tripplec
New member
Last year was a snowmobiling bust. Weather was terrible. I still want to brighten the headlamp.
Options:
1) Using a Silverstar equiv (whatever the number)
2) GE Nighthawks look good
3) Superwhite Xeon from Royal Dist.
Illumination on this sled drops terribly when slowed down and coming to a stop. It does not use the battery at all and there is not enough output at idle (around 1600RPM on the tach). I tried adjusting the cable last year to 3000RPM idle but it created a pull away problem and I could not pull away many times. I was force to set the idle way back down again. Then the snow melted away so that was that.
PS: Not not interested in HID retrofit
(I believe this is the correct forum subsection. I posted earlier on another and it does not appear to refer to any Ventures as far as I see reading well into it.)
Options:
1) Using a Silverstar equiv (whatever the number)
2) GE Nighthawks look good
3) Superwhite Xeon from Royal Dist.
Illumination on this sled drops terribly when slowed down and coming to a stop. It does not use the battery at all and there is not enough output at idle (around 1600RPM on the tach). I tried adjusting the cable last year to 3000RPM idle but it created a pull away problem and I could not pull away many times. I was force to set the idle way back down again. Then the snow melted away so that was that.
PS: Not not interested in HID retrofit
(I believe this is the correct forum subsection. I posted earlier on another and it does not appear to refer to any Ventures as far as I see reading well into it.)
PZ 1
Member
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2005
- Messages
- 987
Do some web searching and you will find a lot of talk on headlight bulbs. From what I have read, Silverstars have a short life. As with many things, opinions are all over the place, but you may be able to get a consensus of what seems best.
Normally low light output at idle is not a problem - when the sled is not moving, and the sled is nearly stopped before the light output is reduced much when slowing down. You can replace the taillight bulb with an LED bulb. The brake filament takes much less juice when the brake is applied and robs less from the headlight. A problem I have heard with LED taillight bulbs is that they generate less heat than a standard bulb and the snow that normally melts off the lens builds up and blocks the taillight.
If you bought the sled used and someone had replaced the head light bulb with a higher wattage one, the light outut at idle would be less. Also make sure the lighting system is in good shape. Check for looseness and corrosion on contacts and connections on the feed and ground sides.
Normally low light output at idle is not a problem - when the sled is not moving, and the sled is nearly stopped before the light output is reduced much when slowing down. You can replace the taillight bulb with an LED bulb. The brake filament takes much less juice when the brake is applied and robs less from the headlight. A problem I have heard with LED taillight bulbs is that they generate less heat than a standard bulb and the snow that normally melts off the lens builds up and blocks the taillight.
If you bought the sled used and someone had replaced the head light bulb with a higher wattage one, the light outut at idle would be less. Also make sure the lighting system is in good shape. Check for looseness and corrosion on contacts and connections on the feed and ground sides.
tripplec
New member
GE Nighthawks
Hi, I installed GE Nighthawk H4 this weekend while checking other issues. I had this and the Formula ST side by side. We checked and it already had Silvania bulb in it. Also swapped between the sleds. I could not tell the difference between them. They were both equally bright and very white. I am quite satisfied with them. However, I am not happy with the Yamaha electric systems not generating enough power. I was idling about 1700RPM it should be 1500 I believe or 1600 if I have ECS whatever that is acording to the sticker. That pretty fast yet its quite a bit lower in output and as you pointed out if the brakes are applied they drop quite a bit more. Not the best for being seen (front or back when stopped). I know these are running AC from the winding but their may be an unused AC tap which can be added to the lamp circuit. I was thinking of using the battery but then the charge many not handle the extra 60 watt load. A lot of guess work without electrical specs and detailed stator winding info and output etc. I have run 1980 sled which were no worst that this 17 years later.
Anyone got a resolution to the out issue. I doubt HID can be used due to the same output issue and high startup current. I noticed that Royal Distributing had kits but no spec.
PZ 1 said:
Hi, I installed GE Nighthawk H4 this weekend while checking other issues. I had this and the Formula ST side by side. We checked and it already had Silvania bulb in it. Also swapped between the sleds. I could not tell the difference between them. They were both equally bright and very white. I am quite satisfied with them. However, I am not happy with the Yamaha electric systems not generating enough power. I was idling about 1700RPM it should be 1500 I believe or 1600 if I have ECS whatever that is acording to the sticker. That pretty fast yet its quite a bit lower in output and as you pointed out if the brakes are applied they drop quite a bit more. Not the best for being seen (front or back when stopped). I know these are running AC from the winding but their may be an unused AC tap which can be added to the lamp circuit. I was thinking of using the battery but then the charge many not handle the extra 60 watt load. A lot of guess work without electrical specs and detailed stator winding info and output etc. I have run 1980 sled which were no worst that this 17 years later.
Anyone got a resolution to the out issue. I doubt HID can be used due to the same output issue and high startup current. I noticed that Royal Distributing had kits but no spec.