I run my HD fog lights each time the bike moves. My lowbeam on my HD 05 Road King Custom blinds people every so often. They hit their high beams, then I flip mine on and off, quickly. I've never adjusted the aimpoint of my headlight, it's the way it was shipped. At night, on no traffic two lanes in Northern Michigan, with the high beam on, I'm sitting behind a "wall of light." It's nice to be able to see deer alongside the road, far away. My Screaming Eagle slip ons speak loudly enough that they turn away from the road, well over 90% of the time! lol. P.S. Almost 15 years ago, I had a guy tell me he had a State Police officer tell him, "leave your high beam on, so they can't say that they didn't see you ." Bike accidents happen in our state way too often, and I'd bet that State boy rode a motorcycle himself...
After every accident the 4 wheeler said, “officer I didn’t see him”, which is why my high beams are on when I start the bike. I tend to want to stay out of the hospital, and if that means pissing off someone so be it.
Be careful with that high beam and incoming traffic. If that 4 wheel can't see the center line on a two lane road because the high beam blinded him, it's not you he couldn't see, it was everything else. Either way is just asking for it.
Now that brings back some good memories. Way back in the future some 30 years ago when I was a “car” mechanic I made many tools. When I went to “building” maintenance aka Chief Engineer I again reverted back to my old days. Thanks Doc,
Thank you for sharing how to adjust the passing lamps. More complicated than I thought with the special tools. Still not sure how I can get mine adjusted down slightly.
Going to try this adjustment this weekend. Purchased a Ultra Classic 3 weeks ago. Noticed passing lamps shine straight down just in front of tire. Great video.
Seems to be sport lately... and the ones I love is where their illegal aftermarket super bright headlights are on high so you blink your high beams and they flip on the 15,000 lumen led light bar. To tell you heres my high beams. My patience is becoming paper thin... where the hell are the cops?
Great segment. I have always adjusted them to where I can see at night without blinding on coming traffic. Harleys recommended adjustment is not good for riding at night.
I love passing lamps. Once u have them.. if u switch them off it’s like there’s no light .. and I have LEDs (the eagle light plug and play ones). Damn those lights are such a PITA to get off .. I couldn’t believe they’d design them like that. Gotta take it apart to get to those nuts 🔩
Doc, thanks for the great tips. I made my own slotted socket, but I did notice that Memphis Shades does sell a slotted 9/16 socket MEM0993 for $14.95. Probably not quite as robust as the Snap-On socket, but should be fine for occasional use. Thanks again!
Adjusting those passing lamps, reminds me of adjusting Panhead and Shovelhead pushrods with three wrenches. (Pushrod, jam nut and adjuster) It's a juggling act.
Doc. Got my 2015 Road King low beam will not work, high beam does. how do I troubleshoot this, checked the bulb even replaced it with a new one still doesn’t work. Please advise how to repair this. Thanks David in Tampa.
Made one of those sockets many years ago. Very carefully cut a slot in it with a cut off wheel on a die grinder. Polished the edges and looks like it was factory made.
Another great informative video as always. I never knew there was an off-set of the Auxiliary lights. But seeing how they are off to the right, I'm wondering if it's to light up the side of the road better, at night. Living here, in Ga, quite a few deer feeding on the side of the road, at night.
I’d always had the understanding that headlights were to be adjusted slightly to the right to (generally) avoid having them shining into the eyes of an oncoming driver on a straight road. However, I can’t account for the different adjustment of LED lights.
Hi Doc-thanks again for your great tech tips. What changes in the procedure are required to correctly set the auxiliary lights (quartz) for countries that drive on the opposite sides to the USA? Many thanks.
great tutorial as usual, thanks a lot, but jeee ... two special tools, three hand job .... I cannot imagine how Harley could have done such a straightforward thing more complicated .... with all respect for a great manufacturer, and as an owner of a RK....
