After some advice if possible. After a run out this morning I noticed some condensation on the inside of the near side of the headlight lens. As its an RR2, it's a big bugger and goes right across the width of the nose cone. It disappeared after an hour or so but obviously, the moisture's still in there and will condense out the next time I ride in the cold. Has anybody got any tips for desiccating the inside of the unit. I, obviously can't put silica gel in there and trying to blow hot air in there would be a nightmare and I'm not even sure that would dry it. Besides which that doesn't cure how it got in there to start with. All the bulb seals seem sound, but my garage is on the damp side at this time of year. Any guidance would be welcome.
Yup I get a bit of that in my dip side .. but not all the time . Never get's out of hand so haven't persued it . Soz
Kpone.. Always carry a lighter mate for just an occasion..with one hand just heat up the lens until moisture evaporates while your riding. I have a paint stripper gaffer taped to my nose cone pointing to my lights just in case. Nasty that moisture is.....
Next time you go out to the bike. Get the other halfs hair dryer and blow the hot air on it till it's gone. Take it for a spin and see if that cures it. If not it may be a case of adding some vasoline around the seal areas. I take it, it only happens in the colder months.
First time I've noticed it colin. It probably won't amount to anything, like Nuts said, but it's not right and I get bugged by stuff like that. Sod off Giveover, you old queen. You were on that bike too.
To be honest mate. What I'd do is open the light unit up from the dash side ie 'the same way ud change the bulb'. dry it out with a dryer, give everything a good clean, oil or grease any seals and put it back together. It may just be a seal that has perished mate.
Come to think about it i have read about this recentley and i will try to find said piece but i am sure the action was to take out the bulb holder and use the hair dryer by the way i have had this on a coulpe of bikes and it doe's piss up abit so this may be worth trying.
TBH, I'd not open up the headlight unless you had to - surely there's a chance you'd not make the seal when putting it back together and it could be made worse? Obviously the bulb will produce some heat when it is in use and combined with airflow, that will dry it out in use. If it's not air tight, then it will return but if we're only talking about a small amount of moisture, I'd be inclined to leave it alone. Does it only happen after you've washed the bike or it's been used in the wet? Have you also checked the bulb to make sure that's located 100% securely in the holder and any rubber grommet etc isn't split, torn and is sealed correctly? Sorry if I am teaching yo to suck eggs, but stuff I'd check if it were me
Its a common problem with many makes of bikes, the problem is the volume of cool air in the light, as it warms up on the outside condensation forms in the light, imo even if you dry it on another cool/warm day it will do the same, seems that as years have gone by manufactures have lost the art of making clocks and lights that do not suffer this problem, the only way to fix it imo is to make vent holes to let the air equalize on days that the temp changes rapid, in other words the air in the light is much cooler than that of the outside, if you look at the back of the light there are some odd mushroom style vents that should stop water getting in the light and let air in and out. Some people say mine dont do it.. the answer to that is when conditions are right or wrong if you like they will! Condensation is an age old phenomenon..
Forgive me as I,m a "New Kid" here but one thing I do know about are my Hondas.....................954's .........common fault with the headlamp sometimes ,no known cure as Mr Honda did not regard it as a fault more of a characteristic .The Dealers at the time the 954 was a current model were told NOT to replace the lamp as there was no known fix,pissed loads of owners off at the time,however Mr Honda suggested switching main/dip beam lights on which would heat the area and the moisture will disapear shortly afterwards.More prone this time of year with damp sheds,garages etc and riders parking their pride n joys up after washing all this British road crap off their bikes,the 929 never suffered the same fault as the headlamp design was slightly different.
Thanks Arthur. It's an issue that causes us problems in this part of the country with camera lenses as it engenders mould to grow on the elements and ruins the acuity. Its common practice to line the bottom of the camera bag with silica gel pouches. If I can work out a way to fit a couple of sachets, safely on the dry side of the seals, I'll let you know. I'm pretty certain that warming the unit would only be a temporary fix as it would just evaporate the condense rather than remove it. It will just condense out the next time there's a big enough temperature differential between outside and inside. I'll have a look see what the smallest gel packs I have in stock and try and find a recess big enough inside the unit that I can tuck it into.
Thanks for that Haggler. Never feel shy about helping me out, mate. I promise you it'll always be welcome. It did cross my mind to ride for a while on main during the day. It'll certainly disperse it, but as I mentioned above, without de humidifying it, it'll only come back. I'll find a work around, I'm sure, but it's once to know its not just me.
If it were under a vacume then maybe all would be ok, but then how would you change the lamp.. Hey who knows but I do think its a little laim in 2010...lol Anyway my Ducati does it all the flipping time and so do the clocks, I had the clocks/dash changed for a later ver but its still the same... I was at the local cafe' telling a mate who hates Ducati how my Honda never does that then f#ck me I go home and the lights are misted up...lol At least my mates 40k desmo does the same....lol
My 750ss was the same. My Peugeot 206 has got one too, but in fairness that was me breaking the clip on the seal and refusing to spend the £250 they wanted for a whole new headlight rather than the offending clip. I'll work something out, then I'll pass it over to you to store in your guru grotto, mate.
lol cheers mate, I am one of those people who talks his mates into buying stuff then if its any good I may get one myself...lol
