GL1800 High Beam bulb change

[bluewing2010]

This subject may have been addressed before,, but I couldn't find any reference to it, so here goes:- How does one replace the Left side High Beam bulb on a GL1800 Airbag model? The manual says "remove fairing pocket, unplug the wire and remove bulb" or words to that effect.

Headlight bulb???

See the attached photo. I can't even see the stinking headlight bulb, let alone replace it. I did find that by removing the vent lever I could get a hand through enough to do the job, but with a lot of skin knocked off in the process. Is there an easier way?

[cbx4evr]

I think that's about it. You have to be a bit of a contortionist to get your hand up and under. That's the way I've seen some guys that I ride with do it.

[bluewing2010]

Thanks for confirming that I haven't missed something obvious.

[peppilepew]

I recommend you purchase a long pair of needle nose pliers to help with your task. A 2012 is even worse to do.

[thrasherg]

The preferred technique is to pay a Honda mechanic to skin his knuckles and change the bulb, but if you are broke (poor) like me then we have to sacrifice our own flesh to the great lord Goldwing!! You haven't missed anything, it's a real PITA to change the bulbs.

Gary

[bluewing2010]

Thanks for the "encouragement". I like Peppilepew"s idea of the needle-nose pliers. I think there will be a set in the workshop very soon.

[Monkeebutt552]

I have a 2001, replaced the main beams 3 or 4 times, have yet to have to replace the brights. Dread it what I do have to!!!

[MikeB]

I have a 2003. Yes, the bulb replacement instructions leave a lot to be desired.

I can't say that I have lost a lot of skin replacing the lamps but I sure have a lot of cramping in my hands after I have replaced them. There is a wire bundle and part of the fairing stay that always seems to be in the way, particularly on the left side, the right is not too bad. There just is not sufficient space there for a normal sized male's hand to fit. A smallish woman or a child would be more suited to do the replacement.

A long pair of needle nose pliers may help but you have to have visual confirmation of where the pliers are making contact. That in itself is a challenge. The only sure way is tactile feel using your hands. All I can say is be patient, take your time, and good luck.

[JerriEric]

I have changed both high and low beam bulbs on my '06. What a PITA! Hardest part is hooking that metal thingy back on to hold the bulb in place. I have changed from the top and from the bottom. Not easy in any case. If Honda got rid of that crappy wire spring thing and just used a twist and turn like the trunk lights, that would make is so much easier. I assume the metal lever system must serve a meaningful purpose.

[Pearcer69]

I found this on Youtube. I think you will all be happy to find out there is a better way...


   Never miss a video: Subscribe to the GoldwingDocs YouTube channel today!

[Snowmoer]

He is replacing the HIGH beam bulb, not the low beam.

[Pearcer69]

Yes he is but is but in one of his other videos he shows you how to replace the normal headlights......If you look at the video at 3 minutes 40 seconds into it it will show you how to remove the foot warmer door switch so you don't have to skin you knuckles when replacing the high beam. I have watched the video right through and it took me 10 minutes to replace my High beam headlights without spilling any blood. His other video is just as informative. The Question asked was for the HIGH beam headlights.

Regards, Ross

[keithg64]

I thought taking the shelter off and the dash out would make it easier. Almost a winter project, oh it still is winter.

[C-dub]

Pearcer69, thanks for that video. I may end up replacing mine sooner rather than later with this information. Possibly this summer before our fall Grand Canyon trip. We prefer not to do much night riding, but can't rule it out. We've been caught out late on trips before.

[Pearcer69]

No worries. It pays to watch the videos through not just look at the preview. It saved me a lot of skin this time...lol

[Andy Cote]

Changing high beam bulbs on a GL1800 requires some disassembly, patience and tricks. I have used dowels, small flexible tubing and three different long reach needle nose pliers.

I will offer that LED or HID is actually easier IMHO as they have a wire harness "tail" to help wag the dog rather than just the pins on the back of the halogen bulbs. That said, I also prefer the SoCal LED bulbs over the EC as the EC has a separate spacer that is loose. The SoCal bulbs have the spacer attached making one less thing to fumble with.

[WingAdmin]

Changing high beam bulbs on a GL1800 requires some disassembly, patience and tricks. I have used dowels, small flexible tubing and three different long reach needle nose pliers.

