FRUSTRATION!! Please help answer my headlight bulb question

sargelee71 · Post by **sargelee71** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:24 am

I bought the Sylvania Silverstart H4 bulb at Autozone after I asked the staff geek if I got the right bulb. He said yes, so I got it. The thing is, when I was trying to replace it, I noticed that the bulb wouldn't fit flush. THEN, I noticed that the two little tabs on the back of the flat bottom portion of the new bulb is smaller and therefore narrower than on the original bulb, thus they don't fit into the two slits.

It turns out that on the packaging of the bulb I got, it doesn't say "For Motorcycle Use Only." Is that the problem? Does it have to be a bulb for MC use only? I also noticed that the three arms on the metal rim of the bulb unit is a little narrower as well.

I'm going back to Autozone tomorrow, and they'd better allow me to exchange it.

EDIT: Want to clarify my question that got lost in it all. Is there a difference between an H4 and an H4 for MOTORCYCLE USE ONLY?

r0sa · Post by **r0sa** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 4:32 am

good luck on the exchange!

quick question, are those lights brighter and blue? or is it yellow? jw, i might consider getting those for mi scoot

ScooterTrash · Post by **ScooterTrash** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 11:03 am

Just bend those tabs over flat and put it back in, no big deal. I have been running mine like that for 2 moths and it hasn't even wiggled

sargelee71 · Post by **sargelee71** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:35 pm

ScooterTrash wrote:Just bend those tabs over flat and put it back in, no big deal. I have been running mine like that for 2 moths and it hasn't even wiggled

Thanks, ScooterTrash!! I thought about doing that too, but got really annoyed that the Auto Zone guy said it was the "right" bulb. Still, I might do that if my return trip today is unproductive.

nissanman · Post by **nissanman** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:08 am

It's right, you're replacing a HS1 bulb with an H4... very similar, but still a hair different. The Autozone guy should be allowed to live.

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:13 am

I bought the "For Motorcycle Use" and it was a perfect fit so that probably has something to do with it!

sargelee71 · Post by **sargelee71** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 3:32 am

Interestingly, I went back and exchanged the regular H4 for the MC "use only" H4 and it still had the smaller and narrower metal tabs. SO, I just used a pair of pliers and pressed them down. It worked.

Replaced the turn signal bulbs and headlight bulb. Two buckets of sweat later (in Chicago's crazy heat), all is brighter in my little scooter world.

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 3:42 am

Well... now you have me wondering if I'm telling the truth! I did my headlight mod quite a while ago, but I have the same scoot you do and I thought I remembered that it was totally plug and play. But maybe I'm wrong!

Either way glad you got it done! Have you re-aimed the light to make sure it's right? That made the bigger difference for me than changing the bulb! Mine was aimed like 33 inches low!!

sargelee71 · Post by **sargelee71** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 4:07 am

jmazza, I tried to do that during this process, but got it got late, so I just made sure the bulbs were replaced. The plan is to go back to adjusting the height of the beam in the next couple of days. Plus I need to go back and look at the tutorial.

I'm with yah, though.

Ed Hit · Post by **Ed Hit** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:36 pm

So Sargelee, help a Chicago brother out. Where is the autozone that you had all the choices on bulbs?

I went to Murrays on B'way and Berwyn, and they only had the one. I have not tried to replace it yet, but have been wondering what to do if I get it all open and the bulb does not fit

sargelee71 · Post by **sargelee71** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 3:08 pm

Hey Ed! Well, I bought the bulbs (turn signals and headlight) at the Auto Zone on Western south of Lawrence. But, they didn't have the MC only version of the Sylvania Silverstar H4 bulb. I then went to the Pep Boys on Elston souuth of Diversey and just south of the Target there---they had the MC-only bulb.

Hope that helps.

We still have some riding to do.

Corsair · Post by **Corsair** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 5:40 pm

ScooterTrash wrote:Just bend those tabs over flat and put it back in, no big deal. I have been running mine like that for 2 moths and it hasn't even wiggled

Same here