Lighting issues please help!

[Dennis42]

Did you try starting the bike? I just (2 days ago) rigged a halogen bulb into my defunct sealed-beam. It didn't work when I tested it with the bike ('67 Dream) not running, but works great (low or high beam) with the bike at idle or any cruising speed. I'm no EE, but my gut says the halogen needed a little more "push" (amps?) to illuminate than my (probably weak) battery was giving alone.

[waynew]

am i to understand that a halogen bulb can be used to replace the bulb in my cb77's sealed beam headlight? if so, will this require any modifications? currently, i'm running a new sealed beam however due to my old age (i suppose) my s'hawk transforms into a pothole magnet when the sun goes down. If a halogen bulb is a viable option, where can the correct type be found?

as always, thanks for your helpful replies.

[Goodysnap]

I was able to fit a H4 capsule to an old stock sealed beam , but it does require modification (hacking). Its crude but its worked good so far. I beleive there are options to get them as a unit, but I have not researched them.

[Dennis42]

I bought mine at the local NAPA Auto store. Bought the bulb and the little block that it plugs into. The bulb has flat pins; the block has the slots for the pins in front and wires in the back. I found it easier to connect wires to wires. However, that pushed the halogen further forward, closer to the lens, so I doubt it focuses correctly for night riding. If you soldered directly to the pins, I think you could get the focus right. ( At my age, I only ride the Dream in daytime, so my fix was to meet the daytime headlight requirement. ) The hacking I did was to cut the old bulb out from the back. Drilled a ring of holes, then cut hole-to-hole. And made that hole just barely big enough to slip the halogen in. I just ran a piece of tape across the back, then put a small foam pad directly behind the bulb, so the pressure from the pad holds the bulb in when the sealed beam is reinstalled. Happy riding.