Happy New Year everone,
I have a few lights in myinstrument panel that are either out orreally dim. I looked in my manual and it only gives a voltage and wattage discription. Are theses generic type bulbs available from any autoparts store, or can I replace with some sort of LED, and if this is the case what size do I use? Thanks!
Cletus

 

I would just go with simple replacements. I've never seen these "special" bulbs on a shelf, but the parts stores have to have them.

Not sure if you've taken one out or not, but they look just like a 159 series but with a turn socket attached to them where they would normally be plugged into a car directional socket.

I took a bunch out of an 80s Caddilac a few years ago and broke all the twist sockets so that I could use them as 159s, now I'm kickin myself because I have to replace some in my dash also.

 

Thanks...I knew someone had to have seen these somewhere.

 

I replaced the lights in my old Yamaha XJ600 a while back. But I did it the hard way since I had no clue what wires went to what and didn't want to take a chance of messing up the gauge cluster. I replaced all the bulbs with bulbs from Autozone that worked great. I just took a bulb with me and matched it.


I have a top right fairing coming in tommorow which will have me taking the fairings back off. But while I have them off I'm going to replace all the bulbs in the gauges of my F3. So if you can be patient I should have an answer for you in a few days.

I thought about putting LEDs in there if I can. Not sure if that is possible.

I eventually want to replace the gauges with white gauge kits to help visibility. But I am worried the gauge will be too bright and take away some attention from the road at night.

 

I have looked high and low for off the shelf 12V 1.7W wedge bulbs that would fit the sockets on the back of the gauge cluster. To date, I haven't been able to find anything. If there is an LED or cheaper bulb alternative, I'm all ears. Anyway, Honda used a wedge bulb size that is slightly smaller from bulbs on the shelves. I think Honda wants $3 per bulb or something like that. The neutral indicator (x1), high beam indicator (x1), oil pressure indicator (x1), side stand indicator (x1), and gauge cluster bulbs (x4) are a 12V 1.7 W bulb. The left (x1) and right (x1) turn indicators are 12V 3W bulbs. Getting to them is kinda pain in the a**, you have to take off the upper fairings and then twist off the little brown backs. Good luck on the bulb hunt… if you find something cheaper than Honda, let us know.

 

I think you are right Marc. I went to Walmart and nothing close. Closest was 12v/8w when I need a 12v/1.7(Instrument lights).

Tommorow I'm going to hit all of our Autopart stores (And even a KTM store) in hopes of finding one. F' paying Honda OEM prices. I avoid those if possible. I'll give an update tommorow on my search.

I think Honda could do sooo much better if they lowered their OEM prices. Because I love Honda but if I get another bike I'll probably go with someone else in hopes of finding cheaper parts if I need them. I heard Yamaha has the lowest mark up of OEM parts while Honda has the highest at 100%.

Just a thought but I wonder what the odds are of Home Depot or Lowes having them???

 

Good luck everyone! I had about %50 of my bulbs burnt out on my panel. I couldn't find **** other than OEM. But I got lucky and had to replace my odometer because it wasn't working. So I bought one off someguy for $50 and replaced all the lights at the same time with the instrument cluster I bought from him.

 

Asmittie84, I have looked all over for those damn things (12V 1.7W wedge bulbs).I haven't been able tofind anything cheaper until today (not much though). They have to be out there some where.... Honda got them!!! The fact that Honda charges us $3.75 is absolutely rediculous!! How do they sleep at night? Here is what I found thus far.
I was looking around for other bikeswith this12V 1.7Wwedge bulb and I did find a few other bikes with this bulb (VFR & TRX 350 00 - 01). For the CBR F3 12V 1.7W bulbs, they are $3.75 from the dealer. I looked upthe cost for a TRX350 01(any model) and they were$2.14 (Honda is trying to charge a premium for those of uswith street bikes)
When looking aroundon the net, I was able to find some interesting stuff. I found out thatStanley makes the 12V 1.7W bulb for Honda (From a 01 Honda Manual). Iwas looking around for aStanely 12V 1.7W wedge bulb on the net but ran out of time.Maybe someone could follow up on it? I am sure that Yamaha or Suzuki use the bulb also and might charge a cheaper price.
There is another thing,a guy on another forum givessome numbers for the bulbs... don't know iftheyareany good though. It's the third or fourth post down where the guy is talking about replacing the bulbs with LED's. I've gotta race out to work now!!! Later!!

http://vfrworld.com/forums/vf-vfr-ma...ent-bulbs.html

 

I looked up a 2001 Yamaha R6 and it showed a pack of 10(Which you can only get) for $23 (Rougly 2.30 each).

and I found this website...
http://www.gimmecarparts.com.au/sear...Category=TP889
Looks like 10 12v/1.7 for $5.83

I'm going to go ahead and hit hte autoparts store in hopes of finding them but if not I'll order from there. Only problem is the freight cost more than the bulbs ($6 or so). My guess is they are coming from Australia by looking at the end .AU

 

Boom City!!! I went to Advanced, O'Rielly's, and Autozone. They had stuff close but looked a little smaller and it was $2.50 each.

I stopped by a KTM place and they had 3 bulbs for my bike that were Honda OEM. $2 a pop and I got all three. That was pure luck though.