interstate pod lights

[BarendR]

trying to figure out how to get to the light bulb in the pod and don't particularly want to destroy the pod.  I see there is a hex screw in the bottom of the pod but i can not get to it since it's too close to the valve cover.  Do I need to cut down an Allan wrench? Is the pod two part and  just can't see how to separate the two halves? With me having to got to work and drive home in the dark now, I sure would like the extra light. 

Thanks,
Barend

[Disco]

I believe you'll be able to figure it out by looking at the installation instructions. 

You can find the Interstate Fog Light Installation Instructions at Dag's Valkyrie Norway Document Download Center.  Scroll down toward the bottom of the page here:  http://www.valkyrienorway.com/download.html

[HayHauler]

There are three bolts that need to be removed to get the pod off.  The two in the left portion of the first picture and the one in the middle in the second picture.   The first two are the same length, but the third is longer and make sure you don't put it in the horizontal front location as this has been known to puncture the radiator tank. 



After removing these 3 bolts, pull outward on the rear of the pod as there is a barb in a rubber grommet holding it on.  From this point all I can say is to wiggle it while pulling it outward and be careful of the light switch plug.  After you get the pod off it is pretty easy to replace the bulb by taking the back of the housing off. 
Good luck. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[BarendR]

thanks guys, I'll give that a try!

[BarendR]

so i got the pods off and took the bulb to the stealer, they didn't have that exact bulb but they did have something that looked the same.  Unfortunately this $22 lightbulb only lasted about a month or so.  so much for looking the same.  where do I find the right bulb?

[fordmano]

Any H3 bulb will work, (EDIT: you might have to file down the locator notch on the one side it needs to be square or rounded a little can't remeber which way) just try and not touch the glass and if you do wipe it down with alcohol on a clean tissue. The oils on your hands tends to shorten the lives of most light bulbs. Price depends on who makes/packages it and what wattage it is and what store you get it from. But at $22.xx I would hope it was something like a PIIA brand bulb.

$3.xx-$8.xx would be normal or maybe halogen 35watt at any Auto parts store or Tractor supply  or even Walmart.

I upgraded to HID 35watt bulbs although I did have to do some modifications to the housings back plate to run the new wires through, mounted the Ballasts right behind the light fixture inside the Pods.






This is the comparison to the color of the light the blueish greenish lights are the HID and the Whiter light is the 55watt PIIA although the HID is a lower wattage used and is actually brighter down the road throws light farther and wider.



Original style bulb, this is the PIIA brand ultra white version 35watts.
If you look carefully you can see that I had to file the rounded locator slot on the one side to fit this NON Honda bulb in, use a jewelers files that is half round works like a charm.

This is the Upgrade HID bulb, you can see how much longer the bulb is. It actually touches the inside of the lens of the fog light housing but seems to be fine after some 10,000 miles


If memory serves I gave less than $45.xx shipped from a Ebay vendor for the complete fog light HID kit includes both sides and the ballasts be sure to verify the ballast are the newer style MINI ballasts the older ones are a pain to mount due to size. IF you wanted to go this route..

[BarendR]

Only found 55W or 100 Watt H3 bulbs at three local stores, and yes they run $5.82  though O'Reilly's had a $22 version with the blue light (silverstar as I recall).  I went and installed a 55W so I would at least have light and ordered a 35W online at Amazon.  Including shipping this came to $11.02 basically doubling the price.  If the 55W doesn't burn out in a hurry I will probably change the other one over to the higher wattage as well and just keep the 35 as a spare.

Thanks for the help and Merry Christmas to everyone!

[X Ring]

Mike Terry includes 55W H-3s with his version of the pod lights but he includes 35W H-3s also.  Some people have found the 55W bulbs burn the reflectors.  You could have tried at a Harley shop.  They stock them for the light bars on their bikes.

Marty

[BarendR]

Good to know, thanks for the heads up!

[Steve-L]

Mike Terry includes 55W H-3s with his version of the pod lights but he includes 35W H-3s also.  Some people have found the 55W bulbs burn the reflectors.  You could have tried at a Harley shop.  They stock them for the light bars on their bikes.

Marty

I couldn't find a 35 at the local AutoZone and went for the 55W. I hope I don't burn the reflectors out. I guess we'll see. Anyone else running 55s and not having any issues?

Thanks to Fordmano and all others who contributed to this thread. Just did my first Pod removal/bulb without a hitch but getting that bulb while not damaging those pods was a tad scary. Pulling hard to get around the rubber barb/gromet is a scary proposition the first time you do it.

[fordmano]

Congrats on a successful pod removal and bulb replacement...   

I have had my pods off and on probably multiple hundreds of times. 

P.S. Steve-L I don't know what you got from what I posted but your welcome.   

[Steve-L]

The description helped me wrestle with the pod when I needed to pull toward the rear to get it over that barb.

Now I'm a tad worried about the 55s I've got in there, and have ordered 35s online.

[Tailgate Tommy]

Here's a not to great picture of the box that the 35w bulbs come in from the Big Mike pod kit.