wall / garage door / etc and adjust the screws so the the high beam "spot" is centred on this mark when the bike is a metre of so away from the wall, vertical, square to the wall, etc.

The dip pattern is also built into the lamp assembly so not independantly adjustable.

(If your bike has dual lamps, and only one of them is low beam there could be a lot more to it - do an online search for a service manual)

Lots of interesing stuff about your bike here (but not about adjusting headlamps)
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/3432766/CBR250-(MC14)-CBR250R-(MC1719)-CBR250RR-(MC22)-Specification-Guide

Very Very helpful thanks mate.
When you say "Basically you measure the height of the centre of the lamp from the ground" are you talking about the low beam "spot" or the actual centre of the lamp?

cheers

[pete376403]

Measure from the ground to the centre of the lamp glass (after reading that link I see your bike has two lamps so I assume one is low beam only and both on for high beam)

The spot on the wall should be this distance from the ground, and the centre of the light pattern - there will be light all over the place but the most intense light should be centred on this spot. If both lights are on for high you might have to adjust both lights so they converge on the spot (ie cover one light and adjust the other)

If the low beam is seperately adjustable it should be pointing down and to the left compared to the high beam(s)

[Westy_mate]

Measure from the ground to the centre of the lamp glass (after reading that link I see your bike has two lamps so I assume one is low beam only and both on for high beam)

The spot on the wall should be this distance from the ground, and the centre of the light pattern - there will be light all over the place but the most intense light should be centred on this spot. If both lights are on for high you might have to adjust both lights so they converge on the spot (ie cover one light and adjust the other)

If the low beam is seperately adjustable it should be pointing down and to the left compared to the high beam(s)

Both my lamps have low beams and high beam.. ok sweet as so your saying:
1. Measure the height from the ground to the centre of each Lamp
2. Measure the height from the ground to the Approximate centre of the beam on the wall
3. adjust accordingly so that both heights are the same?

[pete376403]

yes, the idea is the mark on the wall is the same height as the centre of the light and you adjust to the mark.
The theory is that on high the beam is parallel to the ground. In reality it alters with the riders weight on the bike, whether the bike is accelerating or braking (and cornering adds a whole lot more variables.

[Rhubarb]

It could possibly be a focus thing.

The WOF guy said the headlight on my old GSX appeared to be blury.

I used a mild cut & polish cream (the sort you would use on your cars paint work) on the outside of the headlamp and it made quite a lot of difference.

[Westy_mate]

It could possibly be a focus thing.

The WOF guy said the headlight on my old GSX appeared to be blury.

I used a mild cut & polish cream (the sort you would use on your cars paint work) on the outside of the headlamp and it made quite a lot of difference.

Thanks guys, will go for a recheck on Wed and see how i go. i adjusted the lamp pretty well, they are even now... i think haha

[notme]

It could possibly be a focus thing.

The WOF guy said the headlight on my old GSX appeared to be blury.

I used a mild cut & polish cream (the sort you would use on your cars paint work) on the outside of the headlamp and it made quite a lot of difference.

That's not focus, it's the beam being diffused. Watch out with anything that could scratch the headlamp glass - you should be able to clean it fully without abrasives....

Interesting factoid - HID lights require a lens cleaning system (as well as self leveling) in most countries to prevent the beam being diffused, as it presents more glare to oncoming traffic when scattered.

[Westy_mate]

That's not focus, it's the beam being diffused. Watch out with anything that could scratch the headlamp glass - you should be able to clean it fully without abrasives....

Interesting factoid - HID lights require a lens cleaning system (as well as self leveling) in most countries to prevent the beam being diffused, as it presents more glare to oncoming traffic when scattered.

Passed at a different Testing Centre Straight away. change my bulbs back to its original h4r's thanks for the info mate, Made things a bit more clear. One last thing to do now, just waiting for my aftermarket CDI to arrive then im all done :)

[Marmoot]

change my bulbs back to its original h4r's thanks for the info mate

That explains. FYI this is the same issue why HID lights on a non-HID housing is illegal as well. A common problem in modified cars.

Non-standard incandescent bulbs may shift the light source (the filament) a few mm forward/backward from standard bulb. This would affect the distance between it and the reflector (in reflector-based housing) or projector lens (in projector headlights) and thus the beam pattern would be different. Like placing your glasses one or two centimetres off your normal eye position.

Glad it was easily sorted.

[notme]

Passed at a different Testing Centre Straight away. change my bulbs back to its original h4r's thanks for the info mate, Made things a bit more clear.

Hah, good one.

[Westy_mate]

Yeah thanks for that guys, lesson well learnt :)