Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Front Headlight - Horizontal Adjustment?

I have read most posts on headlamp aiming, and seems all concern the vertical adjustment of the main and or driving lamps.

My headlamp is aimed to the right somewhat, and though the light thrown at night is okay, the headlamp is "cocked" to the right within the confines of the flyscreen, as the screen mounts to the forks. I know how to adjust the horizontal beam, but am asking about the "rule of adjustment" for it.

10' from a vertical wall, aim straight ahead? Or how much off center should it be? If it is right, it's right. Just thought it worth asking.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I always went 30' from a vertical wall and put the center of the beam 1" below the actual center of the headlight measured with the rider on and centered it squarly on the centerline of the bike.

I'd go to horizontal center. The bulb should compensate for left side light. In fact, when aimed dead ahead, the Sylvania Silverstar bulbs have a noticeable lack of light to the left. It's a might surprising the first night one discovers this deep into a left hand turn, and tries to remember the words to the 23rd psalm while searching for the brakes and shift lever.

Headlight aiming

(it's in the Tech Vault also)

And I had printed that months ago, and never thought anything about the horizontal adjustment. Never thought about it before now.

Thanks, fellas.

I just installed the Sylvania sealed beam light on my America. The beam is aiming at the right side ditch. I need to swing the beam quite a bit to the right to illuminate the road properly. The vertical adjustment is easy, but apparently not the horizontal. I didn't see any consideration horizontal adjustments in the headlight design. Has anyone here actually made a horizontal adjustment or have any suggestions on how to do so? I'm thinking I may need to make the headlight mounting hole into a slot on one side to allow for movement.

Thanks,
John M.

you speek the truth oh wise and aged administrator...there is but one bolt holding the bracket to the yoke...

And additionally, with the sealed beam. If you center with it on low beam then it will be off on high beam. These were intended for car use and as such throw the light in different directions from high to low.

Aimed dead ahead should do the trick. The lens is cut to direct the beam more to the side of the road.