Check adjustment at home solo. mark on the wall. Then next time you plan a trip fully loaded with passenger, line up at home and see how much of a difference. Then it is Your choice if adjustment is necessary....Doc
Ok Doc Harley need your help. I bought a black 2022 Road King Special. I want black passing lamps and the blinkers on the passing lamps. The dealership told me no mas. They say can’t be done without a hokey non Harley alterations. Can I get matching passing lamp and turn signal set up like a normal road king only black and led, without a make shift fix?
The dealer has the latest Accessory Catalog. My thoughts are there any models (including police models) that have what you want? Take a trip to the dealership. walk the showroom and ask, "can this fit mine?" ....Doc
I have a 2012 EG police addition. No one ever gives specs for this model for upgrades. How do you determine which EG to I put to determine what will fit, ie LED lights.
On the subject of signal lights. I have a 2000 Heritage Classic. Recently I have had to replace the front double filament bulbs in the signal lights with 12v bulbs as 6v were not available. Now, my REAR single filament signal lights just had to be replaced with 12v instead of 6v bulbs. I am impressed that my signal lights are brighter. But, my REAR signal lights all of a sudden do NOT blink automatically. They do work manually. As they are single filament they are only on when signaling. I can press signal lights switch on and off manually, at least showing my intentions. My question is, is the differnece in voltage causing this problem? Can I fix it by going back to 6 volt bulbs only?
A 6 volt bulb was used in the early Harley bikes like UL, Knuckle and Pan. All bikes now use 12 volt bulbs. Messing with this effects your Turn Signal module. To work properly it reads resistance…..Doc
Question - I have a 21 Street Glide. On the fairing to right and left of the ignition switch are blank auxiliary switches. Do they make a momentary switch that I could put there. I am looking to wire it to a remote garage door opener.
Doc - per your advice on my 2013 fat boy lo, we did the wire switch as you mentioned, but nothing changed. Isn’t that crazy? Perhaps the previous owner wired it different. In the harness, the way it’s set up is this : they have the two yellow wires and a black wire on one side, and then the white wire is by itself on the other side of the harness.
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson My apologies, you had replied to me on my initial question, which was "Doc, my passing lights ONLY come on with high beam. I want them on with LOW beam too, or if I have to choose, ONLY with low beam... is that possible? (2013 Fat Boy Lo)" Your reply was: "Yes. You have to physically change the power wire connection from white to yellow at headlight. …….Doc"
Doc what is the trick on the spot lamp ring ? Customer brought in aftermarket led's , ive checked , double checked and triple checked , the ring isnt going back on . what am i missing ? Thank you for your time. (The outer ring , bolt on the bottom compresses it together )
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson i figured as much but also even putting the stockers back in the ring doesnt go back on . Thanks and have a blessed week my friend
Help, I have an aftermarket set of Halo Led Passing lamps. The red and black wire turn on the light and the white halo ring. My problem is the light has two more wires....the light also has a amber halo for turn signals. So, the red and the black are the light and the white halo ring....there are two more wires a blue and yellow. Which on is the amber turn signal ring and why are there two wires....??? I would think on the light there would only be three wires....Power, Ground and Turn Signal wires...so, why 4 wires...I ohmed out using the black ground wire to the yellow and blue and both are showing resisitance. If one of the two of them were a redundant ground I would not have seen resistance. Im lost on this one...Help..???
Is there any help from the manufacturer of these lights? A possible web site? You purchased these lights without instructions? Some manufacturers include wires that work for international fittings….Doc
Doc, my passing lights ONLY come on with high beam. I want them on with LOW beam too, or if I have to choose, ONLY with low beam... is that possible? (2013 Fat Boy Lo)
Splice into a wire that always has power when the ignition is on, this way you can still use the passing lamp on/off switch and you can use them with high and low beam.
