I'm sure this has come up in conversation at one point, but what is the easiest way to replace a burnt out bulb on a VFR? Does the instrument cluster have to come apart somehow? Any help would be helpfull and if you have photos, I'll come over and hand polish your bike!
I say 1st off go buy the new bulb so you can see exactly what the base of the bulb looks like, this will give you a few clues on how the metal spring clip will work.
You can do it all just be reaching into the space behind the lights, over the handlebars
As I recall you pull off the rubber boot, then f around with the spring clip for about 45-minutes until you get it to release. You then just pull the bulb out, put the new one in, reclip the spring and slide the plastic boot back on.
It all sounds so easy, but trust me, when I did mine I had to take a break half way through so I could go outside and scream in frustration. Don't believe the guys who will soon post about how it is so easy...
It was easy for me but then I don't have a hard time visualizing how things work if I have an exploded assembly diagram. Took me about 20 minutes. Turning the handle bars to one side or the other for extra clearance helps.
[image: View Post]Jakobi, on 08 June 2012 - 10:46 AM, said:
It was easy for me but then I don't have a hard time visualizing how things work if I have an exploded assembly diagram. Took me about 20 minutes. Turning the handle bars to one side or the other for extra clearance helps.
-Jake
But seriously, even 20 minutes is a very long time
After I got mine changed for the 1st time, I took it all apart again and put it back together in about 60-seconds
20 minutes included futzing around with the H4 bulbs and properly fitting them. Having done it once it would probably take me less than 5 minutes for the whole job.
No need to remove the instrument cluster, Move the forks out of the way, reach up from below and press both sides of the bulb connector to pull the plug off. Remove the rubber gasket, unhook the spring, remove the bulb, replace, rubber boot back on then the connector. Should be 5 minutes or so.
I just did this myself and the forum was very helpful. As noted by others here. Do not remove any panels. Just twist the handlebars all the way to one side then the other as you work each bulb. It will give you enough room to get your paws in there. Squeeze the sides of the plug together and it will "snap" free. You'll feel it when it releases. The retainer clips are not so easy to feel as they compress but if you get your fingers very close to the base of the plug and squeeze like heck, you will feel it click loose.
Then pull the socket off the bulb fingers. Then the dust covers. Then the retainer spring. Then the bulb falls out. When replacing with the new bulb be careful not to touch the glass with your fingers as the skin oil will cause the bulb to overheat and burn out prematurely.
Just be patient - Once the forum here gave me the tips - it came right out and number 2 was a cinch.