H4 headlight conversion

My Sylvania halogen H6024 bulb just died on me. I'm considering replacing it with an H4 set up. Who here has done this? Does an H4 set up draw more or less power? What wattage bulb do you recommend (hi and low)? Will it substantially improve my night riding or is the sealed beam Halogen just about the same?

Thanks!

i swapped to a projection unit that uses a h4 bulb it is much brighter. I've used the h4 conversion in cars before and they didn't seam any better than the stock bulb

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I just put in one of these, very easy conversion. Can't comment on the light yet as I haven't been out at night yet. But the old one was like the light from a candle around the corner so it has to be better.

Before replacing your headlight I have a recommendation. If the rubber dampers are old I would replace them. My bike was very hard on headlight bulbs; they would burn out fairly quickly. I had gone through several Sylvania sealed beams, and a Marchal H4 with several different flavor H4 bulbs including a couple “off road” bulbs that were supposed to be more robust than street bulbs. After going through all these bulbs, which were only lasting 2 years at most, I found that the original rubber dampers had lost some of their “bounce” over the years. I replaced the rubber dampers and the bulb, and that bulb lasted 8 years before burning out. It was a Wagner DH6024 sealed beam. I don’t know if the longevity of that bulb was attributable to the new dampers or the Wagner bulb, but I replaced the burned out bulb with another Wagner (that was 4 years ago) and it is still working great. One nice thing about the Wagner is the low beam only draws 35w so less load on your electrical system; the high beam is 60w.

Here’s where I bought the bulb:
www.summitracing.com/parts/WAG-H6024/

Here are the specs on the Wagner:
www.brandsport.com/wagl-h6024.html

Here’s the diagram that shows the dampers for the 1979 KZ750-B4; shown as #18, 19, and 31. It takes 2 of each.

I just want to be clear on the advantages of switching to H4 from the sealed bulb.

It looks like I can get a sealed bulb Sylvania H6024XV for $16 from the local auto parts store (in stock).

The H4 setup would probably run me around $40-$60 for the reflector and bulb if I shop around and wait for shipping.

Hate to say it, but I think I'd rather stick with the sealed bulb. Will the H4 set up give me dramatically more light at night or a wider field of vision?

This is the one I got. $19

www.z1enterprises.com/detail.aspx?ID=4609

That's a pretty nice deal. Even with shipping that's about $27 including the bulb. How does it compare to the sealed beam?

kawman66 wrote: i swapped to a projection unit that uses a h4 bulb it is much brighter. I've used the h4 conversion in cars before and they didn't seam any better than the stock bulb

i handle this problem as same as kawman








www.sencart.com

I went ahead and ordered the H4 kit from Z1. Candlepower doesn't seem to sell them anymore.

I had been considering adding some driving lights to the bike for better vision when riding at night. I'm hoping the H4 conversion will do that instead.

I'm a little worried about the extra draw on the electrical system. The stock bulb runs at 35w on low beam and the H4 is 55w.

I've converted most of my bulbs to LEDs so hopefully I'll be OK.

Thanks.

Your headlight will last longer and be briter if you make sure it is giting full battery voltage. I always up-grade the headlight wiring by installing a pair of relays, 12 guage wires (both the power and ground) and a new HD headlight socket. Some on this forum will shun me for saying this, but the wiring and switches on these old bikes are not very good.

The H4 kit was waiting for me when I got home today. Got to love Z1 Enterprises, I just ordered it two days ago!

I was a little worried because the H4 bulb looked deeper than the sealed beam, but it went in Ok. Took a little more finesse than usual to get the lamp attached to the bucket, but it went on eventually.

Went for a ride just after dusk and I'm really happy with the bulb. The kit from Z1 comes with a 55/60 watt which is brighter on low beam than the sealed beam 35/60 watt.

I may need to point it up a little. Not sure if that's a difference in the bulb or if I was just paying more attention to where it's pointed tonight.

I had been considering adding some running lights to help me see and be seen at night. I'm not sure I'll need that now.

Around $25 shipped and the next bulb replacement should be cheap and easy with the separate H4 bulb.