I will offer that LED or HID is actually easier IMHO as they have a wire harness "tail" to help wag the dog rather than just the pins on the back of the halogen bulbs. That said, I also prefer the SoCal LED bulbs over the EC as the EC has a separate spacer that is loose. The SoCal bulbs have the spacer attached making one less thing to fumble with.

Long reach needle nose pliers are a great help, but it also helps to have small hands and an assistant to help. I've done it in an hour or so, but left a reasonable amount of skin from my hands inside the bike in doing so.

[joeincalif]

When the 1800 was new and a few people had to replace the high beam and found out how hard it was to replace them I only ran my low beams in the day time, I know a lot of riders use high beams in the day light to be seen better, my bike was orange, if they couldn't see me oin that thing they had a big problem.

[GoldWingrGreg]

This subject may have been addressed before,, but I couldn't find any reference to it, so here goes:- How does one replace the Left side High Beam bulb on a GL1800 Airbag model? The manual says "remove fairing pocket, unplug the wire and remove bulb" or words to that effect. Wing wiring.jpg See the attached photo. I can't even see the stinking headlight bulb, let alone replace it. I did find that by removing the vent lever I could get a hand through enough to do the job, but with a lot of skin knocked off in the process. Is there an easier way?

The Service Manual thinks you don't have comfort; however, once the heat-lever assembly is removed, you'll be able to get to the connector and replace the bulb.

- remove the cable
- lightly pry the knob upwards to remove
- lightly pry up on the trim piece under the knob to un-snap it
- remove the screw

[Tazz063]

Tried to install a Path Blazer headlight modulator on my 2001GL1800A today. Started with the right side and managed to get the master unit installed then I took the left cubby out and ran into a bunch of connectors in the way. Didn't want to just pull on them but couldn't find a release. Any idea how to release the ones on the right?

[blupupher]

Tried to install a Path Blazer headlight modulator on my 2001GL1800A today. Started with the right side and managed to get the master unit installed then I took the left cubby out and ran into a bunch of connectors in the way. Didn't want to just pull on them but couldn't find a release. Any idea how to release the ones on the right?

I just did my '02 last week, and it sucked. I could not get the left side highbeam no matter what I did, so I took the whole shelter off. Even then I scrapped up my hands a lot. Getting the rubber cover back on was near impossible, there is a wiring harness running right up against the top part and I was grumbling at it for over an hour trying to get it back in place.

As for removing the harness, there is a screw on the left side that you can remove and will let you move it some, but you still may need to disconnect wires to get more room with the shelter still on.

Even with the shelter off, I still had to remove the top faring brace bolt and move it over some and finally was able to get enough room to get the rubber cover back on.

.

If you go as far as I did and it is about time to change your air filter, just do it. Mine had been replaced about 5,000 miles before, so I did not touch it.

[Asphaltmaniac]

Whats a few battle scars?

[WingAdmin]

I've put LEDs into the high beams of a GL1800 before, and yes, without pulling the fairing apart, it sucks. My hands were shredded. That fairing is not service-friendly.

[Tazz063]

Tried to install a Path Blazer headlight modulator on my 2001GL1800A today. Started with the right side and managed to get the master unit installed then I took the left cubby out and ran into a bunch of connectors in the way. Didn't want to just pull on them but couldn't find a release. Any idea how to release the ones on the right?

I just did my '02 last week, and it sucked. I could not get the left side highbeam no matter what I did, so I took the whole shelter off. Even then I scrapped up my hands a lot. Getting the rubber cover back on was near impossible, there is a wiring harness running right up against the top part and I was grumbling at it for over an hour trying to get it back in place.
bike 1.jpg
bike 2.jpg

As for removing the harness, there is a screw on the left side that you can remove and will let you move it some, but you still may need to disconnect wires to get more room with the shelter still on.
4.jpeg

Even with the shelter off, I still had to remove the top faring brace bolt and move it over some and finally was able to get enough room to get the rubber cover back on.
bike 3.jpg.

If you go as far as I did and it is about time to change your air filter, just do it. Mine had been replaced about 5,000 miles before, so I did not touch it.

Thanks! Your advice and pictures really helped.