Brighter headlight for 1980 GS550E ?

[posplayr]

Pos, have you tried this stuff?

http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.190/.f

I have used them both, this stuff worked much better than the Deoxit.

Have not, but I realize there are various products on the market. The primary issue in my mind is if the product is actually designed to produce low electrical contact resistance through its protective coating? A lot of stuff cleans and lubricates for mechanical properties but what about the electrcial properties?

For most all connectors it probably doesn't matter a whole lot except for charging connectors that need to be sub 1/10 ohm resistance. Someone else brought up another product widely used as an approved "spray-on" anti oxidation agent in the Aerospace industry. You just hose down you airplane with the stuff.

I asked the question if it actually produced a low electrcial resistance with an oxidation preventive and got no response so far.

[Grimly]

Someone else brought up another product widely used as an approved "spray-on" anti oxidation agent in the Aerospace industry. You just hose down you airplane with the stuff.

I asked the question if it actually produced a low electrcial resistance with an oxidation preventive and got no response so far.

ACF50? I found a stockist in Ireland, so will get some soon.

[tkent02]

Have not, but I realize there are various products on the market. The primary issue in my mind is if the product is actually designed to produce low electrical contact resistance through its protective coating?

Dunno, but all of the bikes I've squirted this stuff into the connectors of, none have had a problem since. Been using it for about ten years...

So it works great for me.

[Nessism]

On my old 550 I bought a standard 7" lense, the type that takes a separate halogen bulb, and then a modern Silverstar bulb was used. Reasonable price and easy project. Big improvement.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-Inch-Motorcycle-Headlight-Housing-Glass-Lens-DOT-Approved-Street-Legal-/310831131714?hash=item485efaac42:g:N7IAAMXQlgtSvexE&vxp=mtr

[jabcb]

You could also use the relay mod to give the headlight the max voltage.

[posplayr]

ACF50? I found a stockist in Ireland, so will get some soon.

Yea I think that is it; highly recommended but to hose the bike down but as mentioned don't know if it is the absolute best for charging system electrical contacts but you could certainly do worse with nothing at all.

http://www.amazon.com/Lear-Chemical-ACF50-Anti-Corrosion-Lubricant/dp/B000P1C8UO

[Datsa Noydb]

You could also use the relay mod to give the headlight the max voltage.

True, but it's only an "improvement" if the voltage was low to begin with.

A quick measurement with a voltmeter at the headlight will determine whether you need to go to the trouble of installing a relay.

By the way, with all the "relay mods" that we tend to do to our bikes, how many realize that just ONE relay will likely do the trick?
Yep, one of the big culprits in the voltage loss problem is the ignition switch. Instead of running all the power for the bike through it, why not just use it to switch a relay that then powers the fusebox, which can retain most of its stock wiring?

[posplayr]

Related discussion on how to relay mod your electrical.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?231276-Relay-mod-Main-or-coils-only&highlight=eastern+beaver

[Nessism]

Man wants a brighter headlamp, and before you know it people are telling him to rewire his electrical system.

Cleaning electrical connections is part (or should be) of normal maintenance so that's a given.

The way to a brighter headlamp on a 550E is though ditching the sealed beam and installing a new lamp with high powered H4 bulb. In the US the Sylvania Silverstar 9003 bulb is a good choice. Compared to the stock lamp there is a significant increase in light.

[ukjules]

Just spent ags doing a reply - added a photo and all was lost.

I checked the wiring - i agree this has to be learned !
I will add a wiring diagram of the results but there is soming wrong and there is voltage drop.gs 550 e headlight wiring.jpg

I have cleaned up all the connections with that stuff from halfords.
electrical connection cleaner and brushed all the connections clean.

I need to draw a diagram on my whiteboard.
the negative side voltage drop is all below 0.4 so ok.
After cleaning all seems to work perfectly BUT i think there is voltage drop.Dia
gram to follow for your expertises ....

I like the idea of using a standard 7" lense and putting a better bulb in it.
Cost effective and i think ill try it but the electrics must be perfect first !

[ukjules]

p.s i didnt make all that wiring - thsi was there when i bought it !

[hannibal]

On my old 550 I bought a standard 7" lense, the type that takes a separate halogen bulb, and then a modern Silverstar bulb was used. Reasonable price and easy project. Big improvement.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-Inch-Motor...tSvexE&vxp=mtr

Is this the actual lens housing you bought? Did you have to mess with the tabs around the back edge of the housing to fit it in the stock retaining ring and housing?

[Who Dat?]

Be careful buying from American sites, I don't know that ANY of the can provide the beam pattern that you will need to pass MOT. You would be better off shopping your local bike shops or your local version of eBay for lights from Bosch, Cibie or Marchal. Any of the lights over here that are marked "DOT" usually have a rather pitiful beam pattern and I avoid them as much as possible. I prefer a "Euro beam pattern", which is MUCH better for bike use.

[cowboyup3371]

I have an 81 550T and just replaced my light with a Truck-Lite LED towards the end of last year and for the first time in the 5 years I owned the bike I actually smiled on the way home at night. It lights up the road so well on low-beam that you think you have your high beams on ensuring you can see any animals coming from the sides while the high beams show more than enough road to see far enough out to make decisions as needed late at night.

If you decide to get one then you'll either need universal headlight ears or ones from a G or E model. Plus you'll need the larger 8 inch bucket (the light is 7" wide)

[Nessism]

Is this the actual lens housing you bought? Did you have to mess with the tabs around the back edge of the housing to fit it in the stock retaining ring and housing?

No, that's not the lamp I bought. I bought mine from JC Whitney and it was a perfect fit inside the holding ring mechanism. Your bike takes a normal 7" headlamp.