Moriartii Posted September 30, 2005 Share Posted September 30, 2005 Just got my HID kit, woo hoooo, and am trying to figure out where to put the ignitors and ballasts. Got a couple questions for those of you who have done this. After reading numerous posts my questions are: Ideal location for both ignitors and ballasts installed with nose on/with nose off. Remember this is a 97 with the analog gauges, room may be limited behind dash. Read a post that led me to believe the Mcullough kits have longer leads on them. Will this allow me to put the ballasts under the seat? If so can I run the lead wires under the gas tank? Someone mentioned somethig about doing Warchild's adjustment, what or where is that write up? Thank you in advance as always!!! Kinley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartonmd Posted September 30, 2005 Share Posted September 30, 2005 I just double-zip-tied the ballast to the left side of the fairing stay and the ignitor to the right side of the stay... Bootleg as hell, but seems to work... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2equis Posted September 30, 2005 Share Posted September 30, 2005 I used some 3M VHB tape and taped mine to the inside of the upper cowl. 2years and about 12k later it's holding strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willxx23 Posted September 30, 2005 Share Posted September 30, 2005 I put the ballast for my low beam velcroed to the front of the frame underneath the trim panel on the left side, I ran the wiring in the same are up and around the backside of the gauge panel. I'm gonna do the right side the same way. :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beondwacko Posted October 1, 2005 Share Posted October 1, 2005 I tied both starters to the factory wiring harness under the dash cluster. The ballasts got mounted on either side of the frame under the fairings with doublestick tape and a ( don't cringe ) a self drilling / self tapping screw. I also didn't have to remove the nose of the bike to get to the lamps , but shit , my hands aren't small and I had a hard time reaching for the retaining clips and screw assembly. The first ballast install took me a long time ( I had to figure out where I was going to mount everything ) almost 2.5 hrs. I also never had the bike apart before , so that was a learning experience. The second ballast assembly only took a 1/2 hour because I knew what I was doing. And No. You can't mount either the ballasts or the starters under the seat. The leads are not long enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moriartii Posted October 2, 2005 Author Share Posted October 2, 2005 All good information but what about adjusting the light? Kinley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MileHi Posted October 2, 2005 Share Posted October 2, 2005 All good information but what about adjusting the light?Kinley Why recreate the wheel... Dale's method... http://www.superblackbird.com/light_aim.cfm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moriartii Posted October 10, 2005 Author Share Posted October 10, 2005 Ok, got the HID installed and what a PAIN THE ASS!!!!!!! I need some insight here, first I had to splice the HID wiring into my bikes harness. Bummer number 1. Bummer number two is WHERE IN THE HELL do you mount the ballasts? I put mine via velcro on the frame under the trime pieces. Shit doesnt seem to fit worth a darn and is just not as clean as I would like. I am normally a fairly mechanically inclined fellow but this one just whipped me. I plan on going back and cleaning it up but before hand I need more insight or a picture. Can someone help a brother out as I am totally frustrated as of now!!! Thank you Kinley PS. Even with the frustration that I have encountered, HID ROCKS!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MileHi Posted October 10, 2005 Share Posted October 10, 2005 Ok, got the HID installed and what a PAIN THE ASS!!!!!!!I need some insight here, first I had to splice the HID wiring into my bikes harness. Â Bummer number 1. Â Bummer number two is WHERE IN THE HELL do you mount the ballasts? Â I put mine via velcro on the frame under the trime pieces. Â Shit doesnt seem to fit worth a darn and is just not as clean as I would like. Â I am normally a fairly mechanically inclined fellow but this one just whipped me. Â I plan on going back and cleaning it up but before hand I need more insight or a picture. Can someone help a brother out as I am totally frustrated as of now!!! Â Â Thank you Kinley PS. Even with the frustration that I have encountered, HID ROCKS!!!!!!! You had to splice into the stock wiring harness?!?!?! Dude... Unless your kit is drastically different fro the others, all you have to do is plug the spade onnectors from the HIDs into the OEM headlight plugs. As for mounting the ballasts... what year is your 'Bird? Those that have a digital dash have it a lot easier as to mounting options for the ballasts and igniters. I (analog dash/gauges) mounted the ballasts onto the flat part of the intake rinners using the supplied double-sided sticky pad. I then ran the high voltage lines (with igniter) to the headlight assembly and coiled/zip tied the excess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moriartii Posted October 10, 2005 Author Share Posted October 10, 2005 Yes had to splice in to the wiring harness, not because my kit was different but because I got so pissed off at not being about able to figure it out. :x (Call me patches brother ) I have a 97 bird and mounted the ballasts on the frame just rearward of the intact ducts for the airbox. Only problem is that they are crammed up in there and because of an upper flange on the back of the side fairing, it doesnt mount right. I may be just being anal but it bugs the crap out of me. Plus how hot do the ballasts get? Kinley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John01XX Posted October 10, 2005 Share Posted October 10, 2005 The Ballast does not get hot - mine are stuck on the back of my plastic instrument