Replacing a Lumotec Headlight Bulb?
 

Hi,

It appears my the bulb on my Lumotec headlight needs replacing, though I can't figure out how to get inside the thing to change it out.

Here's the headlight model: http://www.cyclofiend.com/cc/2007/cc...smith0907.html

It looks like there's a lever underneath, that if moved over, allows for the glass to be removed. However, it didn't budge.

Any ideas?

Rick

An update:

A friend passed me in his car on the way into work and said that the dynamo wasn't out completely; he saw a dim orange glow from the headlight, which makes me think it's not a blown bulb, but that the light isn't getting enough juice... any ideas behind why this would happen?

A few notes: we got freezing rain in the last 24 hours and there was a hard candy coating of ice over the entie bike, including the headlight.

The lamp in your picture looks like a Lumotec Retro, but it's black? I don't see a way of linking directly to the product page in Busch & Mueller's web site, but go to www.bumm.de/index-e.html, select Catalogue from left navigation bar, then Headlights and finally Retro (if that's the model). There seems to be an instruction leaflet, that might help.

--J

So I replaced the halogen bulb in the retro headlight, which is really just one of these:
http://www.bumm.de/docu/grafiken/170.jpg
with the retro shell (black is available in Europe only, I guess) and it is not user-friendly. The whole lamp needs to be unhitched from the hub's wiring, then unscrewed from the clamp, and then the reflector glass and the unit need to be separated with brute strength and dexterity at exactly the same time to get to the bad bulb.

I guess the whole process would take around eight minutes, but in the dark by the side of the road? Maybe double that.

This is a bit of a rant, since I was angry about some near misses with cars not seeing me this morning after the bulb burned out, but some bike components really need to be easier to use and maintain. Usability should be a primary goal.

Anyhow, the bulb's back, and the light makes me happy again. Note to self that I should expect to replace it again in about 3 months.

About your dim bulbs: wire connections may be damp and draining power from the wires or water may have gotten in to the light.
Bummer about how the retro doesn't come apart easily - my lumotech oval comes apart with a flip of the switch on its underside.

I would start thinking about a new LED headlight to replace your current headlight. No more bulbs to replace and there brighter now. I would order a new light and as soon as the bulb blows again in your current light replace it with the new LED light.