Adjusting Headlight Assembly
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Aug 2015
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Adjusting Headlight Assembly
I cannot for the life of my find a thread or How-To on adjusting the entire headlight assembly. My passenger side head light isn't lining up with the fender - how does one adjust the headlight assembly? Please & Thank you
Pro
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 588
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From: The Great White North
Looking at mine there are adjustment nuts under the plate that holds the headlight in place. Macster posted this in another thread:
Having a hard time understanding how the mounting bracket (or platform), the platform upon which the headlight nacelle fits into and which holds the electrical connectors for the headlight can account for a non-functioning headlight.
Unless I guess the mounting platform is broken and the connector isn't lining up properly. (I had a connector break in my Turbo's passenger headlight, it broke from the forces caused by hitting a mule deer.)
My second hand info is that plate or platform is hard to get out (and harder to get back in right). Be sure you are not turning the adjustment screws.
You want to loosen the fastening nuts.
The factory says to try to duplicate the adjustment settings of the new platform using the adjustment settings from the old platform as guides then tighten the adjusting nuts slightly by hand then fit the headlight and check for proper fit in the fender opening. Use the other side for a reference.
If the adjustment is ok then tighten the fastening nuts to 6 ± 1.5 ftlb.
Here's some drawings…
Unless I guess the mounting platform is broken and the connector isn't lining up properly. (I had a connector break in my Turbo's passenger headlight, it broke from the forces caused by hitting a mule deer.)
My second hand info is that plate or platform is hard to get out (and harder to get back in right). Be sure you are not turning the adjustment screws.
You want to loosen the fastening nuts.
The factory says to try to duplicate the adjustment settings of the new platform using the adjustment settings from the old platform as guides then tighten the adjusting nuts slightly by hand then fit the headlight and check for proper fit in the fender opening. Use the other side for a reference.
If the adjustment is ok then tighten the fastening nuts to 6 ± 1.5 ftlb.
Here's some drawings…
Rennlist Member
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Austin
Are you asking about adjusting the headlamp beam or about how the light fits into the tray. If the latter, you may want to remove the headlamp and reinstall paying particular attention to the guide rails and then making sure you get a loud and tactile response when you twist the locking clamp.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2014
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From: L.I. NY
It's a bit of a pain in the butt, but certainly doable - lots of trial and error. Pop the headlight out, you'll see 3 large flat gold colored nuts (2 in front, 1 in the rear) that adjust the height of the headlight mounting tray. It'll take you a few tries to get it right, but you'll get it (ask me how I know) - don't give up 
Good luck
Good luck
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,393
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For clarification - I'm trying to adjust the housing itself - not the beam.
Thank you guys! Had a hard time searching for housing adjustment because the only results I got were to adjust the beam
Thank you guys! Had a hard time searching for housing adjustment because the only results I got were to adjust the beam
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 1,288
From: L.I. NY
Yup, these nuts adjust the "mounting plate" that the headlight assembly sits in. Once and you get in there and see it, what I said above will make sense. The Torx socket in the center of the screw is just to hold it - it doesn't have any "adjustment ability" in and of itself. It's actually a pretty crude system - I guess they put so much time into the water cooled motor that they couldn't be bothered with the headlight assembly 
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Rennlist Member
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Austin
I think you said it wasn't aligned with the fender which makes me believe the headlamp isn't inserted properly. I would think it highly unlikely the housing is out of alignment unless the hold down screws came loose or unless someone bumped into your headlamp pushing it out of alignment. I'd first make sure that the headlamp itself is properly fitted and locked into the tray. Use a flashlight and make sure the guides on the headlamp are inserted into the rails on either side of the housing and then push it into the housing and lock. Check to make sure it's locked into position too. The first time you do the locking the resistance and the noise of the clamp engaging can be disconcerting.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
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Don't mess with the setting unless you have to. I have an extra one and I can show you the adjusment tabs if you want your headlight to sit perfect but beware, there bolts are usually fragile and stuck and you need the right tools. I have a string of broken torx tips to prove it.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 1,288
From: L.I. NY
Don't mess with the setting unless you have to. I have an extra one and I can show you the adjusment tabs if you want your headlight to sit perfect but beware, there bolts are usually fragile and stuck and you need the right tools. I have a string of broken torx tips to prove it.