cluster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moriartii Posted October 12, 2005 Author Share Posted October 12, 2005 I did some calling around and spoke to some places that sell HID kits. I am being told that the ballasts put off @110 degrees. With both of these behind my cluster that is 210 fucking degrees!!!!!!!! I apologize for being a pain in the ass on this install but I am a little worried. Help? Kinley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John01XX Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 If TWO ballasts can get to 110 degrees each ...... you can't add the two temps together and say it will be 220 degrees :?: If you line up 110 degree bulbs side by side for a mile, you still only have 110 degrees 110 degrees is nothin when it is sitting just above the top of an engine that operates at 190 degrees and above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moriartii Posted October 12, 2005 Author Share Posted October 12, 2005 Not sure I follow you John, coffee is not kicking in. The is approximate heat for each ballast which are in an enclosed space behind the cluster so would it not be cumulative? Plus the engine comment, makes sense, but there is a shit load of venting around the engine as well as a fair amount of space between the source of heat and the cluster. In the case of the mounting the ballasts, it is directly behind??? Kinley Ps I am getting my post count up, does that make me a clueless post whore??? :twisted: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StPeteXX Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 No temp issues for me on my '97. I have both units mounted to the back of the dash panel. Time will tell I guess. There are pics of the install available somewhere...Rick...paging Rick.... :stickpoke: Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John01XX Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 approximate heat for each ballast which are in an enclosed space behind the cluster so would it not be cumulative? So does it make since then, that if you hooked up 8 ballasts then you would be generating 880 degrees of heat ??? Wow after a minute of idling you could watch your dash melt before your very eyes ? No the temp does not accumulate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moriartii Posted October 12, 2005 Author Share Posted October 12, 2005 I sense a bit of sarcasm directed towards my inability to figure out heat output.......... SMART ASS!!!! :twisted: After futher reflection I do see your point :oops: Makes me feel a bit better. Kinley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moriartii Posted October 12, 2005 Author Share Posted October 12, 2005 At Rich-- Where are said pics? Kinley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moriartii Posted October 12, 2005 Author Share Posted October 12, 2005 Well I just called John's smart ass up on the phone (very nice guy to talk to and helpful) and it appears my worries are for not (for those of you keeping up with my saga). Apparently when he installed them, they (he and his buddy) bench ran the hid for several minutes without issue regarding heat. Also I was concerned about the "reset" post I read and John says he road for several hours last night without issue. So I have leared that heat shouldnt be an issue, guys with the digital dashes suck (more mounting room), and I am an over analytical post whore. :twisted: Kinley 97/98 mounting pics would be nice!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StPeteXX Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 Well I just called John's smart ass up on the phone (very nice guy to talk to and helpful) and it appears my worries are for not (for those of you keeping up with my saga). Apparently when he installed them, they (he and his buddy) bench ran the hid for several minutes without issue regarding heat. Also I was concerned about the "reset" post I read and John says he road for several hours last night without issue. So I have leared that heat shouldnt be an issue, guys with the digital dashes suck (more mounting room), and I am an over analytical post whore. :twisted: Kinley 97/98 mounting pics would be nice!!!!! Glad to hear ou got your "issues" worked out You can always do the digital dash conversion to give ya more room :wink: Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John01XX Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 Rich, I told him about us splitting the two sets of the HID's. Plus he called me terrible names on the phone like "Smart Ass" as he did here on the Public forum !!! Wow am I all hot and horny now .... phone sex is so much fun and satisfying !! To much talk about heat I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moriartii Posted October 12, 2005 Author Share Posted October 12, 2005 yes yes I did, but I also told him I would be buying some CA lens in the near future. So see I am a giver!!!!!!! Thanks Rich, not only have I jacked up my HID install you want to add more "issues" to the mix with a digital conversion! SMART ASS!!!!!!! HA Thanks for your help Kinley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John01XX Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 BlackBird upgrades are always so much fun. Your Bird will be so much brighter in the end ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in PA Posted October 13, 2005 Share Posted October 13, 2005 I sense a bit of sarcasm directed towards my inability to figure out heat output..........SMART ASS!!!! :twisted: After futher reflection I do see your point :oops: Makes me feel a bit better. Kinley Reminds me of when I fun with the wife while watching the weather. Forecast says 50% chance of rain today, 50% tonight. I say to her that means there is 100% chance of rain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moriartii Posted October 13, 2005 Author Share Posted October 13, 2005 :greenfingers: :twisted: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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