I see 2vreqsons to list the lighting to the right. 1. Your not blinding incoming traffic 2. Traffic that is stopped on a side road perpendicular to you is getting hit by the beams. I'm no expert but it seems cars pulling out from that positioning cause a lot of bike wrecks
Hey there Doc. Aren't you meant to have the rider on the bike to get correct preloaded ride height before adjustments are made. Otherwise when the rider and gear are loaded, you will be blinding oncoming traffic while on low beam
I have been joking for years that Harley has to fly out the "Special Tech" and have him go up the exhaust pipe with a wrench to turn that special nut. This is not far off of that
Why do they call them passing lamps? My 2015 RGS never comes off bright. Why? day or night it’s impossible to miss seeing me. In todays day and age with these high ride SUVs and truck’s, semi trucks running LEDs I have zero respect for them. They have zero reason to be running them. Halogens we’re/are more then adequate. The most important safety item on a motorcycle is lighting. My brake lights illuminate my entire back yard after dark. I can see a Harley LED headlamp nearly 2 miles away when driving my car. That’s a good thing.
I had to Google that. Seems in the Early Motorcycle riding days, it was a courtesy to honk the horn or flash your lights to the vehicle ahead to let them know you are passing them. Turning on and off the headlight was dangerous so Passing Lamps were added....Doc
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson That was the norm in any vehicle in Japan in the late 80s when we were stationed there. I’m over 60 I can’t ever remember being flashed to pass ever. I’m guessing now it’s a sign of road rage 😂.
The headlight adjustment node is made through the ass. It is possible to make the connector much easier for the consumer. But, Harley is in his repertoire. Pain. Knees. Humiliation. A Harley special tool. 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson 🤣🤣🤣 No, for 11 years now together with Electra Glide. Just a statement of fact. They complicate things a bit. :) Thx for the video! ;)
Thank you, Doc. Great presentation, as always.
I run my HD fog lights each time the bike moves. My lowbeam on my HD 05 Road King Custom blinds people every so often. They hit their high beams, then I flip mine on and off, quickly. I've never adjusted the aimpoint of my headlight, it's the way it was shipped. At night, on no traffic two lanes in Northern Michigan, with the high beam on, I'm sitting behind a "wall of light." It's nice to be able to see deer alongside the road, far away. My Screaming Eagle slip ons speak loudly enough that they turn away from the road, well over 90% of the time! lol. P.S. Almost 15 years ago, I had a guy tell me he had a State Police officer tell him, "leave your high beam on, so they can't say that they didn't see you ." Bike accidents happen in our state way too often, and I'd bet that State boy rode a motorcycle himself...
Thanks for sharing...Doc
After every accident the 4 wheeler said, “officer I didn’t see him”, which is why my high beams are on when I start the bike. I tend to want to stay out of the hospital, and if that means pissing off someone so be it.
Be careful with that high beam and incoming traffic. If that 4 wheel can't see the center line on a two lane road because the high beam blinded him, it's not you he couldn't see, it was everything else. Either way is just asking for it.
Now that brings back some good memories. Way back in the future some 30 years ago when I was a “car” mechanic I made many tools. When I went to “building” maintenance aka Chief Engineer I again reverted back to my old days. Thanks Doc,
Thanks for taking the time to share your story….Doc
Doc's best tips are the little jigs, tools and everyday items that he uses to make the difficult things easier ... thanks Doc 👍
Thanks for watching David....Doc
DOC that dang Spc/Tool you made is awsome, also snap on makes those sockets as well, I have two I think,
Thank you for sharing how to adjust the passing lamps. More complicated than I thought with the special tools. Still not sure how I can get mine adjusted down slightly.
Going to try this adjustment this weekend. Purchased a Ultra Classic 3 weeks ago. Noticed passing lamps shine straight down just in front of tire. Great video.
Great to hear our videos are helping...Doc
Awsome information as always Thanks
Great advice for cars and trucks too. Quit blinding oncoming traffic.
Seems to be sport lately... and the ones I love is where their illegal aftermarket super bright headlights are on high so you blink your high beams and they flip on the 15,000 lumen led light bar. To tell you heres my high beams. My patience is becoming paper thin... where the hell are the cops?
Thanks Doc! Your the man!
You are a very smart man!! I enjoy watching..
