Headlight Set Screw Help Needed........

[Utopiapga]

Ok soooooo I hate the ugle yellow 1900 bulb in my headlight. So I get a nice HID 8500K Bulb to put in it and got my latex gloves and ready to go! So I get my tiny ass 1/16" allen wrench and a few other little tools I may need but didn't even open the big tool box!

So I don't have a stand yet so I get my 300lb big ass down on the ground and get ready to loosen this little set screw under the headlight so I can use my doctors latex gloves and loosen the ring to take my headlight apart. So I squint to find that tiny ass hole and gently put the small allen wrench in the hole and make sure it is straight and in there tight not to strip it. So I then slowly start to turm it left loosy to loosen the set screw. Well good news it was in there tight bad news SOB wouldnt budge! So I put more pressure on it, still nothing. So now I can feel my blood pressure rising.:angry:

Wel not to bore you anymore some he man who owned the bike before me decided to tighten the shit out of this tiny little set screw! Or he lock tighted the crap out of it! Either way wont budge now and of course now the worse happens................STRIPPED:bang:..............ugh nothing is ever easy!!!!

My question here is obvious any ideas on how to get it out? I don't think I have an easy out that small!! and god forbid I mess it up and then can't get the ring tight again when I put the headlight back together.

 

[standuprick]

try a different allen wrench. you can try to drill it out. Try the drill backwards too. Long as you get it out you can always redrill and tap it out to a bigger size lock screw. Good luck

 

[shovelshot]

Ok soooooo I hate the ugle yellow 1900 bulb in my headlight. So I get a nice HID 8500K Bulb to put in it and got my latex gloves and ready to go! So I get my tiny ass 1/16" allen wrench and a few other little tools I may need but didn't even open the big tool box!

So I don't have a stand yet so I get my 300lb big ass down on the ground and get ready to loosen this little set screw under the headlight so I can use my doctors latex gloves and loosen the ring to take my headlight apart. So I squint to find that tiny ass hole and gently put the small allen wrench in the hole and make sure it is straight and in there tight not to strip it. So I then slowly start to turm it left loosy to loosen the set screw. Well good news it was in there tight bad news SOB wouldnt budge! So I put more pressure on it, still nothing. So now I can feel my blood pressure rising.:angry:

Wel not to bore you anymore some he man who owned the bike before me decided to tighten the shit out of this tiny little set screw! Or he lock tighted the crap out of it! Either way wont budge now and of course now the worse happens................STRIPPED:bang:..............ugh nothing is ever easy!!!!

My question here is obvious any ideas on how to get it out? I don't think I have an easy out that small!! and god forbid I mess it up and then can't get the ring tight again when I put the headlight back together.

I made a slightly larger allen wrench out of a small tapered file until it grabbed then turned it with a pliers. Grind a regular screwdiver until it fits. That should do it.

 

[ro360s]

Thats a great story I can relate to, as I went through same troubles. Made me chuckle on the little details. This is a great forum.

 

[pauldeepsea]

May want to use paint tape around the chrome so you don't scratch it. If its loctite you may want to use just a little heat.. on it too.

 

[Blackie]

Same shit happened to me...Finally got it out then dropped it and never could find it. That screw is smaller than ant shit. Headlight Bezel is screwed in tight without any set screw...I put blue loctite on it and can barely get it off now... but still not right. Have to tap it but hell i'm just toooo lazy right now!!!!!!!!

 

[Dezertrider37v]

I have had similar problems with locktighted stuff and all I can say is if it doesn't budge break out the heat gun and that will do it. If you are past that and have already stripped the head out than I would go to sears or wherever you like and buy some reverse drill bits they are awesome! Start drilling in reverse and usually the heat from the drilling will free it up and it spins right out!

 

[Utopiapga]

Thanks everyone!! I will bring the drill home tonight already tried the larger allen head and screw driver head bit. The SOB is in there tight!!

 

[BWG56]

That screw is smaller than ant shit.

:roll::roll:

 

[CCRainman]

Drill and retap.

 

[Jersey Big Mike]

Well I had the same thing years ago on my 08 K-9.
I drilled it out (and use a drill too big in hind sight)
I never have gotten around to re-tapping the thing -- the bezel has never moved (of course now that I say this!.
Good Luck

 

[Th3InfamousI]

Well I had the same thing years ago on my 08 K-9.
I drilled it out (and use a drill too big in hind sight)
I never have gotten around to re-tapping the thing -- the bezel has never moved (of course now that I say this!.
Good Luck

The Bezel won't move but without the set screw your outer ring can fly right out down the highway. I watched as one bounced by riding the other weekend. Shovelshot didn't retap and out goes the ring Somehow it was found in the ditch on the side of the road without a scratch.

 

[shovelshot]

The Bezel won't move but without the set screw your outer ring can fly right out down the highway. I watched as one bounced by riding the other weekend. Shovelshot didn't retap and out goes the ring Somehow it was found in the ditch on the side of the road without a scratch.

I was avoiding that story Eric!! Good times. Lol.

 

[Iman]

I have been riding without a set screw with no problems for 2 years. I always check before a ride if the outer ring is tight. No problems so far

 

[Utopiapga]

I found some set screws so will re tap or make something work. Going to work on it today! Thanks for all the ideas good times working on the bike like the old days..........lol