I removed the two headlight retaining rings on my 2000 SPORTY but the bulb will not budge. The rubber seals seem to be stuck. Is there a way to get them loose without destroying them with a screwdriver?

 

Pry up a little with a small screwdriver. Then squirt a little penetrating oil (PB Blaster) between the rubber and the bulb. Work around the bulb and it will eventually come out.

 

I was going to suggest WD40. Whatever you have on hand.

 

Got a hammer??

 

That would work too. But yeah. Whatever you got on hand.....if the rubber is real hard you could heat it up too. With a hairdryer. Might soften it up.

 

Thanks guys, sounds like you've been there, done that, I will have another go at it. My running lights go through there and they are flickering off and on, must be a loose connection. I would also like to install brighter bulbs while I am at it. The way the running lights are wired, when I turn the high beam on the running lights go out. Wouldn't it be be better if they stayed on?

 

Didn't know you could use penetrating fluids on rubber but WD-40 site says it's safe.

You could also use windex or some other soapy liquid.

 

WD 40 and small screwdriver worked great. Found a loose connection causing running lights to go off and on. Now I am ready for some brighter bulbs. Have you got any recommendations? Do the brighter bulbs pull more or less amps? I am wondering if my present wiring is good enough for brighter bulbs?

 

If the bulb is the same wattage as the stick bulb it'll draw the same amps. Wattage/12(v) = amps.

 

Pathfinder and Cyron make LEDs with no ballast (built in) that will fit in a 5 3/4" headlamp casing. It draws much less than a halogen bulb and obviously much brigher. PIAA makes a halogen that is much brighter than stock (almost like LED) and draws the same as the stock halogen. I had the PIAA but currently run the pathfinder on my 2011 Sportster Low but someone in the forum indicated that Cyron cost less and is the same thing.

Here is a link to a previous discussion.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/sport...headlight.html