Thanks for watching.....Doc
Great segment. I have always adjusted them to where I can see at night without blinding on coming traffic. Harleys recommended adjustment is not good for riding at night.
Very smart idea!👍🏻
Great video, as always.
Thank you Doc!
I love passing lamps.
Once u have them.. if u switch them off it’s like there’s no light .. and I have LEDs (the eagle light plug and play ones).
Damn those lights are such a PITA to get off .. I couldn’t believe they’d design them like that.
Gotta take it apart to get to those nuts 🔩
Doc, thanks for the great tips. I made my own slotted socket, but I did notice that Memphis Shades does sell a slotted 9/16 socket MEM0993 for $14.95. Probably not quite as robust as the Snap-On socket, but should be fine for occasional use. Thanks again!
Thanks for the info....Doc
Thanks Doc.
Adjusting those passing lamps, reminds me of adjusting Panhead and Shovelhead pushrods with three wrenches. (Pushrod, jam nut and adjuster) It's a juggling act.
Thanks for that walk down memory lane....Doc
That's why I bought them hogworkz halo maker headlight and halo maker passing lights they light up the road for me which is very safe for me.
Well done 👍….Doc
Is that the same size socket for the 2018 CVO Limited which has a different signal setup than the RK?
Thanks Doc that’s a doosey to do
Doc. Got my 2015 Road King low beam will not work, high beam does. how do I troubleshoot this, checked the bulb even replaced it
with a new one still doesn’t work. Please advise how to repair this. Thanks David in Tampa.
Made one of those sockets many years ago. Very carefully cut a slot in it with a cut off wheel on a die grinder. Polished the edges and looks like it was factory made.
It is the home made tools that bring the most smiles when the tool box is opened....Doc
Another great informative video as always. I never knew there was an off-set of the Auxiliary lights. But seeing how they are off to the right, I'm wondering if it's to light up the side of the road better, at night. Living here, in Ga, quite a few deer feeding on the side of the road, at night.
that's my thoughts, including the pattern for quartz lights. LED are adjusted straight on....Doc
I’d always had the understanding that headlights were to be adjusted slightly to the right to (generally) avoid having them shining into the eyes of an oncoming driver on a straight road. However, I can’t account for the different adjustment of LED lights.
Maybe that's why they claim "I didn't see you!" after turning or pulling out in front of motorcycles?
Hi Doc-thanks again for your great tech tips. What changes in the procedure are required to correctly set the auxiliary lights (quartz) for countries that drive on the opposite sides to the USA? Many thanks.
Instead of adjusting both aux lights to the right, adjust them to the left..Doc
doc when your on a plane and somebody ask is there a doctor on board do you hold back because these home made tools are slick
That's funny...Thanks...Doc
great tutorial as usual, thanks a lot, but jeee ... two special tools, three hand job .... I cannot imagine how Harley could have done such a straightforward thing more complicated .... with all respect for a great manufacturer, and as an owner of a RK....
cheers Doc!
Cheers Mate....Doc
Great explanation can you do the led as well?
Watch again, I point to the adjustment for LED on the next page in the manual...Doc
Thanx Doc , 👏👏👏👏
Most welcome....Doc
What do you do about having a passenger or not and full bags VS riding Solo with the Adjustments on Harley Projection lights?
Check adjustment at home solo. mark on the wall. Then next time you plan a trip fully loaded with passenger, line up at home and see how much of a difference. Then it is Your choice if adjustment is necessary....Doc
Ok Doc Harley need your help. I bought a black 2022 Road King Special. I want black passing lamps and the blinkers on the passing lamps. The dealership told me no mas. They say can’t be done without a hokey non Harley alterations. Can I get matching passing lamp and turn signal set up like a normal road king only black and led, without a make shift fix?
The dealer has the latest Accessory Catalog. My thoughts are there any models (including police models) that have what you want? Take a trip to the dealership. walk the showroom and ask, "can this fit mine?" ....Doc
I have a 2012 EG police addition. No one ever gives specs for this model for upgrades. How do you determine which EG to I put to determine what will fit, ie LED lights.
