2001 gl 1800

[mkdm0]

How do I remove the headlights outer cover to replace them? The clear plastic that goes over them.

thank you

[tfdeputydawg]

You need a service manual! Disassembly of a lot of fairing plastic is needed to get to the hdwr attaching the headlamps to the bike.
As noted elsewhere, try a headlamp restore kit!

[Red Ron]

I have never removed any of the fairing or lens to replace a bulb if that is what you are referring to. If memory serves you turn the handle bars one way or the other, which ever gives you more clearence then reach up under the dash area. There is a wire harness that has to be unplugged and then a rubber boot pulled out. There is a wire retainer which holds the bulb in place. It has a little loop that you can grab to push in and up and swivel it up out of the way to get the bulb out. The old bulb has an adaptor on the end of it that you have to take off and put on the new one. I always use a nurses's latex golve to keep from getting a greasy fingerprint on the new bulb when I handle it. A greasy finger print may cause it to burn out quicker, although some say that is a myth.

[mkdm0]

Thank you, I bought a headlight repaiur kit today

[Red Ron]

Thank you, I bought a headlight repaiur kit today

Just wondering' (dangerous I know), but was it the plastic headlight covers you were having trouble with or were you just replacing bulbs?

[mkdm0]

The plastic headlight covers, they're pretty froggy

[tfdeputydawg]

OP was clear ( no pun intended) that the lens of the headlamps were "fogging". This is common, over time, of these wonderful "composite headlamps" that all vehicle manufacturers have been using for years.
The lens is "sealed" to the housing and the lamp assembly needs to be removed to attempt to separate the lens from the housing without any damage to either!!!, if onne would consider trying to replace the lens.
These lenses are made using polycarbonate plastic, which at one time required UV protection coating +plus a hardcoat(to pass FMVSS abrasion testing).
Later a UV stable Polycarbonate material was introduced but, the hardcoat was still required.
This wonderful material "yellows" over time from exposure to the suns UV rays. Caught early, one of the headlamp restore kits may help or may not!
Acrylic plastics could not be used as they are a brittle plastic and would crack much to easy.
I prefer the old days of Glass sealed beam headlamps. Life was much simpler back them

[Red Ron]

OP was clear ( no pun intended) that the lens of the headlamps were "fogging". This is common, over time, of these wonderful "composite headlamps" that all vehicle manufacturers have been using for years.
The lens is "sealed" to the housing and the lamp assembly needs to be removed to attempt to separate the lens from the housing without any damage to either!!!, if onne would consider trying to replace the lens.
These lenses are made using polycarbonate plastic, which at one time required UV protection coating +plus a hardcoat(to pass FMVSS abrasion testing).
Later a UV stable Polycarbonate material was introduced but, the hardcoat was still required.
This wonderful material "yellows" over time from exposure to the suns UV rays. Caught early, one of the headlamp restore kits may help or may not!
Acrylic plastics could not be used as they are a brittle plastic and would crack much to easy.
I prefer the old days of Glass sealed beam headlamps. Life was much simpler back them

In his first post he didn't use the word "fogging". At least not in what I could see. He actually used "clear" to describe them. In any event I must of had my head up my a#@.

[tfdeputydawg]

In his first post he didn't use the word "fogging". At least not in what I could see. He actually used "clear" to describe them. In any event I must of had my head up my a#@.

You are absolutely correct! My bad!