Treat it like the Standard Street Glide…Doc
On the subject of signal lights. I have a 2000 Heritage Classic. Recently I have had to replace the front double filament bulbs in the signal lights with 12v bulbs as 6v were not available. Now, my REAR single filament signal lights just had to be replaced with 12v instead of 6v bulbs. I am impressed that my signal lights are brighter. But, my REAR signal lights all of a sudden do NOT blink automatically. They do work manually. As they are single filament they are only on when signaling. I can press signal lights switch on and off manually, at least showing my intentions. My question is, is the differnece in voltage causing this problem? Can I fix it by going back to 6 volt bulbs only?
A 6 volt bulb was used in the early Harley bikes like UL, Knuckle and Pan. All bikes now use 12 volt bulbs. Messing with this effects your Turn Signal module. To work properly it reads resistance…..Doc
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson Thanks. It sounds like I have to go back to the 6 volt bulbs.
Just adjusted( not perfect) my Road King's passing lamps 2 hours ago. Wish I had seen your video 1st. Thanks
Practice makes perfect....Just kidding...Doc
Question - I have a 21 Street Glide. On the fairing to right and left of the ignition switch are blank auxiliary switches. Do they make a momentary switch that I could put there. I am looking to wire it to a remote garage door opener.
HD offers a garage door opener system that works with flashing your high beam. The only momentary switch would be their comfort fan switch…..Doc
I am sure you also know that it only works on a few garage door openers. Mine is not one of them.
Aluminating the right shoulder and not blinding oncoming traffic.
Doc - per your advice on my 2013 fat boy lo, we did the wire switch as you mentioned, but nothing changed. Isn’t that crazy? Perhaps the previous owner wired it different. In the harness, the way it’s set up is this : they have the two yellow wires and a black wire on one side, and then the white wire is by itself on the other side of the harness.
When did I talk about wiring in this video🤷♂️….Doc
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson My apologies, you had replied to me on my initial question, which was "Doc, my passing lights ONLY come on with high beam. I want them on with LOW beam too, or if I have to choose, ONLY with low beam... is that possible? (2013 Fat Boy Lo)" Your reply was: "Yes. You have to physically change the power wire connection from white to yellow at headlight. …….Doc"
Doc what is the trick on the spot lamp ring ? Customer brought in aftermarket led's , ive checked , double checked and triple checked , the ring isnt going back on . what am i missing ? Thank you for your time. (The outer ring , bolt on the bottom compresses it together )
some aftermarket parts don't fit and some you have to eliminate a few OEM original parts....Doc
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson i figured as much but also even putting the stockers back in the ring doesnt go back on . Thanks and have a blessed week my friend
What about the other type of Auxiliary lamp mount.?
Too many to cover on this video. Your Service Manual will cover your model...Doc
What is that special socket called (9/16" socket with cutout) and where can I get it?
I made my first. now I use a Snap-on 9/16 FRX181 socket....Doc
How to turn on fog lamps on a electra glide limited?
A software switch at your dealer….Doc
Help, I have an aftermarket set of Halo Led Passing lamps. The red and black wire turn on the light and the white halo ring. My problem is the light has two more wires....the light also has a amber halo for turn signals. So, the red and the black are the light and the white halo ring....there are two more wires a blue and yellow. Which on is the amber turn signal ring and why are there two wires....??? I would think on the light there would only be three wires....Power, Ground and Turn Signal wires...so, why 4 wires...I ohmed out using the black ground wire to the yellow and blue and both are showing resisitance. If one of the two of them were a redundant ground I would not have seen resistance. Im lost on this one...Help..???
Is there any help from the manufacturer of these lights? A possible web site? You purchased these lights without instructions? Some manufacturers include wires that work for international fittings….Doc
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson Purchased them from Amazon, no paperwork whatsoever.
Doc, my passing lights ONLY come on with high beam. I want them on with LOW beam too, or if I have to choose, ONLY with low beam... is that possible? (2013 Fat Boy Lo)
Yes. You have to physically change the power wire connection from white to yellow at headlight. …….Doc
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson YOU ARE THE MAN!!!!!!!!! Thank you for taking time to answer - a real blessing.
Splice into a wire that always has power when the ignition is on, this way you can still use the passing lamp on/off switch and you can use them with high and low beam.
I see 2vreqsons to list the lighting to the right.
1. Your not blinding incoming traffic
2. Traffic that is stopped on a side road perpendicular to you is getting hit by the beams. I'm no expert but it seems cars pulling out from that positioning cause a lot of bike wrecks
Thanks for sharing....Doc
Nice. So Australia would be opposite
I sure am glad the Harley engineers made this so simple for their customers.
What a joke!!
Not a joke...a right of passage for a rookie tech....Doc
Is that a 9/16 O2 socket?
Nope, that would be to thick to reach up into the turn signal mount...Doc
I guess HD aiming them to the right is why I always hear them referred to as "ditch lights".
Old School Phrase....Doc
Hi 👋
Well it's nice to see somebody can over complicate a simple thing better than BMW.
I Have Had A Machine Shop Build a 127" Stroker Evolution .V--Twin . The power
Plant, And Six Speed Backer Mission
Transmission
Plant
Wow! That's the largest Evo motor for the street....Doc
👍👀👂
Hey there Doc.
Aren't you meant to have the rider on the bike to get correct preloaded ride height before adjustments are made. Otherwise when the rider and gear are loaded, you will be blinding oncoming traffic while on low beam
Good point.....Doc
Another example of engineers being disconnected from the real world.
That passing lamp needs the bulb rotated. Its beam isn't aimed properly
????....Doc
I have been joking for years that Harley has to fly out the "Special Tech" and have him go up the exhaust pipe with a wrench to turn that special nut. This is not far off of that
I was smaller back then.....Doc
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson Funny
Why do they call them passing lamps? My 2015 RGS never comes off bright. Why? day or night it’s impossible to miss seeing me. In todays day and age with these high ride SUVs and truck’s, semi trucks running LEDs I have zero respect for them. They have zero reason to be running them. Halogens we’re/are more then adequate. The most important safety item on a motorcycle is lighting. My brake lights illuminate my entire back yard after dark. I can see a Harley LED headlamp nearly 2 miles away when driving my car. That’s a good thing.
I had to Google that. Seems in the Early Motorcycle riding days, it was a courtesy to honk the horn or flash your lights to the vehicle ahead to let them know you are passing them. Turning on and off the headlight was dangerous so Passing Lamps were added....Doc
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson That was the norm in any vehicle in Japan in the late 80s when we were stationed there. I’m over 60 I can’t ever remember being flashed to pass ever. I’m guessing now it’s a sign of road rage 😂.
Easy if you are an octopus🤣
Across the pond you mean England couse they think the whole world is driving on te wrong side of the road :-)
When I was over there with a race team at Donington, a local said he could count on a Yank turning right...Ha ha....Doc
I hope your getting paid Xtra for these vids sir.
Nope, just part of Low Country Harley-Davidson's desire to help..Doc
So those lights aren't for coon hunting? Lol
Normalize your audio. Intro music too loud, voice too quiet
We are low budget. Of coarse there is always room for improvements....Doc
And they say the Germans are difficult. 🙄
Harley's fantastic BS engineering strikes again...this job is a real PITA
Insanity poor design, sorry.
Old engineers were a little insane back then.....Doc
What a f’d up design. 🤬
What a pain in the ass! Naw! I'll just keep blinding on coming traffic.
What an incredibly moronic construction from Harley.
The headlight adjustment node is made through the ass. It is possible to make the connector much easier for the consumer. But, Harley is in his repertoire. Pain. Knees. Humiliation. A Harley special tool. 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
I’m sorry, did you have a bad day?…..Doc
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson 🤣🤣🤣
No, for 11 years now together with Electra Glide. Just a statement of fact. They complicate things a bit. :)
Thx for the video! ;)